Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

Huddersfield Giants got the better of Warrington Wolves last week to secure just their second victory of the campaign and they will be confident of backing it up in the south of France.

The Giants have a fantastic record on recent visits to the Stade Gilbert Brutus and last week's 24-16 Super League win at the Wolves means they make this latest trip across the Channel in good spirits.

Catalans Dragons can't buy a win at the moment, but they could stay competitive in this contest where conditions should be in their favour.

Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Win	Huddersfield	8/5
Best Bet	Huddersfield +4	1/1
Bet Builder	Huddersfield +4.5, Huddersfield try first scoring play, Huddersfield to win the first half	10/1

Key Match Stats

• Huddersfield have won on five of their last seven visits to Catalans

• Catalans have lost their last six matches

• The Giants are averaging just over 12 points per game this term

• Catalans have scored just 18 points across their last five league matches

Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants Prediction

Best Bet: Huddersfield +4 @ 1/1

There is a temptation to predict a Huddersfield win in this encounter, but there is an element of risk associated in this match with temperatures of around 36C forecast for kick-off time in Perpignan.

How the Giants deal with that remains to be seen, but their record at the Stade Gilbert Brutus is excellent, so they warrant some form of support for this clash.

Last week's morale-boosting win over Warrington was another huge step in the right direction for Luke Robinson's men who could even have beaten Wigan a week earlier.

Huddersfield look to be getting their act together following a miserable start of the campaign, but things go from bad to worse for the French side who remain in the care of interim head coach Joel Tomkins.

Tomkins was brought in after Steve McNamara left the club following a miserable run of results, but things haven't improved for the Dragons who have lost six straight matches.

Three of those losses saw them fail to even score, so last week's 26-12 home loss to Leigh was an improvement of some sorts, but it is hard to see them getting much out of this clash unless the Giants wilt under the heat of the Perpignan sun.

That hasn't stopped them before though, and Huddersfield have often thrived at this venue where they have won on five of their last seven visits, while recent performances suggest there could be more good things to come from the West Yorkshire outfit.

Alex Hilton explains:

The Dragons are in a real mess and it is hard to see how they stop their slump. Maybe the heat can help them, but it could take more than that and Huddersfield with a four-point start looks a decent bet.

Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants Bet Builder Tip

• Huddersfield +4.5

• Huddersfield try first scoring play

• Huddersfield to win the first half

  Pays 10/1

Sweltering temperatures are forecast for the south of France on Saturday, so energy levels could quickly dip in this clash between two sides languishing in the lower reaches of the Super League standings, but it could pay to back Huddersfield to make a fast start at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

The Giants have improved immensely in recent weeks, so Huddersfield with a 4.5-point start on the handicap looks a good place to start for a bet builder.

Catalans have scored just 18 points across their last five league matches, so backing Huddersfield to score the first try could also yield a reward, while Huddersfield to win the first half looks a solid way to boost the odds on this treble.

Whether the visitors can keep it going for the whole match remains to be seen, but they can be expected to make a fast start against their beleaguered hosts. 

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Alex Hilton adds:

Confidence is at rock-bottom in the Catalans camp, so it's right to expect a fast start from the Giants. However, the heat is likely to play its part and it would be no surprise to see the visitors run out of steam later on.

Tactics, Form and Team News

Chris Satae is suspended and injured duo Arthur Romano and Matthieu Laguerre will miss this match, as will Benjamin Garcia, Reimis Smith, Tariq Sims and Theo Fages, so interim coach Tomkins has named only a 19-man squad.

Denive Balmforth should feature after joining on loan from Hull FC.

Catalans predicted starting line-up: Tomkins, Makinson, Cotric, Aispuro-Bichet, Darrelatour, Rouge, Keary, Da Costa, Bousquet, Maria, Seguier, Partington, Sironen.
Interchange: Balmforth, Pangai Junior, Dezaria, Navarette.

Oliver Wilson is managing a small injury issue so will play no part this weekend, while Sam Hewitt also misses out having failed a head injury assessment.

Aidan McGowan and Fenton Rogers will replace the pair in the squad travelling to the south of France. 

Huddersfield predicted starting line-up: Flanagan, Gagai, Milne, Halsall, Bibby, Frawley, Lolohea, King, Woolford, Powell, Greenwood, English, Cudjoe.
Interchange: Golding, Rushton, Burgess, Carr.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.