I have to say I never like it when we get a team where its "never get a better time to beat them"
Plenty of teams have sent half a team and hammered us, including Catalan.
It's all about our attitude. If we play with our best underdog, never say die attitude, we can beat anyone.

Pearce is suspended, Mcmeekin is injured and Tompkins is doubtful, but they were weaker last year and we didn't perform. We've to hit the ground running and play for the full 80 and no slacking.

Bowden, Hood, Crowther and potentially Tanginoa out… that’s 4 of our starting 17 out.

There’s no advantage, we just have to come out firing with a strong attitude for the full 80 at home.

Yes last season they sent a very inexperienced and weaker team, the odds were stacked heavily in our favour to win on that summers evening. However they had a 14th man on the field, Tom Grant. Let's hope this game isn't officiated in the same way that match was.

Last year Catalan just had 17 fit players including four 17 year olds in the team and still beat us .Think like the rest of the season it is going to be hard to get a win .We may be fitter ,but will old legs be able to run for 80 minutes . Can not wait to find out .6days to go

Lineham and Murphy for me, as both have a lot to prove, which is what you want from your players. Murphy needs to show the NRL that he is a contender, not someone they are going to shove out to some country side until he improves. For Lineham, at his age, probably make or break for the end of his career, and he's bigging himself up a lot.

Langi and Lynne in the centres for the defence. In the pack, just need the ones who don't mind mixing it. Catalans have always had a big, dirty pack. But, they don't like the cold months.

Langi over Hall ?
Hall was stand out last season and certainly deserves a spot.
Mind you, we shouldn't be signing overseas players to have them sat in the stands.
Having said that, if he doesn't play in the centre, where should he play, at 13 ?

That’s the only issue where to play him. Hall and Langi would be my centres. Langi is a Centre but seemed to go ok at 13 so I suppose that’s an option.

Just goes to show how blessed we are in so many positions. Its a great problem to have

Selection will be easier if/when we pick up a few injuries but, with a full squad to choose from, there will be some disappointed players but, competition for places should be a plus..

I think “blessed” is a stretch. Numbers maybe. Quality remains to be seen.

I'd go Langi and Lyne for their size and defence. And then Murphy and Kershaw for some speed outside them.

Agree

Catalans saying they’ve reviewed our pre season videos. I hope we address some of the issues that arises out wide vs Hull. It’s probably quite difficult with the number of fringe/academy players in but I reckon they’ll try and hit us down middle and run some fast plays behind the ruck early counts and then look to shift it wide later tackles.

I’m starting to get nervous now.

Both teams have 4 players missing I think so it’s pretty even in those terms.

I really hope for a win to kick off the season. It would be massive to win out the blocks for the players, fans and club.

We both have 4 players missing but Catalan have there full starting spine missing, I know which position I would rather be in. They are still a quality side though and we will need to play really well to beat them, they do look a different side this year as well, they`ve always been huge in the middle, but not got as much size in there pack this year.

I too am nervous, we are very much unknown at this point, even with the pre season (which doesn`t usually tell us the anywhere near a full story) going into the last 3/4 years you could kind of guess the level we was at with the key players we had in Miller/Fifita etc now our squad has a different look.

One thing I will say is listening to Applegarth speak, I get this confidence that I didn`t quite get from Willie or Chester, can`t explain it really, just a feeling I get. Can`t wait to get down and watch some rugby.