Castleford Tigers vs Catalans Dragons predictions: Visitors to tame improving Tigers
- Castleford Tigers have won two in a row in Super League
- Catalans won 40-14 when the two teams met in March
- Recommended bet: Catalans -6.5
Castleford Tigers will look to extend their winning record to three games when they play host to Catalans Dragons in Super League on Sunday.
The Tigers have cut the gap between themselves and ninth-placed Huddersfield Giants to just one point, but they need to win and hope other results go their way if they are to climb towards the top eight.
Catalans remain in the hunt for the play-offs, lying in fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed St Helens and sixth-placed Salford Red Devils.
Team news
Castleford boss Craig Lingard will be unable to call upon the services of Matty English after he was recalled from his loan by Huddersfield Giants.
Lingard has replaced English with Sylvester Namo as he tries to keep his squad as intact as possible after a good few weeks.
Dragons coach Steve McNamara has made two alterations to his squad, with Yacine Ben Abdeslem and Jordan Abdull replace Fouad Yaha and Bayley Sironen.
The stats
Castleford have won two games in a row, the first time they have done that this season, but they have lost their last three games against Catalans in Super League.
The Tigers lost 40-14 to the Dragons back in March, but they did beat St Helens earlier this month to ease the pressure on Lingard.
Catalans have won three matches on the spin, after losing three in a row between May and June.
Dragons winger Tom Johnstone is one to watch, with the former Wakefield Trinity ace scoring a try in each of his last three games against Castleford.
Prediction
Following Castleford has been tough going this season, but the Tigers have at least given their fans something to smile about in recent weeks.
Their win over St Helens will be tough to beat, and Lingard has at least got his team playing with determination and confidence.
Sadly for Castleford, they face a side on Sunday that have often had the better of them. The Dragons outclassed Castleford earlier this year, and have rediscovered their mojo with three wins on the bounce.
Castleford will need to be at their very best to even push Catalans close, and while they will go down fighting, the Dragons should cover the handicap.
