Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons player ratings as 1 scores 9/10

Leeds Rhinos took on Catalans Dragons tonight at Headingley knowing that anything less than a win would be a huge dent in their playoff hopes.

Perhaps boosted by the contract renewal for Brad Arthur, Leeds Rhinos rose to the challenge after trailing at halftime and secured an 18-6 win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

After losing to Warrington Wolves last week at Magic Weekend, it left Leeds Rhinos four points shy of the top six but they had an opportunity to cut that to two if they had won tonight.

As for Catalans, after a shocking 36-4 loss to Hull KR, they needed a win to distance the Rhinos and Leigh Leopards in the chasing pack. They were without several key players after picking up injuries last week with Matt Ikuvalu and Jarrod Wallace both dropping out.

Leeds Rhinos lost Ash Handley for the season but were boosted by the return of Brodie Croft after the Australian returned down under on compassionate leave.

Leeds Rhinos keep playoff hopes alive with victory over Catalans

Leeds Rhinos started quickest as they built pressure but ultimately they couldn’t do anything with it and after winger Alfie Edgell dropped a high kick, Catalans took advantage from the resulting scrum when Arthur Mourgue darted out and set up Arthur Romano to cross over from close range.

Mourgue would miss the conversion but after another ten quiet minutes, he took a penalty from 30 yards out to make it a 6-0 lead. It was perhaps a smart decision with points at a premium with the score remaining the same after half an hour following a disallowed Mike McMeeken try.

Leeds Rhinos opened up the second half far better as they piled the pressure on forcing a goal line drop out before David Fusitu’a scored a brilliant try in the corner. The winger used all his power to bounce off three defenders and manage to ground in field to help the home side get back into the game.

Ten minutes later a smart run from dummy half by Jarrod O’Connor broke the game open with both Lachlan Miller and Matt Frawley in support to see the number seven crash over under the sticks to make it 10-6.

Leeds were firmly in control throughout the first 20 minutes of the second-half causing the atmosphere in Headingley to rise, something it did even more so when Sam Lisone laid a huge shot in Romain Navarrete as the Rhinos tightened the screw.

Rhyse Martin put on a brilliant step to break the line from his own 40 and once again Lachie Miller was there in support to finish it off under the posts. Five minutes from time Rhyse Martin was called into action again to knock a penalty over from in front of the sticks to make it 18-6 and secure the win.

Man of the Match

He might have started from the bench but Tom Watton-Nicholson never seemed to be off the pitch. The young prop was excellent and had a real coming-of-age performance in the middle of the park. His ability to get quick play the ball was crucial in the second try and he also forced numerous mistakes.

Leeds Rhinos Player Ratings

Lachlan Miller 8, David Fusitu’a 8, Paul Momirovski 7, Harry Newman 6, Alfie Edgell 7, Brodie Croft 7, Matt Frawley 8, Sam Lisone 8, Andy Ackers 6, Justin Sangare 6, James McDonnell 7, Rhyse Martin 7, Cameron Smith 6

Interchanges: Jarrod O’Connor 8, James Bentley 8, Tom Watton-Nicholson 9, James Donaldson 7

Catalans Dragons Player Ratings

Cesar Rouge 7, Tom Davies 6, Arthur Romano 7, Reimis Smith 5, Fouad Yaha 5, Arthur Mourgue 6, Theo Fages 5, Romain Navarrete 4, Alrix Da Costa 6, Julian Bousquet 6, Mike McMeeken 6, Paul Seguier 5, Benjamin Garcia 5

Interchanges: Jordan Dezaria, Yacine Abdeslem, Chris Satae, Mathieu Laguerre