Super League: Talking points and team news for Saturday and Sunday’s matches | Rugby League News

Ian Watson is preparing Huddersfield to face his old club Salford on Sunday

We look at what is being said and team news as Round 4 of the 2022 Betfred Super League season concludes with three weekend matches…

Toulouse Olympique vs Wigan Warriors (5pm GMT Saturday, Stade Ernest Wallon)

Saturday’s Super League clash in the south of France pits two teams together who have faced contrasting starts to the 2022 season when one of the early pacesetters visits a side still searching for their first win.

Wigan Warriors could hardly have asked for a better start to Matt Peet’s reign as head coach, winning their first three games after a 22-12 victory at home to Huddersfield Giants last week. Hosts Toulouse, meanwhile, have endured three losses since coming into the competition after winning promotion in 2021.

Peet will be allowing his players time to relax in Montpellier the day after the game too, but at the same time he knows the Warriors cannot afford to let their guard down against a team who he believes are adapting to life in the top flight.

“We feel that Toulouse have not made the best start, but what they are is improving and to push Warrington the way they did last week, we would always give them the respect that they deserve, and we would always be looking to get a quality performance ourselves,” Peet said.

“The warning signs were there for anyone who is coming up against Toulouse in the coming weeks that the win is not too far away and they’re getting to grips with the speed and intensity of Super League.”

Lebanon international Abbas Miski is set to make his Wigan debut at Toulouse after impressing for the reserves, while Ethan Havard and Bevan French both travel with the squad to train.

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Highlights of the Super League match between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants

Ellis Robson is likely to make his first appearance for Toulouse after joining on loan from Warrington Wolves – the team they lost 32-18 at home to last week – and head coach Sylvain Houles is in no doubt they are making progress after a disrupted start to the year.

“It’s been well documented that we’ve been through a tough period, so it takes time to rebuild but [against Warrington] we could see a huge improvement,” Houles said.

“It’s a mixed feeling because we missed a few opportunities when the game was in the balance but it’s only our third game in Super League and if we can keep learning like that we will improve every week.”

Named squads

Toulouse Olympique: Paul Marcon, Lucas Albert, Romain Navarrete, Lloyd White, Andrew Dixon, Anthony Marion, Eloi Pelissier, Maxime Puech, Joseph Bretherton, Mitch Garbutt, Illias Bergal, Chris Hankinson, Gadwin Springer, Justin Sangare, Guy Armitage, Matty Russell, Hugo Pezet, Olly Ashall-Bott, Maxime Stefani, Tony Gigot, Ellis Robson.

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Highlights of the Betfred Super League round 3 clash between Toulouse and Warrington

Wigan Warriors: Jake Bibby, Zak Hardaker, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Tommy Leuluai, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Patrick Mago, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, John Bateman, Morgan Smithies, Kaide Ellis, Harry Smith, Oliver Partington, Liam Byrne, Kai Pearce-Paul, Joe Shorrocks, Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Brad O’Neill.

Huddersfield Giants vs Salford Red Devils (3pm Sunday, John Smith’s Stadium)

Ian Watson has targeted minor improvements for Huddersfield Giants as they aim to rebound from their first loss of the season when they host his former club Salford Red Devils on Sunday.

Head coach Watson took plenty of encouragement from some aspects of his team’s display in the defeat away to Wigan, to the extent he believes they were better in some areas.

However, he acknowledged the need for improvement too and is boosted by the return of Theo Fages to the halves after the France international completed a suspension.

“We didn’t feel we were too far away from Wigan at all,” Watson said. “We felt in some areas we were probably the better team.

“Obviously the most important area is getting over the try-line. Wigan were the better team at that, so we need to tidy up on a few little things to be better.”

Salford have Ryan Brierley available after he successfully appealed against a one-game suspension, although Dan Sarginson must serve a ban of the same length.

The Red Devils also went down to their first loss of the season last week, being beaten 48-16 away to Hull FC, and Paul Rowley is demanding a much-improved showing from his side.

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Highlights of the Betfred Super League round 3 clash between Hull FC and Salford Red Devils

“We went into our shell and defensively they were soft tries, we were nowhere near resilient enough,” Rowley said.

“We’re two from three and I guess some people said we’d have taken that, but I don’t want to accept mediocrity.”

Named squads

Huddersfield Giants: Will Pryce, Jermaine McGillvary, Ricky Leutele, Ashton Golding, Tui Lolohea, Theo Fages, Chris Hill, Michael Lawrence, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates, Matty English, Owen Trout, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Adam O’Brien, Oliver Wilson, Leroy Cudjoe, Louis Senior, Ollie Roberts, Innes Senior, Jack Ashworth.

Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Sitaleki Akauola, Andy Ackers, Greg Burke, Shane Wright, James Greenwood, Elijah Taylor, Danny Addy, King Vuniyayawa, Ryan Lannon, Chris Atkin, Jack Ormondroyd, Rhys Williams, Matt Costello, Deon Cross, Alex Gerrard.

Castleford Tigers vs Hull FC (3.30pm Sunday, Mend-A-Hose Jungle)

There will be something of a reunion for some members of Castleford Tigers on Sunday when they welcome former club Hull FC to Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

Head coach Lee Radford and three-quarter Mahe Fonua will both be eager to put one over on the Black and Whites, although more so because the Tigers are still winless in 2022.

A 26-10 defeat away to Hull Kingston Rovers last week left Castleford with three defeats from three, but Fonua is confident it will not be long before they turn things around.

“Coming over and being in a new environment with a new club has given me an extra love for footy again,” Fonua said.

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Highlights of the Super League match between Hull KR and Castleford Tigers

“It’s still early days and we haven’t got off to the best of starts, but I’ve got more than enough faith in this team that we’re going to turn things around and hopefully that can start this Sunday.”

Another former Hull FC player in Bureta Faraimo is unavailable as he starts a two-game ban, but George Lawler is back and youngsters Jason Qareqare and Jack Sadler come into the side.

Hull FC are without Cameron Scott and Carlos Tuimavave due to injury, but welcome back Andre Savelio and have Kane Evans available for his first appearance for the club as they aim to build on the big win over Salford.

“A number of players stood up,” head coach Brett Hodgson said reflecting on the previous week’s win.. “I thought our pack was immense.

“The response from the previous week was much better than the responses we had last year so that shows some progression.”

Named squads

Castleford Tigers: Niall Evalds, Derrell Olpherts, Jordan Turner, Jake Trueman, Paul McShane, George Lawler, Joe Westerman, Nathan Massey, Mahe Fonua, Tyla Hepi, Alex Sutcliffe, Daniel Smith, Greg Eden, Cheyse Blair, Suaia Matagi, Brad Martin, Sam Hall, Gareth O’Brien, Cain Robb, Jason Qareqare, Jack Sadler.

Hull FC: Jake Connor, Adam Swift, Josh Griffin, Darnell McIntosh, Josh Reynolds, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Jordan Lane, Joe Lovodua, Kane Evans, Brad Fash, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Jordan Johnstone, Josh Bowden, Connor Wynne, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Aidan Burrell, Jamie Shaul.