Leeds Rhinos vs Catalans Dragons Prediction: Unbeaten Dragons to dominate again

Leeds Rhinos aim to recover from their recent defeat to the in-form Hull KR as they face another undefeated side, Steve McNamara's Catalans Dragons, at AMT Headingley Stadium this Saturday.

Leeds Rhinos commenced their season with a home victory over Salford in a 22-16 encounter. However, their performance in the second game against Hull KR did not come together, resulting in a 22-12 defeat. Leeds welcomes back a trio of key players to their squad for the upcoming fixtures. Young prop Tom Holroyd is available for selection for the first time since undergoing knee surgery last year. Second-row James McDonnell is also set for his first Betfred Super League appearance of the season. Additionally, star full-back Lachie Miller returns after falling ill just an hour before the defeat to Rovers last week.

On the downside, Leeds Rhinos will be without the services of the suspended Sam Lisone for the next three games, and James Donaldson is also banned for the next two. England prop Mikolaj Oledzki continues to be sidelined with a shoulder problem, joining a list of injured players that includes wingers David Fusitua’a and Derrell Olpherts, center Max Simpson, and second-row Morgan Gannon.

Catalans Dragons maintained their strong form last weekend against the London Broncos, securing a dominant 0-34 victory on the road. The first half concluded with a 0-16 lead for the Dragons, and their defensive solidity in the second half prevented the London Broncos from responding, allowing the Dragons to add another 18 points. Impressively, the Catalans have conceded only two tries in their opening two games.

For their upcoming trip to West Yorkshire, the Dragons have named a formidable squad, and the imposing prop Paul Seguier makes a return following suspension. This addition further strengthens a side that has showcased impressive defensive resilience in the early stages of the season.

The Catalans Dragons have displayed strong performances in both games this year, winning both halves against Warrington narrowly and more convincingly against London. On the other hand, Leeds faced deficits at halftime in both their games, fighting back to secure a win against Salford in round one but losing both halves against Hull KR last week.

While betting against Leeds at home over the entire 80 minutes may be considered a bold move, the prediction here is that the Catalans Dragons will emerge victorious in each half of the match.