Leeds stay top with eight-try win over Catalans

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• Published24 April 2026
• 38 Comments

Betfred Super League, Headingley

Leeds (16) 46

Tries: Handley, Sivo, Hall 2, Levi, Jenkins, Croft, McDonnell Goals: Connor (7)

Catalans (0) 4

Tries: Darrelatour

Leeds Rhinos stayed top of Super League as they scored eight tries to steamroller Catalans Dragons at Headingley.

Ash Handley scored their first after just two minutes and it set the tone for a totally dominant display.

Maika Sivo and Ryan Hall added scores before the break to give Leeds a 16-0 half-time lead.

Four tries in a riotous 16-minute spell early in the second half followed, with Danny Levi, Cooper Jenkins, Brodie Croft and Hall all crossing .

Leo Darrelatour crossed to prevent Catalans from being kept scoreless, but there was still time for James McDonnell to add an eighth try for Leeds.

It was a fourth consecutive win for Leeds to keep them top of the table, while Catalans remain sixth with a fourth defeat of the season.

After Handley's opening try, he then knocked back Brodie Croft's high kick to Lachlan Miller, who sent Sivo into the corner.

Jake Connor timed a perfect pass for Hall to score the first of his tries as Leeds went into the break with a comfortable advantage.

They controlled territory at the start of the second half and found a fourth try from Levi before Catalans put the restart straight into touch and Leeds took full advantage to go over again through Jenkins.

The forward then turned provider as he broke the line and sent Croft under the posts, and after the visitors had a try disallowed for a knock-on, Hall scored his second try of the night.

With Leeds 40-0 ahead, Catalans finally got on the scoreboard as Darrelatour made a break to touch down.

But it was only fitting for Leeds to have the final say and McDonnell duly delivered in the penultimate minute.

'A professional performance' - reaction

Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I liked the way we built the game. It was pretty professional. We were very good physically and most areas we were right on top of.

"We didn't chase the scoreboard, we got a lot of work into them. We could have been further ahead at half-time but I liked the fact that no-one was concerned about that.

"We dominated possession and field position, and we knew at some stage we were going to get our rewards, and we did."

Leeds: Miller; Hall, Bird, Handley, Sivo; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, Levi, Palasia, McDonnell, Hankinson, Watkins.

Interchanges: Holroyd, Jenkins, O'Connor, Smith

Catalans: Staines; Makinson, Aispuro-Bichet, Faataape, Darrelatour; Sexton, Dodd; Fa'asuamaleaui Leeming, Navarette, Garcia, Lipowicz, Bousquet.

Interchanges: Satae, Condon, Allen, Wilson.

Referee: Liam Moore.

Related topics

• Leeds Rhinos
• Catalans Dragons
• Rugby League