The Betfred Super League action continues this weekend with a hierarchy already establishing itself in the early league standings.
Catalans Dragons take their perfect record of five wins from five to West Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon, where they will take on a Leeds side on a middling run of form.
Rhinos were dealt a defeat on their home Super League return in a close 22-18 contest with Hull FC, but atoned by brushing aside Wakefield in a 26-0 Headingley win.
The French side were almost given a shock by Wakefield Trinity on opening night, trailing twice in the first half before eventually getting over the line 38-14, but have only shipped 34 points in their four matches since then.
Leeds Rhinos vs Catalans Dragons Betting Tips
Team news
The hosts will be without the suspended James Bentley, with Luis Roberts also out of the squad for Saturday after appearing among the substitutes for last week’s loss at Castleford. Outgoing Kruise Leeming is also absent as he prepares for his impending move to Gold Coast Titans.
Luke Hooley, the subject of a loan bid from Wakefield that was rejected by Leeds this week, is set to make his competitive debut on his comeback from an ankle injury.
For the traveling side, Mitchell Pearce, Matthieu Laguerre and Matt Whitley are all back in the squad having missed the 26-12 home win over Hull KR, while Siua Taukeiaho, Ugo Tison and Tanguy Zenon drop out.
Tom Johnstone, tying for top spot in the try scorers’ standings, is poised to continue his hot form.
Catalans to win @ 20/21
Catalans are one of the league’s form teams and anything other than a victory this weekend is hard to envisage.
After blowing Hull FC away in game week three’s 38-6 drubbing, they exhibited excellent title credentials by beating Wigan Warriors 18-10 away from home, before outmanoeuvring Rovers on home turf.
What’s more, they have not trailed in a match since the very early stages of the first match of the season in a stellar show of dominance.
With Super League’s other unbeaten side Warrington taking on a Castleford outfit with just one win to their name, the onus will be on the Dragons to keep up the tempo – especially with the Wolves due to visit them in two games time.
And this Saturday’s visiting team may well have revenge on their minds, too.
Eventual Grand Final runners-up Leeds were victorious when the pair met in Perpignan in the play-off quarter-finals last term, prevailing 20-10 despite falling behind early on.
Tom Johnstone Anytime Tryscorer @ 4/5
Catalans’ Tom Johnstone looks to have put an injury-affected 2022 season behind him, starting in style with eight tries to his name already.
The 27-year-old ran in a hat-trick last time out and is proving to be an astute acquisition for the French club, having also bagged a trio of tries against former club Wakefield.
Leeds have a tough task on their hands in keeping the Germany-born winger quiet – something that only Wigan have managed to do this term.
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