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http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyle...rleague/07/01/26/RUGBYL_Catalans_Guisset.html
GUISSET HAILS DRAGONS' DEPTH
Jerome Guisset believes the Catalans Dragons have enough depth in their squad to make a real impact in this season's engage Super League.
The Perpignan-based team finished bottom of the table last year in their inaugural campaign in the division.
But they still managed to claim eight victories along the way and have added to the squad ahead of Super League XII, with the likes of talented backs Casey McGuire and Clint Greenshields moving to France.
Guisset believes any talk of Les Catalans finishing in the top six is unrealistic, but is confident they will not be propping up the rest like last year.
"We have made some good signings, we are pretty optimistic and I think this year is going to be good for us," the France captain told PA Sport.
"Everyone at the club is looking forward to it and we've got a good group of players coming up.
"I don't think we will be as handicapped as we were last year. We have a lot of depth in the backs now, and we have kept our strength in the forwards. So I think it's solid all over.
"We did all right winning eight games last year, and we went close in a few others. We hope to improve on that and go one better this time round.
"I think it would be a little optimistic to say we will finish in the top six. There are a lot of teams there who have been working hard for many years to finish in the top six.
"We have to look at a few teams, such as the one that came up - Hull KR, fight with them and hopefully finish halfway down the second half of the table."
The Dragons will be playing their home games this season at the revamped Gilbert Brutus stadium, the club's "spiritual home", after spending last year at the Stade Aime Giral.
Guisset, the former Wigan and Warrington forward, feels that will make a difference as well, adding: "The Catalan people are quite fanatical down there, and being back in our own stadium will help a lot.
"It is our spiritual home, and it has been for about 40 years. This year, we are back there and hopefully we can generate a bit more income from it.
"And on the playing side, I think it will be a massive plus for us."
Head coach Mick Potter is weighing up his options at scrum-half after revealing captain Stacey Jones could miss up to two months of the new season through injury.
It was thought New Zealand international Jones would be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.
But more damage was found during the operation and the further repairs could leave him sidelined for even longer.
Jones is the fulcrum of the Perpignan-based side and Potter admits the injury is a huge blow to the club.
But he feels there are adequate replacements within his squad.
"Stacey needed a little more work done on him," he told PA Sport.
"Best-case scenario for when he is back on the pitch will be six weeks. But it's one of those injuries where it depends on the individual."
GUISSET HAILS DRAGONS' DEPTH
Jerome Guisset believes the Catalans Dragons have enough depth in their squad to make a real impact in this season's engage Super League.
The Perpignan-based team finished bottom of the table last year in their inaugural campaign in the division.
But they still managed to claim eight victories along the way and have added to the squad ahead of Super League XII, with the likes of talented backs Casey McGuire and Clint Greenshields moving to France.
Guisset believes any talk of Les Catalans finishing in the top six is unrealistic, but is confident they will not be propping up the rest like last year.
"We have made some good signings, we are pretty optimistic and I think this year is going to be good for us," the France captain told PA Sport.
"Everyone at the club is looking forward to it and we've got a good group of players coming up.
"I don't think we will be as handicapped as we were last year. We have a lot of depth in the backs now, and we have kept our strength in the forwards. So I think it's solid all over.
"We did all right winning eight games last year, and we went close in a few others. We hope to improve on that and go one better this time round.
"I think it would be a little optimistic to say we will finish in the top six. There are a lot of teams there who have been working hard for many years to finish in the top six.
"We have to look at a few teams, such as the one that came up - Hull KR, fight with them and hopefully finish halfway down the second half of the table."
The Dragons will be playing their home games this season at the revamped Gilbert Brutus stadium, the club's "spiritual home", after spending last year at the Stade Aime Giral.
Guisset, the former Wigan and Warrington forward, feels that will make a difference as well, adding: "The Catalan people are quite fanatical down there, and being back in our own stadium will help a lot.
"It is our spiritual home, and it has been for about 40 years. This year, we are back there and hopefully we can generate a bit more income from it.
"And on the playing side, I think it will be a massive plus for us."
Head coach Mick Potter is weighing up his options at scrum-half after revealing captain Stacey Jones could miss up to two months of the new season through injury.
It was thought New Zealand international Jones would be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.
But more damage was found during the operation and the further repairs could leave him sidelined for even longer.
Jones is the fulcrum of the Perpignan-based side and Potter admits the injury is a huge blow to the club.
But he feels there are adequate replacements within his squad.
"Stacey needed a little more work done on him," he told PA Sport.
"Best-case scenario for when he is back on the pitch will be six weeks. But it's one of those injuries where it depends on the individual."
