Jake Connor was the standout performer as Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos demolished Toulouse Olympique 46‑0, crossing the try‑line eight times in a comprehensive victory. In the same round, Wigan Warriors stayed within striking distance of the top of the table, edging Leigh Leopards 20‑8 and remaining just two points behind the leaders. Connor was directly responsible for three of Leeds' eight scores, notching two tries of his own and successfully kicking seven conversions.
His contribution set the tone early, although Toulouse did have a fleeting moment of hope when Ned McCormack saw an early grounding disallowed for a knock‑on. The decision proved to be a brief reprieve for the visitors, who would spend the rest of the evening on the back foot.
The opening salvo came twelve minutes into the match when Connor, aided by a well‑timed pass from Riley Lumb, exploited a gap in the Toulouse defence and crashed over for the first try. Just moments later, Connor demonstrated his vision with a no‑look pass that found prop Mikolaj Oledzki, who dived over for the second score.
As the half‑time whistle approached, Tom Holroyd added a third try, capitalising on an off‑load from Presley Cassell that sliced through the French side’s line. Leeds continued to apply relentless pressure after the break. Four minutes after the restart, James McDonnell identified a seam and sprinted over for his own try.
Near the hour mark, the ball was shuffled from wing to wing, allowing Harry Newman to dive into the corner and touch down. For the first time that night, Connor missed the conversion attempt on Newman's try, but he quickly made amends. Four minutes later he collected a high ball, secured it cleanly and powered over for his second try of the afternoon. The onslaught was not over; late in the game Brodie Croft and Riley Lumb each added their names to the scoresheet, stretching the margin to an unassailable 46‑0.
The victory marked Leeds’ tenth consecutive win across all competitions, reinforcing their position at the summit of the Super League table. Their performance was a masterclass in attacking rugby, combining swift ball movement, precise kicking and clinical finishing. In the parallel fixture, Wigan Warriors secured a 20‑8 triumph over local rivals Leigh Leopards, keeping the gap to the league leaders at a narrow two points. The match began at a frenetic pace, with Leigh’s Adam Cook slotting a penalty goal after nine minutes, following an infringement in front of the posts by Umyla Hanley.
That early point gave Leigh a 2‑0 lead, but Wigan responded swiftly. Five minutes later, the Warriors extended the lead to 6‑0 when Innes Senior received a well‑executed pass on the left wing and dived into the corner for the first try of the game.
Leigh attempted to defend stoutly, using their bodies to block Wigan’s advances, but a crucial error from the hosts gave Leigh a fleeting chance to reduce the deficit. Jake Wardle broke away from his own line, found Liam Marshall, and the latter sprinted almost the length of the field to touch down in the corner. However, a video review showed Wardle had pushed Hanley during the play, resulting in a penalty. Cook elected to kick for goal, extending Leigh’s lead to eight points.
Leigh’s defensive effort remained impressive until just before the half‑time break, when Field broke through a penalty deep in his own half, raced past the Leigh line and grounded the ball under the posts, narrowing the score. The second half saw Wigan regain control. Harry Smith’s accurate kick reduced the gap, and four minutes after the restart the Warriors took the lead.
A loose ball was gathered by Noah Hodkinson, who passed to Bevan French; French powered over under the posts to give Wigan a 12‑8 advantage. Leigh’s coach Adrian Lam’s frustration grew in the 51st minute when a handling mishap allowed Zach Eckersley to intercept a pass and sprint to the try line. Wigan capitalised on the turnover, with Eckersley delivering a precise pass to Noah Hodkinson, who crossed for his fourth try of the match in the corner.
The momentum shift was decisive; Leigh could not recover, and Wigan finished the game with a six‑point cushion, handing the Leopards their first loss in six matches. Elsewhere on Friday, veteran winger Joe Burgess celebrated a personal milestone, reaching 200 career tries by scoring twice in Hull KR’s 40‑16 victory over Bradford Bulls. Hull KR entered halftime with a 16‑10 lead, and the second half saw contributions from Jez Litten, Tom Davies and Elliot Minchella, propelling the club into the top four of the league.
The weekend’s schedule also featured a Thursday clash between Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC, which ended 22‑16 in Huddersfield’s favour, and a Friday roundup of the Leeds‑Leeds, Hull KR‑Bradford and Wigan‑Leigh results. Looking ahead, Saturday’s fixtures include Castleford Tigers versus Warrington Wolves at 3 pm, York Knights against St Helens at 5.30 pm, and Catalans Dragons taking on Wakefield Trinity at 8 pm. Fans can catch every Super League match live this season on Sky Sports, with two games each round broadcast exclusively, while the remaining five fixtures are available on Sky Sports+. The league’s comprehensive coverage ensures supporters can follow the action wherever they are, whether via traditional television or streaming platforms.