Catalans Dragons and Castleford Tigers have named their squads for Saturday evening’s clash at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. The Tigers have made five changes to the squad that took on Leeds last week, with injuries striking.
With both sides having an awful season so far, their sights are firmly set of 2026, with both Joel Tomkins and Chris Chester looking to give players who will be at the club next year more minutes in favour of those who won’t be.
A win for Castleford would put them level on points with the Dragons, and although highly unlikely, a win by 32 or more would see them overtake them on points difference and move into ninth.
Catalans boss Joel Tomkins will have targeted this game as one that he can earn just his second win of his coaching career, after a difficult start to life as Dragons head coach.
Here is the all-important squad news ahead of Saturday’s fixture:
Catalans Dragons Team News:
Les Dracs make just one change to their initial squad named to face Warrington. Winger Tommy Makinson drops out through injury, after scoring a 30-minute hat-trick against the Wolves last Thursday. He is replaced by young centre Lenny Marc, who is named in a 21-man squad for the first time.
Marc, a French U19’s international, travelled down under with the French youth squad recently, and is said to be one of the bigger talents emerging from the squad.
Catalans Dragons 21-man squad: 3. Arthur Romano, 4. Reimis Smith, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Luke Keary, 8. Tevita Pangai Jr, 9. Benjamin Garcia, 13. Oliver Partington, 14. Alrix Da Costa, 15. Chris Satae, 16. Romain Navarette, 17. Bayley Sironen, 18. Cesar Rouge, 19. Paul Seguier, 20. Jordan Dezaria, 21. Theo Fages, 22. Fouad Yaha, 23. Matthieu Laguerre, 24. Franck Maria, 26. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, 31. Denive Balmforth, 32. Lenny Marc.
𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝟮𝟭 ⚔️
𝑃𝑟𝑒́𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒́ 𝑝𝑎𝑟 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑦𝑟𝑜𝑡 𝐴𝑢𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
Le groupe des Dragons pour la réception de Castleford.
🇫🇷 https://t.co/hqgLTEUfQm
🇬🇧 https://t.co/gA6iF6QX69 pic.twitter.com/RKN1QS535H
— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) August 21, 2025
Castleford Tigers Squad News:
The Tigers have made five changes to what was a 20-man squad named to face Leeds last weekend. The big news is the absence of captain Sam Wood, who struggled last week.
Other absences include Tex Hoy, who has been named in the squad for the past two weeks, but is yet to make his return from injury. Josh Simm and Joe Stimson were both injured in the defeat to the Rhinos, with the latter failing a HIA.
The good news for Castleford, though, is that hooker Liam Horne returns from a six-game suspension. The PNG international was charged with contact to an injured, or potentially injured, player in their narrow defeat to Wigan Warriors at the end of June.
Jeremiah Simbiken also returns from his one-match suspension, as Will Tate, Hugo Salabio and Andy Djeukessi all come into the squad. Alfie Lindsey is expected to earn his Tigers debut this weekend after being named for the second week in a row.
Castleford Tigers 21-man squad: 6. Daejarn Asi, 9. Liam Horne, 10. George Lawler, 11. Jeremiah Simbiken, 12. Alex Mellor, 13. Joe Westerman, 15. George Griffin, 16. Cain Robb, 19. Sam Hall, 20. Muizz Mustapha, 22. Louis Senior, 25. Will Tate, 26. George Hill, 27. Jenson Windley, 38. Brad Singleton, 39. Hugo Salabio, 41. Tom Amone, 42. Chris Atkin, 44. Andy Djeukessi, 45. Elliot Wallis, Alfie Lindsey
Our 21 man squad is now locked in for the RD23 fixture against the Dragons. #COYF 🐯 pic.twitter.com/DC0SgegNgb
— Castleford Tigers (@CTRLFC) August 21, 2025
