Super League: St Helens vs Catalans Dragons tips, predicted score, key stats and verdict
- Seb Sternik
- 12 July 2023
Thursday night Super League offers a mouthwatering clash as league leaders Catalans Dragons take on St Helens in a repeat of the 2021 Grand Final.
Rugby league fans are quick to criticise Thursday night Super League action, though even the most pessimistic followers of the game will be excited about this one.
Catalans Dragons and St Helens have put on some thrilling encounters in recent years and this shapes up to be a similar affair.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Super League, Thursday 13 July, Kick-off 20.00, Sky Sports
Predicted score
St Helens 20-16 Catalans Dragons
Suggested bets
Key stats
St Helens have lost just one home Super League game this season
Three of the last six head-to-heads were won by one or two points
Catalans Dragons have lost just one of their last eight Super League games
Verdict
In a season where any hint of logic is immediately thrown out of the window, statistics may not tell us much about Thursday's blockbuster. Nevertheless, we might as well try and make some sense of the madness.
That word certainly encapsulates the feeling around Super League this season.
In what is arguably one of the most enthralling campaigns in years, every club still has something to fight for despite already playing through 18 rounds.
For Catalans Dragons and St Helens, Super League glory is most certainly the target as the two behemoths look to secure the best possible position ahead of fast approaching play-offs.
The French outfit are currently leading the way in the competition, but even they are susceptible to a slip up.
Last week, for instance, the Dragons fell to a shock home defeat against 10th placed Huddersfield Giants.
This was just the fifth Super League defeat for the Perpignan outfit this season, and first since late April.
Saints, in spite of their name, are not perfect either. The reigning world champions have won eight of their last nine games, though that sole defeat did come against a largely inconsistent Hull FC side.
Home advantage could be massive for Paul Wellens and his men considering St Helens have only lost one game at the Totally Wicked Stadium this season. What's more, Catalans are winless in eight Super League games at the stadium.
With that in mind, we're backing St Helens to prevail - but only by the thinnest of margins.
Three of the last six meetings have been won by one or two points meaning there's a good chance we will witness another thriller.
