A game of two halves saw Leeds Rhinos score three second half tries to down Catalans Dragons 18-6 at AMT Headingley to keep their play off dreams alive.

Having gone into the break 6-0 down, David Fusitu'a, Matt Frawley and Lachie Miller got over the try line in the second period to get Leeds an important win that sees them close the gap to the Dragons in the league standings.

On their return to AMT Headingley for their penultimate home game of the year, the Rhinos were able to welcome back Brodie Croft into the halves after he missed the Magic Weekend defeat to Warrington. The absence of Ash Handley through injury meant that Alfie Edgell was recalled onto the wing in the only other change to the starting 13, the bench remained unchanged.

A tight first 40 minutes that saw the Rhinos’ struggle to get into the contest, and Catalans made them pay by scoring their only points of the match.

Over the opening few sets, Leeds missed big opportunities to score as they put Catalans under pressure early on. Paul Momirovski and David Fusitu’a’s connection almost saw the Tongan international score in the corner, only for desperate defence to hold him out, before Rhyse Martin was unlucky not to take in Matt Frawley’s pass that would have put the back rower clean through.

Against the run of play, the Dragons got the opening score on the 12th minute. Reaching the last tackle, Alfie Edgell wasn't able to take in Theo Fages’ kick under pressure from Tom Davies, and from the ensuing scrum, the Dragons shifted out to the left and found Arthur Romano, who broke the tackle of Momirovski to score. A dangerous lift penalty on Benjamin Garcia also went the way of the visiting side; Arthur Mourgue added the penalty goal to extend Catalans’ advantage to six points.

Mistakes overall proved costly for the Rhinos as they kept on coming up short of getting on the scoreboard. Substitute Jarrod O’Connor posted James McDonnell into space to make a damaging run, only for the back rower to lose the ball and gift possession back to visitors. Steve McNamara’s side were unlucky not to make the error count as the half reached it’s climax; Mike McMeeken had a try ruled out for a knock on in the build up.

Leeds were almost unrecognisable coming out after the second half as they proved to be more clinical in their attacking moves.

Needing a reaction to save the result, the Rhinos forced three consecutive drop outs from the Dragons, who had to defend their own line early doors. Although McDonnell came closest, finally Leeds attack clicked as a shift across the field saw Brodie Croft find Momirovski, who in turn fired a quick pass to Fusitu’a, who showed great speed to run over the top of Fouad Yaha and score to put Leeds 6-4 behind.

The Rhinos weren’t letting up on both sides of the ball as they looked free-flowing with ball in hand, and solid when asked to defend away the Dragons’ attacks. On 55 minutes, the home side got their reward with a spectacular try. O’Connor, who was one of the standout players in the second half, made an inspired break out of dummy half to find Lachie Miller, and as the full back closed in on the try line, he unselfishly passed to Frawley, who scored his sixth try of the campaign under the posts. Martin converted to take the score to 10-6.

With four points the difference on the scoreboard, Leeds looked in the strongest position to bring the win home as the Dragons struggled to find any traction. McNamara’s side’s best chance for points in the whole half came at a crucial pinch point as Romano couldn’t hold Mourgue’s kick for the in-goal area that would have tied the match up.

Instead, Leeds delivered the decisive blow with 12 minutes remaining, courtesy of man of the match Miller. Martin finally found his hole to run through as he produced a wicked step to wrong-foot the Dragons defence and slice through, and with options either side, he chose to feed Miller for another fantastic finish. Martin’s two points gave Leeds a ten-point cushion heading into the final ten minutes.

Croft almost marked his return with a point as the half back tried to ice the game with a drop goal attempt, only for the ball to sail wide. Luckily for the Rhinos, they did get one last chance for points as a high shot on O’Connor by Navarrete saw Martin call for the kicking tee. Almost in front of the uprights, his penalty goal was struck true to make the final score 18-6, and keep Leeds' hopes of reaching the top six alive.

Rhinos

1. Lachie Miller, 2. David Fusitu’a, 4. Paul Momirovski, 3. Harry Newman, 29. Alfie Edgell, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley, 17. Justin Sangare, 9. Andy Ackers, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. James McDonnell, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith (C)

Subs: 11. James Bentley, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 25. James Donaldson, 30. Tom Nicholson-Watton (18^th Man – 21. Jack Sinfield)

Tries: Fusitu'a (47), Frawley (56), Miller (68)

Goals: Martin 3/4

Dragons

17. Cesar Rouge, 2. Tom Davies, 3. Arthur Romano, 34. Reimis Smith, 5. Fouad Yaha, 1. Arthur Mourgue, 7. Theo Fages, 16. Romain Navarrete, 14. Alrix Da Costa, 10. Julian Bousquet, 8. Mike McMeeken, 12. Paul Seguier, 13. Benjamin Garcia (C),

Subs: 4. Matthieu Laguerra, 23. Jordan Dezaria, 20. Chris Satae, 32. Yacine Ben Abdeslem (18^th  Man – 30. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet)

Tries: Romano (12)

Goals: Mourgue 1/2