Leeds Rhinos have been on the verge of dropping out of the top six play-off race for the last few weeks but an encounter at Headingley in round twenty-three really was the Rhinos last opportunity to make the six as they came up against one of the sides in danger of dropping out of the play off places, an out of form Catalans Dragons.
A win would lift the Rhinos back within two points of the Dragons with four regular rounds remaining, a win for the Dragons would come close to guaranteeing them a spot in the end of season knock-out competition.
The Dragons were without the recently un-retired Sam Tomkins who had picked up an injury and with the securing of Brad Arthur as coach until the end of the 2025 season the bookies had made the home side favourites with an eight-point handicap on the coupon.
Good early pressure from the Rhinos saw them force a couple of goal-line drop in the fifth minute but the Dragons defence held firm, and they cleared their lines.
The Dragons hit on the counterattack as Arthur Romano scored in a move from the back of the scrum as he ran the angle and was missed by Paul Momirovski to dive over. Arthur Mourgue hit the post with the conversion, the visitors with a four-point advantage.
A high tackle by James Bentey on twenty-three gave Mourgue a simple penalty kick to extend the Dragons lead.
The Rhinos ended the half on the attack, forcing another drop out, but they went into the break trailing by six points, and on the balance of play it was probably a fair first forty scoreline.
Great Leeds pressure at the start of the second half saw them open their account on forty-five with David Fusitu’a taking a Momirovski pass twenty from the Dragons line and fending off a couple of Dragons tacklers to go over in the right corner. Rhyse Martin pushed his conversion attempt across the face of the posts.
On fifty-three the Rhinos hit the front when the supporting Matt Frawley took a pass after Jarrod O’Connor bust the line and found a pass for Lachlan Miller to make twenty metres before releasing the scrum half to scamper in. Martin added the conversion, the Rhinos now with a 10-6 lead.
Leeds turned defence into attack on sixty-six, Miller completing the move as he dotted down under the sticks after earlier great work by Rhyse Martin as he broke the line and sprinted thirty metres before releasing his full-back. Martin added the conversion for a 16-6 lead.
A high tackle from Navarrete gifted Martin a simple penalty goal to put the Rhinos two converted tries clear on the scoreboard at 18-6 and with just four minutes remaining there was no way back for the Dragons.
A terrible Brodie Croft attempted drop goal in the dying seconds took nothing away from a very solid Rhinos performance.
It was a good day at the office for the Rhinos, and another nightmare on the road for Steve McNamara’s men, as the Rhinos gave their end of season hopes a boost with a win which takes them within two points of the three sides at the bottom of the top six. Leeds endured the opening blitz from the visitors and once they settled into their game, and increased the pace, the Dragons couldn’t keep up.
Leeds Rhinos: Miller (T), Fusitu’a (T), Momirovski, Newman, Edgell, Croft, Frawley (T), Lisone, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Martin (3/4 G), Smith. Subs: Bentley, O’Connor, Nicholson-Watton, Donaldson. 18th Man: Sinfield.
Catalans Dragons: Rouge, Davies, Romano (T), Smith, Yaha, Mourgue (1/2 G), Fages, Navarrete, Da Costa, Bousquet, McMeeken, Seguier, Garcia. Subs: Dezaria, Ben-Abdelslem, Satae, Laguerre. 18th Man: Aispuro-Bichet.
Half-Time: 0-6.
Full-Time: 18-6.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6 : HT: 4-6, 8-6, 10-6, 14-6, 16-6, 18-6 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Catalans - Leeds.
Referee: Liam Moore.
