Round four of the Betfred Super League is rapidly approaching for Leeds Rhinos, who look to keep up their recent run of form against Catalans Dragons on Saturday afternoon as they look for their first win in Perpignan since 2022.

In our new Countdown to Kick Off feature, all the key stats, facts and head to heads will be broken down so you can see how Leeds lines up against their opposition each week. Here's your round four edition:

Team Stats

For two teams at contrasting positions in the Betfred Super League table, Leeds and Catalans are relatively close in a handful of metrics so far this year.

Leeds' point scoring in recent weeks has seen the club rise through the ranks to sit third in the competition for points and tries scored. Jake Connor has been a catalyst with 26 points (1 try and 11 goals) and four try assists, whilst Riley Lumb has also started the year strong with tries in his last two games. Experienced heads Ryan Hall and Ash Handley, along with Harry Newman, have two tries each, as Brad Arthur's outside backs look to lead the scoring from the front. Catalans, on the other hand, have some of the league's best attacking numbers but have been unable to turn possession into points.

Starting with total run metres, the Rhinos (4,801 – 4th) are slightly ahead of the Dragons (4,656 – 5th) in this year's competition. Whilst the Dragons lead the Rhinos in post-contact metres by 64. Catalans winger Arthur Romano is one of only five players with over 200 metres post-contact in the league so far, whilst Leeds' highest is Tom Holroyd with 165.

It's a similar story in terms of tackle breaks and offloads too as both teams rank in the top five. No side has offloaded the ball more than Catalans in 2025, who have Tevita Pangai Jr, Julian Bousquet, Nick Cotric and Tommy Makinson ranked in the Super League's top 15 offloaders, whilst tackle breaks see the Rhinos rank fourth and fifth; Newman, James Bentley and Lumb stood out for Leeds with over 10 breaks each.

Defensively, both teams are on opposite ends of the table. Leeds' last two games saw the Rhinos flourish in attack, meaning that they've averaged 299 tackles inside three rounds. In contrast, Catalans have averaged 341 tackles per game.

Three Key Player Head-to-Heads

Ben Garcia vs Andy Ackers

A position move for Ben Garcia in 2025 has seen the Catalans skipper feature at hooker in the first three games of the campaign; a position he has played only eight times before.

The forward, who has been a servant to the Dragons cause since his debut in 2013, has been a key playmaker and defensive strength under Steve McNamara and was proud to lead his side out in both Grand Final appearances in 2021 and 2023. Now part of a new-look spine after the Dragons signed half back Luke Keary and loose forward Oli Partington in the off-season, his competition experience and tackling has been called into action already as he's made 111 tackles (14th most in Super League this year) as well as 14 carries as part of a dual threat with Alrix Da Costa off the bench.

On the opposite side of the field, Andy Ackers made an inspired outing against Castleford Tigers and will be out to back the performance up against the Dragons. 

Like Garcia, Ackers made 26 tackles last time out, bringing his total for the year to 105 (16th in the competition), but he was also given licence to roam against the Tigers. From nine carries, he made 65 metres, which is his highest in a single game this year, plus his total number of tackle breaks is four (third most out of hookers in this year's comp). No hooker has played more minutes than Ackers this season either.

Cesar Rouge vs Morgan Gannon

Two talents for the future have been at the forefront of the action for Leeds and Catalans so far in Cesar Rouge and Morgan Gannon. 

Rouge signed a new two-year deal last July to continue his stay at the club he signed for at the age of 17 from Limoux, and after 21 appearances for the Dragons in 2024, he has been ever-present at the start of 2025. In the absence of Keary and Arthur Mourgue between the opening three rounds, Rouge has had the opportunity to start at half-back and full back against Hull FC, Warrington and Leigh, and is one of the club's top five leaders in carries and metres. Against Leigh, he was susceptible to errors which he hopes to eradicate in Saturday's game against Leeds.

Gannon is no stranger to the half-back position, but as a predominant back-rower, he has bounced back from a season on the sidelines in style. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the first two games of the year before starting in the halves against Cas last time out, and recorded his best numbers this campaign with 14 carries, 90 metres and 15 tackles. His sole try of the season came against Salford in round two; his first since August 2022.

Elliott Whitehead vs James McDonnell

Back in Catalans colours after nine years in the green of Canberra Raiders, back-rower Elliott Whitehead is one to watch on Saturday as one of the most experienced names in the Dragons lineup. The England and Great Britain international has averaged 34 tackles in the opening three games and was one of the side's top ball carriers against Leigh in their loss last time out. Before his move to Australia, he scored three tries in three meetings against Leeds in 2015, including two tries in a 38-22 defeat in Perpignan in round seven.

Tackles is also one of James McDonnell's key metrics so far in 2025, as he sits behind Whitehead with 103 completed tackles in 2025. Now in year three since he moved from Wigan in 2023, the Ireland international has been a consistent performer in blue and amber since his debut against St Helens and has only missed four games.

McDonnell is joined by Andy Ackers as the only Leeds player to make over 100 tackles so far in the league season, whilst in attack he has two offloads and eight tackle breaks so far. When compared to his fellow back rowers in this year's competition, he ranks sixth in carries too.

What the history says...

Compared to the rest of their Betfred Super League opposition, Leeds' history with the Dragons is fairly recent after the clubs met for the first time in 2006. Out of their first 25 meetings, Leeds won 19 of them (including two Play Off matches), but in contrast, 13 of the last 22 meetings have been won by the Dragons.

Particularly at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, Leeds has found trips to the South of France tough as they've only won one regular season meeting since 2018. That win came in golden point extra time when Aidan Sezer scored the decisive try in a 36-32 triumph. When the Dragons joined the competition in 2006, the Rhinos secured their first win in France with a 58-10 triumph. They later achieved consecutive victories in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

How to watch

Tickets will be available to purchase on the day from the Stade Gilbert Brutus Ticket Office, but there are plenty of ways for fans to watch from home too!

Don't miss the action from the Stade Gilbert Brutus, live on Sky Sports. The game is available on Sky Sports+, which can be accessed by Sky customers via the red button on their Sky remote. 

Fans without Sky Sports can purchase a Day Pass from NOW for £14.99 and access the game to the Sport bonus streams. Find out more at https://www.nowtv.com/sports-p...

Super League+ has also got the match live for only an early bird price of £6.99 with a Game Pass. New for 2025, fans can purchase games in advance for £6.99 (or £9.99 on game day), or there are options to pay to watch all games monthly and annually.