Still riding the crest of a wave, new world champions St Helens could barely wish to meet a club with a more opposite outlook right now as Leeds Rhinos come to town on the back of two straight defeats to begin the Betfred Super League season.
Friday night brings five cracking fixtures in a truly blockbuster night of rugby league, so here is everything you need to know about the evening's slate of action.
Catalans Dragons v Hull FC
Where: Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan.
When: 6.00pm (GMT), 7.00pm (local)
TV: No live screening
Catalans' last five: Won 14-6 v Leigh (Rd 2), Won 38-24 @ Wakefield (Rd 1), Lost 10-20 v Leeds (2022 eliminator), Lost 4-48 @ Wigan (Rd 27, 2022), Won 32-18 v Leeds (Rd 26, 2022)
Hull FC's last five: Won 22-18 @ Leeds (Rd 2), Won 32-30 v Castleford (Rd 1), Lost 4-36 v Hull KR (Rd 27, 2022), Won 38-12 v Toulouse (Rd 26, 2022), Lost 18-28 @ Salford (Rd 25, 2022)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Catalans 4/9, Hull FC 15/8, draw 20/1
Handicap betting (Hull FC +3.5): Catalans 5/6, Hull FC 10/11
Milestones:
Fouad Yaha and Carlos Tuimavave are both one appearance away from 150 for their respective club but neither are in contention to play due to injuries.
Previous meetings:
Round 15, 2022: Catalans Dragons 36, Hull FC 8
Round 10, 2022: Hull FC 14, Catalans Dragons 8
Round 19, 2021: Catalans Dragons 31, Hull FC 16
Round 6, 2021: Hull FC 10, Catalans Dragons 27
Round 5, 2020: Hull FC 29, Catalans Dragons 34
Total Super League meetings: 39 (Catalans Dragons 17, Hull FC 20, two draws)
Steve McNamara's Dragons welcome back Tyrone May, Mike McMeeken, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Manu Ma'u after all four missed out on the 14-8 win over Leigh, but they are still without Sam Tomkins among others. McNamara called the build-up to their round two win "the worst week ever" because of the number of drop-outs, so to have four names back will be some relief to the former England coach as he looks to protect his side's 100 per cent record so far.
Hull will have to do without their round two match-winner after Scott Taylor was handed a one-match suspension for an illegal tackle on Leeds Rhinos' Richie Myler. The forward was also informed this week that he will be handed a testimonial for his services to rugby league with Hull Kingston Rovers, Wigan Warriors, Salford Red Devils and Hull. While Taylor is missing, coach Tony Smith can call upon Ligi Sao and Jamie Shaul, both of whom have recovered from injuries sustained in pre-season.
Sportsman stat: Catalans failed to beat Hull FC in their first six Super League meetings but did record draws against the Boulevarders in both 2007 and 2008.
Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants
Where: Be Well Support Stadium, Wakefield.
When: 7.45pm (GMT)
TV: No live screening
Wakefield's last five: Lost 0-60 @ Wigan (Rd 2), Lost 24-38 v Catalans (Rd 1), Lost 14-16 @ Huddersfield (Rd 27, 2022), Won 34-18 @ St Helens (Rd 26, 2022), Won 18-6 v Hull KR (Rd 25, 2022)
Huddersfield's last five: Lost 16-26 v Warrington (Rd 2), Lost 0-28 v Salford (2022 eliminator), Won 16-14 v Wakefield (Rd 27, 2022), Won 38-36 v Warrington (Rd 26, 2022), Lost 14-18 @ Leeds (Rd 25, 2022)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Wakefield 13/5, Huddersfield 2/7, draw 22/1
Handicap betting (Wakefield +4.5): Wakefield 5/6, Huddersfield 10/11
Milestones:
With one more appearances, Nathan Mason will reach 150 in his career, including 46 in three different spells with Huddersfield, while Esan Marsters is one game away from 100 career appearances.
Previous meetings:
Round 27, 2022: Huddersfield Giants 16, Wakefield Trinity 14
Round 11, 2022: Wakefield Trinity 12, Huddersfield Giants 14
Round 23, 2021: Huddersfield Giants 18, Wakefield Trinity 32
Round 18, 2021: Huddersfield Giants 22, Wakefield Trinity 18
Round 8, 2021: Wakefield Trinity 38, Huddersfield Giants 12
Total Super League meetings: 57 (Wakefield 20, Huddersfield 37, no draws)
Wakefield coach Mark Applegarth called their 60-0 defeat to Wigan last week "unacceptable" and "embarrassing" but there could be more loss of face if the RFL deem the Belle Vue pitch unplayable following complaints from Catalans Dragons players in week one. Max Jowitt is due to be out for some time, meaning Lee Gaskell could again deputise at full-back against his old club.
