Preview: Catalans Dragons v Leeds Rhinos

Catalans Dragons host Leeds Rhinos at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan this evening in round 13 of Super League. Both sides are looking for victory after round 12 saw Leeds lose their unbeaten home record against Huddersfield while Catalan suffered a second successive away loss as they went down to Wakefield.

Last Time Out

The Rhinos failed to maintain their 100% success at the Headingley Stadium last weekend as a resilient Giants side came out 31-12 winners in West Yorkshire. Huddersfield half-back Danny Brough scored five conversions and a drop goal as he impressed, while Leeds’ tries were supplied by in-form Matt Parcell and Joel Moon.

Catalan’s form continued to slip in the previous round as they suffered a second away loss in as many efforts on the road – this time to the Wildcats. Young winger Mason Caton-Brown tallied a hat-trick and full-back Ben Jones-Bishop added a brace as Chris Chester’s side won 30-10. Laurent Frayssinous’ side went over through Fouhad Yaha and Vincent Duport whose efforts were not enough after 80 minutes.

Key Battle

In the reverse fixture in March, Leeds won 46-10 at Headingley off the back off their 66-10 hammering away to table-toppers Castleford. This time round, they arrive in the south of France in similar circumstances after the loss to Rick Stone’s Giants. And Catalans will be without half-back Luke Walsh, who was banned for using foul language – his replacement is highly-rated youngster Lucas Albert who will look to step up alongside Richie Myler.

Brian McDermott’s side welcome back Liam Sutcliffe, whose goal-kicking ability has been impressive this season as well as Ashton Golding. However, prop Mitch Garbutt is a notable absentee as he is granted leave after his wife gave birth.

Prediction

The absence of Walsh for the Dragons could prove key as an experienced Leeds side will look to exploit Albert’s inexperience at the helm of his side’s attack. Leeds by 14.

Squads

Catalans Dragons: Gigot, Wiliame, Yaha, Myler, Moa, Aiton, Casty, Anderson, Bird, Bousquet, Garcia, Bosc, Duport, Simon, Thornley, Albert, Margalet, Belmas, Perez

Leeds Rhinos: Golding, Briscoe, Moon, McGuire, Burrow, Galloway, Parcell, Cuthbertson, Jones-Buchanan, Ward, Sutcliffe, Delaney, Singleton, Mullally, Handley, Ormondroyd, Lilley, Oledzki, Walker