Leigh Leopards launched their 2026 Super League campaign with a convincing 26-14 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Leigh Sports Village on . The win, built on a foundation of five tries, marks an impressive start for Adrian Lam’s side, while Leeds face early questions after a performance marred by errors.
Despite a bright start that saw Chris Hankinson put Leeds on the board with a penalty after Jarrod O’Connor was penalized, the Rhinos’ early lead proved fleeting. Leigh quickly responded, with Innes Senior crossing in the 16th minute following a clever one-handed pass from Lachlan Lam. Edwin Ipape then extended the Leopards’ advantage before halftime, sending them into the break with a 10-2 lead.
The second half began disastrously for Leeds, as Riley Lumb spilled the kick-off, allowing Jack Hughes to pounce and score within ten seconds of the restart. A subsequent try from Matt Davis, initially disallowed but later awarded after video review, further compounded the Rhinos’ woes. The errors continued to plague the visitors, proving costly in the face of a determined Leigh side.
Cooper Jenkins offered a glimmer of hope for Leeds with an individual effort in the 52nd minute, but Leigh quickly reasserted their dominance. Lachlan Lam added his name to the scoresheet in the 66th minute, extending their lead to a seemingly insurmountable 18 points. A late consolation try from Brodie Croft for Leeds did little to alter the outcome.
The match wasn’t without its moments of friction, culminating in a mass brawl that saw both Harry Newman of Leeds and Matt Davis of Leigh sent to the sin bin. The incident underscored the intensity of the contest and the growing frustration within the Leeds camp.
Leigh’s victory is particularly noteworthy considering Leeds finished just above them in fourth place last season. The Leopards capitalized ruthlessly on Rhinos’ mistakes, demonstrating a clinical edge that proved decisive. Edwin Ipape was a standout performer for Leigh, consistently causing problems for the Leeds defense and playing a key role in several of their tries.
The Rhinos, meanwhile, entered the game with nine players sidelined due to injury, including reigning Man of Steel Jake Connor. While this undoubtedly impacted their squad depth, the sheer volume of errors committed suggests deeper issues that need addressing. The team struggled with the stricter interpretation of the ruck rules early on, a factor that contributed to their disjointed performance.
Elsewhere in Super League on , Catalans Dragons secured an impressive 26-10 victory over Huddersfield at Stade Gilbert Brutus. Tries from Ben Condon, Charlie Staines, Tommy Makinson, and Solomona Faataape sealed the win for the Dragons, with George Flanagan scoring a consolation try for Huddersfield. The match was played in challenging wet conditions, with Catalans coach Joel Tomkins praising his team’s ability to adapt and execute their game plan effectively.
Tomkins highlighted the importance of energy and enthusiasm in their performance, stating, “We learnt some lessons from last week [against Batley], I’m not sure exactly what the completion was today but it was pretty good. Overall we’re really happy with some of the things we did tonight.” He added, “I’m really proud, proud of the effort. I was really happy with the energy and the enthusiasm we turned up with. Some really good signs for us moving forward through the rest of the season. If You can keep that level of energy we’ll be okay.”
Huddersfield coach Luke Robinson acknowledged Catalans’ superiority, particularly in wet-weather rugby. “I think all credit to Catalans, I think they gave us a bit of a lesson in how you play wet-weather rugby,” he said. He also pointed to the importance of field position and territory, attributing their struggles to giving away seven penalties in the first half.
The opening weekend of the 2026 Super League season has already delivered compelling contests and early indications of which teams are poised to challenge for honors. Leigh Leopards’ victory over Leeds Rhinos is a statement of intent, while Catalans Dragons’ win over Huddersfield sets a positive tone for their campaign. For Leeds, however, the defeat raises concerns and highlights the need for improvement as they look to build momentum in the weeks ahead.
