​Leeds Rhinos moved four points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League table after a determined away win against Catalans Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan. The Rhinos came out strong and built a commanding first-half lead, thanks in large part to a brilliant hat-trick from Brodie Croft. Croft’s scoring spree dominated the early proceedings, with two of his tries in the second half coming within an 11-minute spell that practically sealed the result for the league leaders.
From the opening whistle, Leeds looked to impose themselves, and they did so by taking advantage of good field position and clinical finishing. The visitors opened the scoring with Croft crossing for the first of his three tries, followed closely by finished efforts from Harry Newman and Lachlan Miller. The early three-try burst propelled Leeds to a 16-0 advantage as they reached the halftime whistle with a comfortable cushion, leaving Catalans with work to do in the second period.
The second half saw Croft complete his treble, touching down twice more in quick succession to stretch the lead further and reinforce Leeds’ status as the pace-setters in the league. His tries arrived in a dominant display of attacking rhythm, combining pace, vision, and support play that left the Dragons’ defence chasing shadows. Croft, who now has 20 tries for the season, was the standout performer as Leeds extended their advantage and pressed on with confidence.
Leeds’ progress was tempered, however, by a late Catalans effort as Ugo Tison produced a determined finish to score a late consolation try for the home side. The French club avoided a shutout in front of their own fans as Tison fought through contact to score in the final seconds, ensuring Catalans did not go home empty-handed on a night that carried high expectations, especially for the prolific Fijian winger Maika Sivo.
Sivo entered the match with the potential to break the Super League record for consecutive-try games, aiming to extend his incredible run. Although he found opportunities harder to come by and didn’t reach the scoring milestone he hoped for tonight, the Dragons could still take positives from a determined display against the league leaders in Perpignan. Sivo’s pursuit of the record remained a talking point prior to kick-off, adding an extra layer of intrigue around the encounter.
Final Score: Catalans Dragons 6, Leeds Rhinos 28. The result underscores Leeds’ continued consistency and their ability to exploit opponents through high-tempo attacking sequences and clinical finishing. It also reinforces the Rhinos’ position atop the league standings, where the pursuit for the title remains firmly in their hands as the season progresses.
Catalans Dragons lineup highlights included Staines, Cotric, Laguerre, Faataape, Darrelatour, Sexton, Dodd, Allen, Leeming, Maria, Rogers-Smith, Lipowicz, and Bousquet, with interchange options listed as Condon, Navarrete, Wilson, Tison, and Martin. Leeds Rhinos featured Miller, Sivo, Handley, Newman, Lumb, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Levi, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, and Watkins, with replacements Holroyd, O’Connor, C. Smith, Cassell, and Nicholson-Watton available for selection.
The match was officiated by referee Liam Moore, whose decisions helped shape the flow of a tightly contested battle, particularly in the opening exchanges and the subsequent middle period. The game’s tempo was defined by Leeds’ early dominance and Croft’s late-game impact, with the Dragons’ late try from Tison providing a glimmer of hope for a comeback that ultimately did not materialize.
Looking ahead, Leeds’ charge toward the top of the Super League table continues, aided by Croft’s standout performance and a supportive cast that has repeatedly demonstrated their ability to grind out results away from home. Catalans Dragons, while left to reflect on a challenging night, can draw from the performance as motivation to tighten defensive structures and translate pressure into points in future fixtures.
For fans and followers of Super League, this fixture reaffirmed why Leeds remains a formidable force in the competition, and why Croft’s contributions are central to their title-winning ambitions. As the league progresses, it will be intriguing to watch how both teams respond to this result, and how the rest of the season unfolds in what promises to be a thrilling campaign.
Note: Team lineups and interchange options were as follows. Catalans Dragons: Staines, Cotric, Laguerre, Faataape, Darrelatour, Sexton, Dodd, Allen, Leeming, Maria, Rogers-Smith, Lipowicz, Bousquet. Interchanges: Condon, Navarrete, Wilson, Tison, Martin. Leeds Rhinos: Miller, Sivo, Handley, Newman, Lumb, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, Levi, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Watkins. Interchanges: Holroyd, O’Connor, C. Smith, Cassell, Nicholson-Watton.