A very strong outfit for next season. Louis and Leon Pryce there, still have the main pieces from last year. Amazing how Menzies carries on at his age. Could really spring a surprise and challenge for our League Leaders shield.

Louis Anderson
Jean-Philippe Baile
Jason Baitieri
Damien Blanch
Thomas Bosc
Julian Bousquet
Rémi Casty
Vincent Duport
Scott Dureau
Jamal Fakir
David Ferriol
Cyrille Gossard
Clint Greenshields
Ian Henderson
Steve Menzies
Daryl Millard
Gregory Mounis
Lopini Paea
Eloi Pelissier
Leon Pryce
Sébastien Raguin
Setaimata Sa
Mickael Simon
Cyril Stacul
Frédéric Vaccari

Keep Bosc and Pryce fit and they have a very strong set of backs, if not then they have to depend on Dureau to work all the magic.

I'm surprised how highly some people rate Catalans. To me they look like a side that will come somewhere from 5th-8th.
They have become similar to the London Broncos in the old days, when they would fluctuate from bottom of the league one year to mid table the next.

A decent team yes who will get some good results in France but this isn't the first post I've seen here recently saying they could be challengers for the League Leaders Shield....does that squad honestly look better than us, Wigan or Saints?

How many of their players would you take ahead of ours? Which areas of the team is it stronger?

You should know more than most Sal being one of the more intellectual posters that it's a team game, you can have 13 of the worlds best players, who's to say they will gel and complement each other? I think the main difference is having an Aussie coach with good training techniques actually being able to translate that across fully, with him being a fluent French speaker you've seen the difference he's made.

Pryce and Louis are, if they stay fit, very good players, the crowd there can be vociferous and no team find it easy to play there.
Didn't they tail off due to injuries in the playoffs. Write Cats off at your peril i say.

Catalan have always been a team who can turn up and upset the big boys when totally unexpected. Dont think they will be title contenders themselves but they may have a big say in where the title ends up.

No chance of breaking into the top 3/4

Good side on their day though.

A great side IMO and the club in general is certainly on the rise. Not sure about title contenders, but I think they've certainly got a good chance of breaking into that top 3/4 places. Additions of Louis and Pryce are good ones and they should play a big part in what they do next year if fit. People talk about Dureau, who is a fantastic player, but a man equally as impressive in that side is Ian Henderson. He had a great season last year and another player they need to keep fit for next season. If they want to do anything next year, they have to improve on their form in the UK though. I know conditions over in France suit them side a lot more, but they have to improve away. Discipline is another thing with them. They have to cut out the stupid penalties all the while if they want to go anywhere.

The problem with Catalans will always be weather.

They always start the season slowly in the cold and rain, pick up in the blistering heat, then fade again at the end of the season.

Think their main chance of silverwear will be the Challenge Cup in 2012.

Tough job for Trent Robinson to follow up the miracles performed last season - loads of pressure on him and the president will soon be on his back if they don't perform to at least last years standards.
Speaking with one of the players the other day he reckons the spirit in the camp is 'awesome' and Leon & Louis will be immense additions to the squad.
I still worry if Dureau is injured tho' - Pryce & Bosc can shuffle around where required but I think Barthau in the UTC line up is now ready for SL games after being prematurely thrown in at the deep end by Walters.

just coincidence about the weather conditions Jonny IMO - they were unlucky not to grab the points in early march against the mighty Saints at Perpignan in really cold conditions - Saints were hanging on at the end.heir first two home games were rubbish though,just like their pre season games with thesquad & coach getting to know each other

I don't think they'll win the league leaders, not because of squad strength but I don't think it's possible with the travel that they do, if they ever did it, I think it would be a sensational achievement.

Ref squad strength, Is it as strong as 'the big sides' ? I'm not sure, in some areas I think it could be and in others not so much, I think they lack some genuine strike threat in their three quarters excluding Greenshields and say Blanch at a push. I also have a lot of time for Jean-Phillipe Baile at centre, though I think he has some rough edges, but also tonnes of ability.

I think that young hooker, Pellisier (sic), he looks a talent, he could be a real one to watch from the bench in an Isaac Luke role.

Their pack is as good as anything in SL, just ill disciplined at times, Louis Anderson & Oliver Elima in the backrow, there's no more physical partnership than that but they'll gift away too many daft pens, throw in Fakir, Casty, Ferriol and a bit of Menzies guile then Henderson scooting here, there & everywhere and I like their pack immensely but they have a combustable element they need to control.

Bosc, Pryce & Dureau are as good as any halfback combo's kicking around in SL for me.

I'll probably get hammered for this, but I think I'd take their pack over Leeds or Wigan definately. It's whether from there they have the ability to put points on the board, maybe adding Pryce will help, but I'd like to have seen a little more added to the backline. Dare I say it, I think they're missing a King or a Carmont, somebody like that.

I would hope that all super league clubs have set their sights far higher than winning your League Leaders shield.
I would have thought that actually targeting the Rhino's Super League Grand Final crown would be most clubs target,your clubs too

I fancy them to pip Wigan to 6th spot.