Super League: Catalans Dragons claim hard-fought win over crisis club Salford Red Devils as Leeds Rhinos thrash Huddersfield
Twelve-man Catalans Dragons come from behind to produce a 17-16 win over crisis club Salford; Leeds Rhinos complete a 26-0 win over Huddersfield; Watch every Super League match live on Sky Sports
Friday 5 September 2025 08:20, UK
Twelve-man Catalans Dragons came from behind to claim a hard-fought 17-16 win over spirited crisis club Salford in the Betfred Super League on Thursday.
The Red Devils' very existence might be under threat after a winding-up petition served on them was adjourned on Wednesday, but there was no faulting the hunger of their players.
Tries from Jack Darbyshire and Neil Tchamambe - two of several emergency loan players brought in to help the club complete the season - put the hosts into a 10-4 interval lead at the Salford Community Stadium.
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The sending-off of Franck Maria, following a sickening high shot on Emmanuel Waine, then tilted the balance further in Salford's favour.
Waine required lengthy medical attention. He was stretchered off and taken to hospital at half-time.
Red Devils coach Paul Rowley said: "At half-time I don't think he was recovering as well as they'd have liked but I've not heard anything bad so I'm hoping no news is good news.
"He was well away and well asleep so our thoughts are with him. If we get any news we'll give you that as soon as. It rattled us a bit with our bench selection as well, and Catalans went route one, kept it simple."
The French side rallied after the break. Jordan Dezaria and Denive Balmforth scored in quick succession to give the Dragons the lead and Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet converted both to add to his first-half try.
Ugo Tison made sure of only the third win of coach Joel Tomkins' reign with a late drop goal before Darbyshire set Tchamambe up for a consolation after the final hooter.
Leeds continue Super League charge with victory over Huddersfield
Leeds notched their fifth straight Betfred Super League win without finding top gear as they beat Huddersfield 26-0 at the Accu Stadium to maintain their charge for a top-two finish.
The Rhinos, who have won six of their last seven matches, led 8-0 at half-time through Harry Newman's try and two Jake Connor penalties before Morgan Gannon touched down in the 61st minute for the game's decisive score.
Brodie Croft dived in for a third try in the closing stages before Mikolaj Oledzki bull-dozed over for the final score and while Huddersfield battled gamely throughout, they slipped to their 19th defeat of the season.
Brad Arthur's Rhinos, who secured their play-off place with victory at Hull last Saturday, climbed level on points with second-placed Wigan, who they face on the last day of the regular season, while the Warriors play at St Helens on Friday.
Connor, back at former club Huddersfield for the first time since his switch to Leeds in the close-season, created the visitors' opening try with a perfectly weighted grubber kick that was touched down by Newman.
Huddersfield responded through full-back George Flanagan, who squirmed over after juggling Joe Greenwood's offload, and although his effort was ruled out for a forward pass, the Giants were building momentum.
Rhinos centre Ned McCormack's try-saving tackle into touch on Giants wing Aidan McGowan kept the visitors' noses in front, but they came under sustained pressure.
The Giants had nothing to show for their dominant spell though and were made to pay by Connor, who landed two penalties shortly before the break to put Leeds 8-0 up after he and then Newman had been taken out off the ball.
Both sides were guilty of sloppy play at the start of the second half, with dogged Giants defending and two dropped balls from Leeds pair James Bentley and McCormack stalling the visitors as they chased another try.
Leeds finally made the breakthrough when second row Gannon gathered Lachlan Miller's pass after a lucky bounce and cantered through a gap under the posts for Miller to convert.
Miller then gathered his brilliant kick ahead to send in Croft for his side's fourth try before prop Oledzki burrowed his way over from close range with Miller adding both extras.
The Rhinos face Catalans at Headingley next Thursday before a showdown at Wigan on September 19 to possibly decide who finishes second for a home semi-final in the play-offs.
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