Wigan Warriors vs Catalans Dragons – A deeper look into the squads

With the 2024 Super League Grand Final just a day away, we take a deeper look at the two selected squads.

Wigan have made just the one change to the side that took down Hull KR last weekend, whilst Catalans have kept the same 21-man squad that rewarded them with one of Super League’s most famous victories.

It’s the fourth meeting between the two sides in 2023, so both clubs will feel like they know their opponents well. Nevertheless, with the squads released and both brimming with talent, let’s take a look and see how they compare.

Wigan Warriors 21-man squad

Link to post on X (Formally known as Twitter)

https://x.com/WiganWarriorsRL/status/1712422868393271784?s=20

Catalans Dragons squad

Link to post on X (Formally known as Twitter)

https://x.com/DragonsOfficiel/status/1712422864027046183?s=20

There’s only one place to start, the name on the team sheets that jumps right out at you, the newly announced 2023 Man of Steel winner, Bevan French.

Expected to play in the halves alongside Harry Smith, French will be Wigan’s creative spark in the attacking areas. His superb running game combined with his much improved handling has been far too much for many defences this season, racking up 30 try assists in 2023. Catalans will have a very tough evening nullifying his threats.

Meanwhile, Smith will play his usual controlled game, the perfect side piece to French’s brilliance. But Catalans can’t rule him out as his own threat. Smith has proven on many occasions that he’s not just a fantastic boot.

In the opposing halves Catalan offer the Aussie parring of Tyrone May and Mitchell Pearce. In a similar fashion to Wigan, Pearce is expected to play a controlled role, orchestrating the match with his kicking game, freeing up the departing May to work his magic with ball in hand.

A big factor of the game will be which team wins the battle of the halves.

Another huge talking point in this game is the one and only Sam Tomkins. The England legend will hang up his boots after one last hurrah, and it would be the icing on the cake for him if he could bow out after winning the Grand Final against his former club.

The veteran fullback has been world class ever since he burst onto the scene at Wigan. In fact, the last time the Warriors won the Super League was when Tomkins was still in cherry and white. However, Wigan now have their own star studded number one.

Jai Field has been a revelation in the role since his move from the NRL. His mesmerising speed and agility has brought the Warriors so many points this season, and they will hope he can deliver on the biggest stage of all.

Then we have the outside backs and funnily enough, Super League’s joint top try scorers. Catalans’ flying winger Tom Johnstone, and Wigan’s solid reinforcer Abbas Miski. The pair racked up a combined total of 54 try’s in 2023, so we expect one or two from these prolific finishers on Saturday.

Wigan’s and Catalans’ outstanding back line usually relies on one main factor, a solid forward pack. The work of the forwards is what gives the playmakers the foundations to create on. Both clubs have had excellent forwards in 2023, complimenting their high league finishes.

Starting with the hookers, neither side’s recognised number nine’s are as explosive as others in the league. However, they both show a controlled composed game that energises the people around them.

As a match up this one is pretty interesting. Catalans’ Micky Mcilorum used to play for Wigan, and his successor Sam Powell is looking to create his own Warriors legacy, a win tomorrow would surely do that.

The props on either side have had fantastic seasons, but Wigan recently bolstered their pack for these play-offs by adding a rising star by the name of Tyler Dupree.

In the loose forward role we once again will see two of the games best. For Wigan, Morgan Smithies provides a strong defensive game whilst also being great on the ball, the academy product recently broke into the England squad and looks like a future star.

Catalans match that position with their veteran captain Ben Garcia. Again reliable in defence, the Frenchman has been a stonewall of the club and is a huge reason for their change in fortunes.

Wigan’s captain Liam Farrell has played that exact role for his club, but in the second row. He’s scored 126 career tries and will go down as a legend. His opposite number is just at the start of his career. The Dragons’ number 11 Matt Whitley is touted for a promising career, but he already has the cool head and ability needed to dominate this final.

So, the squads match up well and the teams were only separated by points difference in the league. Everything is pointing towards a competitive and well fought match.

 

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