Jake Connor was the standout performer as the Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos thrashed Toulouse Olympique 46-0, crossing the try‑line eight times in a one‑sided display. In the same round, Wigan Warriors kept their title chase alive with a 20-8 victory over Leigh Leopards, leaving them just two points behind the leaders. Leeds got off to a blistering start when, twelve minutes into the match, Connor exploited a gap created by teammate Riley Lumb and sprinted to the try‑line for the opening score. He then demonstrated his vision by delivering a no‑look pass that set up prop Mikolaj Oledzki for the second try.
Just before the break, Tom Holroyd added a third after receiving an off‑load from Presley Cassell, extending the Rhinos’ lead. The second half was no less relentless. Four minutes after the restart, James McDonnell found a seam and touched down, and shortly thereafter Harry Newman finished a sweeping move that saw the ball travel wing‑to‑wing before he dived in the corner. Connor, who had missed his first conversion of the night, redeemed himself by converting the subsequent try and then scoring his own second try, catching a high ball and grounding it cleanly.
Late in the game, Brodie Croft and Lumb each added a try, sealing a comprehensive victory for Leeds. Connor’s personal tally was impressive: two tries and seven successful conversions, accounting for 22 of the 46 points. Toulouse’s hopes were briefly revived when Ned McCormack had an early try disallowed for a knock‑on, but the decision was merely a temporary reprieve for a side that struggled to find any foothold against a dominant Leeds defence. The Rhinos’ relentless pressure and clinical finishing left the French club with a night to forget.
Meanwhile, Wigan Warriors recorded their tenth consecutive win across all competitions by defeating neighbours Leigh Leopards 20-8. The match began with Leigh’s Adam Cook slotting a penalty after a scrum infringement, giving the Leopards an early lead. However, Wigan quickly responded. Jake Wardle broke from his own line and passed to Liam Marshall, who sprinted almost the length of the field before being brought down in the corner.
A subsequent video review ruled Wardle guilty of a push on Umyla Hanley, and Cook elected to kick the penalty, extending Leigh’s lead to eight points. Wigan’s momentum shifted dramatically just before halftime when Field intercepted a deep penalty and surged forward, outrunning the Leigh defence to score under the posts.
This try cut the deficit and signalled a turning point. After the break, Harry Smith’s accurate kick reduced the arrears further, and within minutes the visitors seized the lead. A loose ball was gathered by Noah Hodkinson, who found Bevan French; French powered over the line beneath the posts for Wigan’s second try. Leigh’s coach Adrian Lam watched in frustration as his side committed another handling error in the 51st minute.
Zach Eckersley intercepted a pass, sprinted to the line and scored, only for Wigan to answer immediately. A quick pass from Eckersley found Hodkinson, who fed Bevan French for a fourth try in the corner, widening the gap to six points.
Leigh attempted to rally, but Wigan’s disciplined defence held firm, securing a comfortable win and handing Leigh their first defeat in six matches. The Friday round also featured a personal milestone for Joe Burgess of Hull KR, who celebrated his 200th career try by scoring twice in a 40-16 victory over Bradford Bulls. Hull KR entered halftime ahead 16-10 and then unleashed a second‑half onslaught, with Jez Litten, Tom Davies and Elliot Minchella each adding a try to propel the club into the top four.
Other results from the weekend included Huddersfield Giants edging Hull FC 22-16 on Thursday, and a packed Saturday schedule featuring Castleford Tigers vs Warrington Wolves, York Knights vs St Helens, and Catalans Dragons vs Wakefield Trinity. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+. Overall, Leeds’ eight‑try demolition of Toulouse underscores their status as the team to beat, while Wigan’s steady accumulation of points keeps the title race extremely tight. Both clubs will look to maintain their form as the season progresses, with Leeds aiming to extend their unbeaten run and Wigan hoping to close the gap on the league leaders.