For Huddersfield there's a need to justify their pre-season backing with a first win after being turned over by in-form Warrington last week. The Giants are playing a game short having missed out on their round one fixture against St Helens, meaning Ian Watson will be keen for his players to get off the mark and start to make some in-roads on the ladder.
Sportsman stat: Huddersfield have had winning streaks of nine, six, five and five games against Wakefield in Super League, whereas Trinity's longest winning run against the Giants is four matches.
Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors
Where: Headingley Stadium, Leeds.
When: 8.00pm (GMT)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
Castleford's last five: Lost 6-24 v St Helens (Rd 2), Lost 30-32 @ Hull FC (Rd 1), Lost 8-14 @ Leeds (Rd 27, 2022), Lost 10-50 v Salford (Rd 26, 2022), Won 19-18 @ Warrington (Rd 25, 2022)
Wigan's last five: Won 60-0 v Wakefield (Rd 2), Lost 18-27 @ Hull KR (Rd 1), Lost 8-20 v Leeds (2022 semi-final), Won 48-4 v Catalans (Rd 27, 2022), Lost 28-38 @ Hull KR (Rd 26, 2022)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Castleford 6/4, Wigan 4/7, draw 20/1
First try scorer odds: Bevan French (Wigan) 9/2, Liam Marshall (Wigan) 5/1, Jai Field (Wigan) 7/1, Greg Eden (Castleford) 8/1, Bureta Faraimo (Castleford) 8/1
Milestones:
Inspirational hooker Paul McShane is in line to make his 200th appearance for Castleford Tigers eight seasons on from debuting against Hull FC.
Liam Marshall now has 100 Wigan Warriors tries to his name after crossing four times in the 60-0 victory over Wakefield last time out.
Previous meetings:
Round 14, 2022: Castleford Tigers 12, Wigan Warriors 32
Round 6, 2022: Wigan Warriors 32, Castleford Tigers 22
Round 22, 2021: Castleford Tigers 0, Wigan Warriors 22
Round 4, 2021: Wigan Warriors 22, Castleford Tigers 12
Round 18, 2020: Wigan Warriors 30, Castleford Tigers 22
Total Super League meetings: 61 (Castleford 17, Wigan 41, three draws)
First thing's first, Castleford need their players to put the ball inside the whitewash when they get the chance, with Bureta Faraimo's failure to score a clear try against St Helens taking some getting over during the week. Moreover, the Tigers must up their game after back-to-back defeats in the first two rounds and coach Lee Radford is now facing huge pressure amongst the fan base. Much will depend on half-backs Gareth Widdop and Jacob Miller clicking and making the most of one of the bigger packs in the game.
Having lost to Hull Kingston Rovers first up, Wigan responded in the best way possible when thrashing Wakefield Trinity 60-0 in round two. Coach Matt Peet drives high standards and will be expecting his side to continue where they left off seven days ago. Peet has made just one change to his squad, bringing in Junior Nsemba after Liam Shorrocks was loaned to Leigh Leopards for two weeks.
Sportsman stat: While Wigan have largely dominated the head-to-head between these sides, Castleford have recorded the biggest win (54-4 in 2017).
Hull Kingston Rovers v Leigh Leopards
Where: Sewell Group Craven Park, Hull.
When: 8.00pm (GMT)
TV: No live screening
Hull KR's last five: Won 24-10 @ Salford (Rd 2), Won 27-18 v Wigan (Rd 1), Won 36-4 @ Hull FC (Rd 27, 2022), Won 38-28 v Wigan (Rd 26, 2022), Lost 6-18 @ Wakefield (Rd 25, 2022)
Leigh's last five: Lost 6-14 @ Catalans (Rd 2), Lost 10-20 v Salford (Rd 1), Lost 24-42 @ Huddersfield (Rd 25, 2021), Won 26-18 v Wakefield (Rd 24, 2021), Lost 6-44 v Hull KR (Rd 23, 2021)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull KR 1/3, Leigh 12/5, draw 20/1
First try scorer odds: Ryan Hull (Hull KR) 7/1, Ethan Ryan (Hull KR) 8/1, Josh Charnley (Leigh) 10/1, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Hull KR) 11/1, Tom Opacic (Hull KR) 14/1
Milestones:
Tom Briscoe's first try as a Leigh Leopard will be his 150th in Super League.
