Leeds Rhinos claimed their first victory in Perpignan since the 2022 Play-Offs, defeating Catalans Dragons 28-6 in a Betfred Super League match. The win, which took place at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, saw Brodie Croft achieve his second hat-trick of the season.
The Rhinos established an early lead, with Harry Newman scoring the opening try in the eighth minute, converted by Jake Connor, putting them 6-0 ahead. Despite an initial bright start from the Dragons, Leeds quickly took control of the game.
Croft’s first try came after a period of pressure from Leeds, following a calamitous error by the Dragons near their own try line. This was followed by Lachie Miller’s try before the break, extending Leeds’ lead to 16-0.
The second half saw continued dominance from the Rhinos. Croft added two more tries to complete his hat-trick, with Connor converting to bring the score to 28-0 with approximately ten minutes remaining. The Dragons managed a consolation effort in the final minute through Ugo Tison.
Milestones and Key Performances
The match marked several significant milestones for Rhinos players. Captain Kallum Watkins played his 300th game for the club, joining a distinctive group of players to reach this achievement. Other players celebrating career milestones included Danny Levi (200 games), Jake Connor (300 games), and Tom Holroyd (100 games).
Riley Lumb made his first Super League appearance for the Rhinos since the season opener, stepping in for the injured Ryan Hall. Cooper Jenkins also started at prop due to an injury to Keenan Palasia, though he later left the field with an eye injury.
Brodie Croft’s performance was central to the Rhinos’ success, with his long-range effort and two solo tries contributing significantly to the scoreline. Harry Newman and Lachie Miller’s first-half scores also helped to set the pace for Leeds.
The Rhinos’ win moves them four points clear of Wigan Warriors at the top of the table, having secured 15 wins from 18 games this season. This victory also extended their winning streak to seven consecutive games.
Other Super League Results
In other Super League action, Wakefield Trinity handed Hull KR their first home defeat in a year with a 20-6 victory at Craven Park. Caius Faatili scored two second-half tries for Wakefield, while Harvey Smith also crossed the try line.
The game between Wakefield and Hull KR was level at 6-6 at halftime. Both sides had players sin-binned during the match, with Peta Hiku of Rovers and Ky Rodwell of Trinity receiving yellow cards.
Meanwhile, Leigh Leopards kept their play-off hopes alive with a 24-18 win over Castleford Tigers. Leigh, who have now won nine of their last eleven outings, were twice pegged back by Castleford but ultimately secured the victory at the Progress With Unity Stadium.
David Armstrong was a key player for Leigh, creating the first try for Lachlan Lam and scoring two tries himself. Umyla Hanley also scored, and Adam Cook converted all four tries for the Leopards.
The Super League season continues with Rivals Round scheduled from July 23-July 26. The Elimination Play-offs are set for September 19-September 20, followed by the Play-off semi-finals on September 26-September 27, leading up to the Grand Final on October 3.
The Rhinos’ victory in Perpignan was their first since the 2022 Play-Offs.
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Source: skysports.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”