Leeds Rhinos still in search of an elusive first win of the season as they take on Catalans Dragons

Still awaiting their first win this season, Richard Agar’s side will be hoping to finally get their first victory of the campaign as they face Catalans Dragons at Headingley.

Agar was very disappointed with a number of individual performances last time out as they were well beaten in Round Two by the Wigan Warriors.

Despite taking the lead at the DW Stadium, Leeds crumbled after the break, as Wigan scored three tries early in the second half which effectively killed the game and left the Rhinos looking half the team that they were at the back end of last season.

As for Catalans, they were faced with the toughest fixture they could have asked for in Round one with a trip to St Helens which ended in defeat.

Round two, however, provided a much better result for the 2021 Super League Grand Final finalists as they beat Wakefield Trinity 24-22 in Perpignan.

Tries from Mathieu Laguerre, Fouad Yaha, Samisoni Langi and Ben Garcia gave the Dragons a slightly unconvincing first win after a nervy finish to the game as Trinity threatened a late comeback in France.

Catalans were able to hold onto their win and will look to make it back-to-back victories in Yorkshire on Thursday evening.

In terms of team news, the Dragons will be without Dylan Napa and Gil Dudson through suspension, they will also be missing Mickael Goudemand, Julian Bousquet and Arthur Mourgue due to injury.

The Rhinos will have Brad Dwyer back available for selection after serving his one-game suspension, which is one positive for Richard Agar who has an incredibly long injury list considering the season is only two rounds old.

David Fusitu’a, Richie Myler, Harry Newman, Tom Holroyd, Sam Walters and Muizz Mustapha are all missing through injury whilst James Bentley continues to serve his suspension.

The Yorkshire side are also without Rhyse Martin who continues his compassionate leave. They do however welcome back Max Simpson, Jack Broadbent and Jarrod O’Connor after the trio missed out on the defeat in Lancashire last week.

With Agar speaking very strongly in the press after the defeat to the Rhinos, you sense that there will be some kind of reaction at Headingley with Leeds keen to get back to winning ways before they are cut too far adrift from the top sides in the competition.

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