Jake Connor was the standout performer as Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos delivered a spectacular display, crossing the try‑line eight times in a 46‑0 demolition of Toulouse Olympique. In the same round, Wigan Warriors stayed within striking distance of the top of the table, edging out Leigh Leopards 20‑8 and remaining just two points behind the leaders. Connor was directly involved in the majority of Leeds' points.
He not only scored two tries himself but also took charge of the goal‑kicking, successfully converting seven of the eight tries. His early impact set the tone for the match.
In the opening minutes, a potential try for Toulouse’s Ned McCormack was ruled out for a knock‑on, offering only a brief respite for the visitors before Leeds asserted their dominance. At the twelve‑minute mark, Connor exploited a gap created by fellow play‑maker Riley Lumb and broke through for the first try.
Moments later, he demonstrated his vision with a no‑look pass that found prop Mikolaj Oledzki, who dived over for the second score. Just before the halftime whistle, Tom Holroyd added a third try, capitalising on an off‑load from centre Presley Cassell.
The first half therefore ended with Leeds firmly in control, having built a comfortable lead. The second half saw the onslaught continue. Four minutes after the restart, James McDonnell identified a seam in the Toulouse defence and sprinted over for his own try. As the clock approached the 60‑minute mark, Leeds executed a classic wing‑to‑wing move that saw Harry Newman touch down in the corner, although Connor missed the conversion – a rare lapse in an otherwise flawless night.
Four minutes later, Connor redeemed himself by scoring his second try of the evening, catching a high ball and grounding it cleanly. Late‑stage scores from Brodie Croft and Riley Lumb padded the final tally, cementing a 46‑0 victory that left Toulouse without a single point. Across the river, Wigan recorded their tenth consecutive win across all competitions, defeating local rivals Leigh Leopards 20‑8.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with Leigh’s Adam Cook slotting a penalty after nine minutes following an infringement by Umyla Hanley near the posts. That early three points gave Leigh a brief foothold, but Wigan quickly responded. Midway through the first half, Jake Wardle broke away from his own line and passed to Liam Marshall, who sprinted almost the full length of the field before being brought down in the corner. However, a video‑review confirmed that Wardle had illegally pushed Hanley, resulting in a penalty.
Cook elected to kick for goal, extending Leigh’s lead to eight points. Leigh’s defensive effort had been impressive up to that point, but three minutes before the break their resolve faltered. Wigan’s Field collected a penalty deep in his own half, surged forward, and broke cleanly through the Leopards’ line, reaching the try‑line unopposed and forcing a successful conversion that trimmed the deficit. After the interval, Wigan continued to press.
Harry Smith’s accurate boot reduced the gap further, and four minutes later the visitors took the lead. A loose ball was gathered by Noah Hodkinson, who threaded a pass to Bevan French; French powered over under the posts for Wigan’s second try. Leigh coach Adrian Lam’s frustration was evident in the 51st minute when a handling error allowed Zach Eckersley to intercept a pass and sprint to the line for a try. Wigan capitalised on another Leigh mistake shortly thereafter, with Eckersley feeding Hodkinson for a fourth try in the corner, showcasing the Warriors’ clinical handling under pressure.
Leigh attempted to mount a comeback, but Wigan’s defence held firm, extending the margin to six points and handing the Leopards their first loss in six matches. The victory kept Wigan within touching distance of the league leaders and underscored their consistency throughout the season. Elsewhere on Friday, Joe Burgess celebrated a personal milestone by reaching 200 career tries, scoring twice as Hull KR routed the Bradford Bulls 40‑16.
Hull KR entered halftime with a 16‑10 lead, then pulled away in the second half with tries from Jez Litten, Tom Davies and Elliot Minchella, securing a top‑four finish. The weekend’s fixtures also included Huddersfield Giants’ 22‑16 win over Hull FC on Thursday, and a packed Saturday slate featuring Castleford Tigers versus Warrington Wolves, York Knights versus St Helens, and Catalans Dragons versus Wakefield Trinity. Sky Sports will broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively on the main channel and the remaining five available via Sky Sports+.
Overall, the round highlighted Leeds’ attacking potency, Wigan’s resilience, and several individual achievements that add depth to the ongoing narrative of the Super League campaign.