Betfred Super League Round 15
Saturday 21 June 2025
Stade Gilbert Brutus (5:30pm)
Catalans Dragons 12-26 Leigh Leopards
Leopards moved up to third in the Betfred Super League with their third successive away win and their sixth of the season- seven if you include Magic Weekend at the neutral venue of Newcastle.
Adrian Lam’s team leapfrogged Leeds Rhinos, beaten at St Helens on Friday, to set up a mouthwatering fourth v third clash next Friday at Headingley.
Joe Ofahengaue, match-winning try-scoring hero last week at Wakefield, again emerged as the key figure in an intriguing game played in hot and humid conditions in Perpignan.
With temperatures in the low 30s and two mandatory water breaks imposed midway through each half for safety reasons, Ofahengaue came up with another crucial score, breaking a tense 12-12 deadlock with a decisive try 12 minutes from time.
The former Parramatta prop fastened onto Edwin Ipape’s pass to force his way over the line in Paul Seguier’s tackle to turn the game Leopards’ way.
Referee Liam Rush went to the screen after signalling a try and on the inconclusive evidence available video referee Chris Kendall did not overturn the decision.
David Armstrong set the seal on the Dragon slaying Leopards’ third win of the season over Catalans with a sumptuous finish from halfway, turning on the afterburners to stylishly round Sam Tomkins as he glided over the line.
Gareth O’Brien, back after passing HIA protocols, was another Leopards hero, kicking five goals from six attempts and linking superbly with Lachlan Lam.
O’Brien was briefly forced off for stitches in a cheek injury after a nasty looking accidental clash of heads with his teammate Umyla Hanley but returned to make his usual influential contribution.
Backed by a massive army of travelling fans, Leopards hit the front after going set for set with the Dragons in a frenetic first half.
Tesi Niu finished off a brilliant handling move with a try in the left corner after O’Brien, Lam and Armstrong combined to open up the Dragons defence. O’Brien converted from the touchline.
Four minutes later Keanan Brand finished superbly on the right after Lam’s brilliant cut-out pass created the opening, O’Brien again on target.
Just before half-time, however, Dragons’ big middle Tevita Pangai Junior gave his side a lifeline with a close range try, converted by Tommy Makinson.
Makinson then scored a super try as his team began the second half sharply, Oliver Partington’s offload, sending Luke Keary racing away for the supporting Tomkins to supply the classy assist.
Makinson converted to tie the scores at 12-12 and then missed a glorious opportunity to give the Dragons the lead for the first time.
His 56th minute penalty kick rebounded off the inside of the post for Leopards to regather.
Another penalty tuned the game in Leopards’ favour when Junior Pangai Junior was yellow carded for a late contact to O’Brien’s head.
O’Brien dusted himself down to take the kick which rebounded off the woodwork into Leopards’ hands, setting up the position for Ofahengaue’s try.
O’Brien converted that and also Armstrong’s try- the latter after being given a second attempt at goal by referee Liam Rush after Dragons players encroached too soon on his first attempt.
After Frankie Halton was pulled up just short of another try, O’Brien extended Leopards’ lead to a highly satisfactory 14pts with another penalty in the dying seconds.
Dragons
Sam Tomkins; Nick Cotric, Leo Darrelator, Matthieu Laguerre, Tommy Makinson; Luke Keary, Cesar Rouge; Tevita Satae, Alrix Da Costa, Franck Maria, Arthur Romano, Paul Seguier, Oliver Partington
Bench:
Tevita Pangai Junior, Julian Bousquet, Bayley Sironen, Jordan Dezaria. 18th player: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet (not used)
Tries:
Pangai Junior (38), Makinson (49)
Goals:
Makinson 2/ 4
Sin bin:
Pangai Junior )66)
Leopards
David Armstrong; Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Darnell McIntosh; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahengaue, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Owen Trout, Frankie Halton, Isaac Liu
Bench:
Ben McNamara, Matty Davis, Alec Tuitavake, Ethan O’Neill. 18th player: Bailey Hodgson (mot used)
Tries:
Niu (30), Brand (34), Ofahengaue (68), Armstrong (73)
Goals:
O’Brien 5/ 6
Scoring sequence: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12 (ht) 12-12, 12-18, 12-24, 12-26
Referee: Liam Rush; Touch judges: N Horton & G Poumes; Reserve referee: F Figueras; M Com: T Alibert; Timekeeper: P Jenkins
Video referee: Chris Kendall
Penalty count: 7-7
GLDO: 1-1
Attendance: 9,134
