I am a big fan of Matt Whitley, the left-side back-row for Catalans, but he's not had chance to really show his stuff as the Dragons haven't had the field position.

Saints back-rower Morgan Knowles is another favourite and he has had the chance to strut his stuff in the dangerous areas.

Quarter of an hour to go.

Catalans, through Matt Whitley, make a last ditch effort to shuttle Tommy Makinson to touch as he heads for the line. It comes off.

Saints had gone close through Morgan Knowles before.

This time Knowles gives away a penalty with a shoulder charge. The type Adrian Morley used to dish out in days gone by.

Saints hooker James Roby takes his seat in the stands after a typically involved effort, blood on the hands and sweat on the brow.

Catalans are continuing to plug away but Saints are just too good. This game looks cooked like a juicy steak on a Sunday BBQ.

Dave Woods
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It's surely a case of how many Saints can rattle up now.

Catalans tried to work an overlap down the right, but Saints numbered up really well to shut down the play.

Then another dangerous kick into the middle comes to nothing for Catalans because of offside.

Sam Moa's high shot forces a penalty and Catalans under the pump.

One of the highlights for Catalans on an otherwise tough afternoon has been the form of Arthur Mourgue at full-back.

He's just escaped the clutches of five Saints players to clear the lines and then chimed into a promising attack but another loose pass within the move saw Saints gain the ball back.

That said, Fouad Yaha has just rattled Kevin Naiqama and forces a knock-on. Concrete.

Ouch!published at 48 mins

48 mins

St Helens 22-0 Catalans

Clash of heads from Saints back-rower Zeb Taia and Catalans hooker Alrix Da Costa which leaves both a little bruised.

Taia stayed down and now has gone off for a Head Injury Assessment.

James Roby and Joe Batchelor picked out Sam Kasiano and tried to isolate him with a two on one, but the big man put a shot on Batchelor to leave him shuddering.

Then Saints prise their way into decent field position but a loose offload drifts forward from Mark Percival.

Catalans' set is merely a clear the lines job and Saints are back at them again.

Zeb Taia single-handedly bursts, zips and spins his way through the Catalans defence to put Saints on the front foot.

It looks as though something could come of it but credit to the Dragons they eventually scramble to shut down the play.

It had been a bit hairy for them. Just about avoided further damage.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

The Leeds and Huddersfield players have arrived at Headingley as the two teams await their game at 18:30 BST.

Meanwhile, we're off again here after a dominant three-try first half from St Helens.

Catalans playmaker James Maloney drills the kick downfield and it's Saints ball.

Completion rates weren't magnificent in that first half.

It was quick though, and I doubt either coach is expecting the best execution.

Metres made was telling. Saints have amassed 890 metres to the Dragons 558.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Rugby league hopes to become part of the government's crowd pilot tests once they are reintroduced on 15 August.

Cricket, snooker and horse racing were all on the agenda of events to be played in front of reduced numbers of spectators to review the viability of social distancing and hygiene measures.

Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer told BBC Radio 5 Live the wider aim is to welcome back fans on a wider scale in October, but that the sport has been put forward for pilots before then.

"Because we're not geographically spread too far, we don't put a great onus on the public transport system," Rimmer said, "We have a large number of women in our viewing audience which makes it a bit unique for the government to look at and we have also have many generations of the same family who come to games together.

"So for all those reasons we do lend ourselves to a pilot and hopefully the government will see that."

Kristian Woolf's Saints side picked up the baton in a surging, thunderously quick game at Headingley and put themselves into a 16-0 half-time lead.

Lachlan Coote, James Bentley and Zeb Taia got the tries, built on some intense work across the board.

Importantly they had the mettle and stamina to back up their attack in defence when Catalans threatened at the back end of the half.

Israel Folau was probably picking his celebration when the Saints cover swamped and stopped him from crashing over.

Teak tough.

Jon Wilkin
Ex-St Helens captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

An exceptional first half from St Helens.

Catalans started brightly but since Lachlan Coote's penalty, Saints have been completely in control of every aspect of the game.

Convincing start to the restarted Super League campaign by the champions.

Catalans have felt the full force of their frustrations.

Image source, PA Media

Mark Percival leads a Saints break-out, James Roby and Regan Grace continue the progress.

Then with Saints in the Dragons' 10, they go for a little kick through and it's down to Sam Kasiano to hold out.

Proper ebb and flow here.

Israel Folau was denied somehow as he stomped forward, Saints just about got bodies in the way.

Catalans so close. Then Fouad Yaha is swamped by numbers! Brilliant defence.