What with all the, ahem, "excitement" we appear to have forgotten there's a game, nay, the start of the season this weekend.

Here's Rovers squad.

Liam Salter
Omari Caro
Rhys Lovegrove
Graeme Horne
Adam Walker
Cory Paterson
Con Mika
Evarn Tuimavave
Jordan Cox
George Griffin
Josh Hodgson
Mickey Paea
Keal Carlile
Craig Hall
Michael Dobson
David Hodgson
Greg Eden
Sam Latus
Lincoln Withers

Assuming that the players waiting on late fitness tests come through I'll go with.

Eden, Caro, Horne, Salter, D. Hodgson, Hall, Dobson, Tuimavave, Hodgson, Walker, Paterson, Mika, Griffin. Replacements; Lovegrove, Paea, Withers, Cox.

Could not agree more plenty of impact from the bench!

Yeah, if we go with Hall at 6, rather than 1 or 4, as seems likely, that is probably our best available line-up. Bit worried as both Horne and Salter have mostly played on our right, I think.
Latus in if Eden is out is probably easier at a late stage than moving too many about, but you could put Hall at 1, Withers at 6 and Carlile on the bench.

That would be the option. I'd still like Hall to be given a run at centre, he just doesn't get his hands on the ball enough on the wing. However, defending at centre would be a worrying prospect.

I was pretty conviced by El Camo's opinion of not playing Horne at centre even if it meant going with two youngsters in Slater and Heil. But as Heil's not in the squad it's a moot point. Horne's lack of footwork is a concern, but he is a steadying influence and usually solid.

eden is out hall is playing full back and withers at 6

Many thanks and all that. It's a shame it doesn't look like Sandy agrees.
I'd still play Hall in Left Centre as its his favoured position and put Withers in at stand off with Carlile on the bench.

If Eden doesn't play I think we are in bother.

Sandra, I forgive you, it's been a long off season.

Could you please edit your first post, you can then change the title to include "daunting", remember, this is what we do? Can't believe you forgot, especially with the daunting visit of Catalan.

We don't, we ripped that off the esteemed and very amusing poster JohnD, I will however edit to a catchier title.

Aye, Catalan board. Everything's daunting, innit.

Assuming everyone is fit:

Eden
Hodgson
Hall
Salter
Caro
Withers
Dobson
Tuimavave
Hodgson
Walker
Mika
Paterson
Griffin

Lovegrove
Paea
Carlile
Horne


3/4 look a bit suspect defensively but everybody is playing in a position that they are comfortable playing in and that they have trained in for years.

I am going for a win in this one, sandy will have us ready we are still hurting from those defeats to the french last season. Its time for revenge. Man of the match Dobbo hat trick for Caro and two points clear of FC.
BELIEVE AND WE WILL ACHIEVE!!

Oh I wish I had that same belief Cabby, to many injuries and chopping and changing for me, all out of our hands. Hopefully we can show up well and push them all the way.

I for one will not be surprised if rovers do win has was said we do owe them one i was also not surprised when hull lost they are not has good has their supporters think they are

Think you boys will win vs cats-they will miss dureaux too much, n i think if your forwards can compete your backs have enough to win this.
i'd say good luck but wouldnt really mean it

Not that confident to be honest

Missing

Eden
Welham
Gleeson
Burns
O'hara

Not ideal for a game against one of the toughest sides in the comp

Part of the game, Phil, as you like to say.

What a confidence boost to our strength in depth though if we can pull it off.

Are we missing Eden?

I'd imagine Catalans to line up something like this:

Webb
Blanch
Duport
Millard
Pala
Pryce
Bosc
Bousquet
Henderson
Casty
Taia
Menzies
Mounis

Pelissier
Anderson
Elima
Fakir

Our forwards really are gonna have a job on competing with that pack even though they're still missing L Paea. Taia and Menzies look a frightening second-row pairing and they'll also have impact off the bench with Elima and Fakir.

With Eden missing I suppose a lot may depend on how much we've practiced with Hall at full-back.

The one thing that does give me hope though is the pre-season form of Lincoln Withers who has shown why he was a first choice half-back at Canberra Raiders ahead of Dobson. So hopefully if Dobson and Withers get enough of the ball we may be able to pull off a win.

looking forward to the game tomorrow.
hope we get off to a flyer and end up at the right end of the table this year.

Doesn't sound like Eden will make it so I'm guessing we'll go with Latus at full-back to minimise disruption. Moving Hall & Withers is still an option if it isn't working.

Think Barthau will probably start for Catalans ahead of Bosc.

Looking forward to this. We had 3 close games with them last year, fancy us to nick this one.

It is part of the game but missing 4 of your starting back 7 while only spending 1.2 million of a salary cap is going to hurt you against a team spending 1.65 million I'd guess

Well the season is finally arrived, hopefully we can start with 2 points, I can see todays game being a close fought battle i think our forwards will be able to create a good platform for dobson to hopefully pull the strings. I will be watching on facebook as i doubt my internet here will stream the radio coverage! I would obviously rather be in the East stand, but that wont be happening til April! Come on you Reds!!

I will be boarding a flight from Hong Kong so won't know the score until I get to Amsterdam.
Gutted to be missing the first game of the season.

I get the impression most fans are hopeful of our chances this afternoon because we beat a very average and overrated Hull FC side in pre-season but Catalans are a better side with better forwards.

I was encouraged by the way our pack dominated a small and ageing pack at the KC but the likes of Casty (who was the best prop in the league last year), Elima (one of FC's early targets) and Fakir are a different proposition all together IMO. Mounis is one of the most underrated 13's in SL too.

Taia and Menzies must be the best second-row pairing in the league bar-none and this is where we really have to be on our guard because I can see them doing some serious damage if they are not contained.

If Catalans do start with Barthau at 7 he's a really unpredictable player and a player who Bobby Goulding rates very highly but I'm not sure about his organisational skills..

If we manage to beat Catalans today then it would be an indicator that we could exceed a lot of expectations this season but I think Catalans have to be favourites because they have a better pack.

I just hope people don't start to get upset if we get beat because Catalans are a proven top-four side at the end of the day - not a fictional one created by the media...