Previous meetings:
Round 23, 2021: Leigh Centurions 6, Hull Kingston Rovers 44
Round 18, 2021: Leigh Centurions 28, Hull Kingston Rovers 34
Round 8, 2021: Hull Kingston Rovers 40, Leigh Centurions 16
Qualifiers Round 2, 2017: Leigh Centurions 16, Hull Kingston Rovers 20
Qualifiers Round 4, 2016: Hull Kingston Rovers 18, Leigh Centurions 25
Total Super League meetings: 3 (Hull KR 3, Leigh 0, no draws)
Rovers have been one of the stories of the season so far, with a great win over Wigan in round one backed up with a sensational defensive performance in beating Salford 24-10 last week. Coach Willie Peters insisted after the AJ Bell Stadium win that he wants star half Jordan Abdull to contribute for the full 80 minutes going forward, and if the number seven can do that on Friday night the Leopards will be in for a long night.
Leigh are zero from two but they have given a good account of themselves in both games to this point. After being narrowly edged out by Salford they gave Catalans Dragons a tougher run for their money than some had expected when they lost 14-6 in Perpignan six days ago. Adrian Lam knows the longer his team go without points the more difficult things will become psychologically but he will back his troops to give Rovers a real scare at Craven Park.
Sportsman stat: These two teams met as many times in the short-lived Middle 8s format as they have in full Super League play, with Hull KR winning two of the three encounters in the Qualifiers and all three when the sides clashed in 2021.
St Helens v Leeds Rhinos
Where: Headingley Stadium, Leeds.
When: 8.00pm (GMT)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
St Helens' last five: Won 24-6 @ Castleford (Rd 2), Won 24-12 v Leeds (2022 Grand Final), Won 19-12 v Salford (2022 semi-final), Won 36-16 v Toulouse (Rd 27, 2022), Lost 18-34 v Wakefield (Rd 26, 2022)
Leeds' last five: Lost 18-22 v Hull FC (Rd 2), Lost 10-42 @ Warrington (Rd 1), Lost 12-24 v St Helens (2022 Grand Final), Won 20-8 @ Wigan (2022 semi-final), Won 20-10 @ Catalans (2022 eliminator)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): St Helens 1/9, Leeds 6/1, draw 25/1
First try scorer odds: Tommy Makinson (St Helens) 13/2, Tee Ritson (St Helens) 7/1, Jon Bennison (St Helens) 9/1, Jack Welsby (St Helens) 10/1, Konrad Hurrell (St Helens) 11/1
Milestones:
If James Donaldson plays it will be his 200th Super League appearance, having played 73 games for Bradford Bulls, 42 for Hull Kingston Rovers and 84 for Leeds Rhinos.
Previous meetings:
Grand Final, 2022: St Helens 24, Leeds Rhinos 12
Round 16, 2022: St Helens 42, Leeds Rhinos 12
Round 7, 2022: Leeds Rhinos 0, St Helens 26
Semi-Final, 2021: St Helens 36, Leeds Rhinos 8
Round 24, 2021: St Helens 40, Leeds Rhinos 6
Total Super League meetings: 76 (St Helens 44, Leeds 32, no draws)
The most admirable trait on display in St Helens' 24-6 win at Castleford in round two was their attitude having taken the long trip back from western Sydney in the days leading up to the game following their World Club Challenge success against Penrith Panthers the previous weekend. Jack Welsby has been cleared to play after conceding a penalty try last weekend, while James Roby is available again after being rested and two-try Alex Walmsley should again be leading the pack.
Leeds can't buy any luck right now. After a hammering at Warrington on opening night they threw away countless clear opportunities against Hull FC last week to lose the game late and now they have to take on the side who beat them with a bit to spare in the Super League Grand Final last autumn. Rohan Smith needs to rediscover a bit of the magic after leading the Rhinos from relegation danger to the decider at Old Trafford in 2022, with his troops having looked a completely different proposition so far in '23. They need to get off the mat sooner rather than later.
Sportsman stat: Leeds were responsible for St Helens' biggest defeat of the Super League era and their heaviest loss in the past 114 years. The Rhinos hammered Saints 70-0 back in July 2004.
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