Leeds Rhinos secure first Perpignan victory in four years against Catalans Dragons

By Oliver Harrington — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

The Leeds Rhinos have secured their first victory in Perpignan since the 2022 Play-Offs, defeating Catalans Dragons 28-6 in a Betfred Super League encounter. The match, held at Stade Gilbert Brutus, saw Brodie Croft achieve his second hat-trick of the season, contributing significantly to the Rhinos’ success.

The win extends the Rhinos’ lead at the top of the table by four points. This result also marked a significant milestone for captain Kallum Watkins, who played his 300th game for the club.

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Rhinos establish early dominance

Despite a bright start from the Dragons, the Rhinos quickly took control of the game. Harry Newman scored the opening try in the eighth minute, with Jake Connor’s conversion putting the visitors ahead 6-0. Croft then scored his first try, reacting quickly to a loose ball and outsprinting Zac Lipowicz over a considerable distance.

Lachie Miller also crossed the try line before the break, following a break from Jarrod O’Connor and a strong offload from Cameron Smith. Connor’s successful conversion of Miller’s try gave Leeds a 16-0 lead at half-time.

The Dragons had opportunities to score but were unable to convert them into points. An error by Maika Sivo early in the game and a missed chance by Leo Darrelatour to level the score highlighted their struggles in the first half.

Croft completes hat-trick in second half

The second half saw continued intensity, with both teams clashing early on. The Rhinos maintained their try-scoring momentum, and Croft secured his second try around the hour mark. He skillfully navigated the defense after receiving a pass from Miller, faking out Charlie Staines to score his 19th try across all competitions.

Croft completed his hat-trick following a mistake from Matthieu Laguerre, which allowed O’Connor to set him up for another score. Connor converted this try, bringing the score to 28-0 with approximately 10 minutes remaining in the match.

The Dragons managed to score a consolation try in the final minute through Ugo Tison. However, this did not alter the outcome, as Leeds secured their seventh consecutive win.

Player milestones and team changes

The match was notable for several player milestones within the Rhinos squad. In addition to Watkins’ 300th game for the club, Danny Levi reached 200 career games, Jake Connor played his 300th game, and Tom Holroyd made his 100th appearance.

Squad changes for the Rhinos included Riley Lumb returning to the wing in place of the injured Ryan Hall. Lumb’s inclusion marked his first Super League appearance for the Rhinos since the season’s opening match. Keenan Palasia was also out due to injury, leading to Cooper Jenkins starting alongside Mikolaj Oledzki at prop.

The Rhinos’ coach, Brad Arthur, had previously expressed his desire to end the team’s barren run in Perpignan, emphasizing the importance of performance over historical statistics. He had prepared his team for a strong response from the Dragons, despite their recent defeat to Toulouse Olympique.

The win moves the Rhinos to 15 wins from 18 games this season, solidifying their position at the top of the league table.