Neither Leeds nor Catalans have enjoyed the start to the season they’d have dreamed of.
The Rhinos are yet to win following a heartbreaking defeat to Warrington and a very underwhelming showing at Wigan. Meanwhile, Catalans have just one win from two after being outplayed by St Helens and just scraping to victory against Wakefield last week.
All that puts more pressure on this fixture. With the likes of Wigan, Warrington and St Helens starting so well, these two cannot afford to fall further behind them in table, especially the Rhinos who are facing the prospect of three defeats from three to start the season. The last two times that happened the Rhinos ended up battling against relegation rather than for the title.
Kick-off time and TV channel
The game kicks off at 8pm tonight at Emerald Headingley Stadium.
The game will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena with coverage starting at 7:30pm.
Predicted Teams
Leeds Rhinos
Both these sides have issues with suspensions and injuries. Leeds will be without David Fusitua, Harry Newman, Richie Myler, Tom Holroyd and Sam Walters through injury whilst James Bentley is suspended with fellow backrower Rhyse Martin away on compassionate leave. Making matters worse, Cameron Smith and Ash Handley are both doubts having picked up back and hip injuries respectively both . If absent, it could be as simple as Jarrod O’Connor and Jack Broadbent coming straight in to the spots vacated by the pair. However, Richard Agar may rejig his side with Mikolaj Oledzki potentially replacing Smith in the starting XIII picking up a first start of 2022 with Zane Tetevano potentially moving to 13. Meanwhile, Broadbent could be asked to play centre with Tom Briscoe potentially returning to the wing. Elsewhere, it’ll be much of the same such are Leeds’ now limited options. Perhaps not what Agar would have wanted after a poor performance at Wigan last week. At least Brad Dwyer will return after a one match ban.
1 Jack Walker
29 Liam Tindall
20 Tom Briscoe
4 Liam Sutcliffe
5 Ash Handley
6 Blake Austin
7 Aidan Sezer
13 Zane Tetevano
9 Kruise Leeming
10 Matt Prior
21 Morgan Gannon
15 Alex Mellor
17 Cameron Smith
Substitutes
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
14 Brad Dwyer
19 Bodene Thompson
25 James Donaldson
Catalans Dragons
Things haven’t gotten easier for the Dragons either. After winning the League Leaders’ Shield last year on the back of their powerful pack, which was bolstered going into 2022 by the arrival of Dylan Napa, Catalans are now trying to scrape together a front row for this Headingley trip. Gil Dudson and the aforementioned Napa are suspended with Mickael Goudemand’s injury ensuring Steve McNamara’s prop options are as low as they can be with Julian Bousquet already injured. Paul Seguier, therefore, could be asked to come into the starting XIII with McNamara most likely wanting to keep Sam Kasiano on the bench for impact. Mathieu Cozza could also be called upon.
29 Sam Tomkins
2 Tom Davies
4 Dean Whare
3 Samisoni Langi
5 Fouad Yaha
6 Mitchell Pearce
7 Josh Drinkwater
23 Jordan Dezaria
9 Michael McIlorum
16 Paul Seguier
11 Matt Whitley
12 Mike McMeeken
13 Ben Garcia
Substitutes
14 Alrix Da Costa
20 Tyrone May
27 Joe Chan
28 Sam Kasiano
