RADFORD NAMES 19 FOR SUPER LEAGUE OPENER

Head coach Lee Radford has named his 19-man squad for Friday’s clash with Catalan Dragons at the KC Stadium in the opening round of Super League XIX.

New signings Mickey Paea, Feka Paleaaesina, Jordan Rankin, Fetuli Talanoa and Jordan Thompson could all make their competitive Hull FC debuts in the game, whilst Garreth Carvell has also been named in the squad on his return to the club.

The Black and Whites boss has also left his options open in the halves by selecting both Richard Horne and Jacob Miller in his 19 alongside Rankin, whilst Ben Crooks, Joe Arundel and Kirk Yeaman will fight it out for the two centre berths.

Hull FC squad: Arundel, Bowden, Carvell, Crooks, Ellis, Heremaia, Horne, Houghton, Lineham, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Rankin, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman

I'm going
Shaul
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman
Talanoa
Rankin
Horne
Carvell
Houghton
Paea
Ellis
Whiting
Westerman
Subs
Feka
Bowden
Heremaia
Thompson

Catalans Dragons headcoach Laurent Frayssinous named his first 19 man squad of the season for the Friday night Super League clash against Hull at the KC Stadium.

Louis Anderson, Vincent Duport and Mathias Pala will miss the trip.

Young French international winger Damien Cardace has been called up to the squad and has been given number 26 jersey.



The squad

2 Morgan Escaré
3 Leon Pryce
4 Ben Pomeroy
5 Michael Oldfield
6 Thomas Bosc
7 Scott Dureau
8 Olivier Elima
9 Ian Henderson
10 Jeff Lima
11 Zeb Taia
13 Greg Mounis
16 Eloi Pelissier
17 Elliott Whitehead
18 Daryl Millard
20 Mickael Simon
22 Jamal Fakir
23 Lopini Paea
24 Jason Baitieri
26 Damien Cardace

Shaul, Lineham, Crooks, Yeamo, Talanoa, Rankin, Horne, Bowden, Houghton, Feka, Whiting, Ellis, Westerman

Subs - Carvell, Paea, Heremaia, Thompson

Arundle and Miller to miss out?

Think that will be the 17, I think you might see Feka on the bench though with Paea starting.

On paper it's a pretty good side. Should be enough to beat Les Cats at home.

Yeah you could be right pal, id be a lot more confident if Green and Tuson were playing instead of Bowden and Thompson.

Been very impressed with Bowden in pre-season, deserves his chance.

Strong squad that, bench a little light with Thompson there instead of Tuson.

I'd go with Rankin & Miller all day, but I know Radford won't. I expect the team to be as Ellam has listed.

Bowden definitely deserves his chance regardless of injuries. He's outplayed both Green and Watts, especially the latter.

I think he'll go with

Shaul
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman
Talanoa
Rankin
Horne
Paea
Houghton
Bowden
Ellis
Thompson
Westerman

Carvell
Feka
Heremaia
Whiting

Personally if swap miller for Horne and Pitts for Thompson.
Is Pitts injured?

Was thinking the same. He's better than Thompson.

According to James Smailes on Twitter, he's not injured.

Another one who's out of favour with the coach?

Does it add fuel to the fire about Pitts being one to leave - we don't want to play him for cap qualification reasons? I don't know obviously but from what I've seen I agree he looks better than Thompson.

Same prediction for me.

...or maybe Radford can't squeeze more than 19 players into a 19 player squad?

...or maybe Thompson is also cover for the backs?

There always has to be conspiracy theory with some.

He didn't play against Featherstone either.