Betfred Super League, Stade Ernest Wallon
Toulouse (6) 24
Tries: Lacans 2, Polselli, Laguerre Goals: Shorrocks 4
Leeds (30) 48
Tries: Croft, Sivo 2, Newman 2, McCormack, Hankinson, Smith Goals: Connor 8
Leeds Rhinos weathered a second-half fightback by Toulouse to win in the south of France and return to the top of Super League.
First-half tries from Brodie Croft, Maika Sivo, Fergie McCormack and two from Harry Newman put Leeds 30-0 up.
But Thomas Lacans’ try just before the break sparked the home side into life and his second try after the restart and scores from Luke Poselli and Matthieu Laguerre brought them back to 30-24 with 25 minutes remaining.
However, Leeds quelled the comeback with Sivo’s second try and then made the game safe with late scores from Chris Hankinson and Cameron Smith.
It was Leeds’ first victory at the Stade Ernest Wallon and an 11th win of the season to move them back above Warrington Wolves on points difference.
Toulouse stay 12th after a 10th defeat of the season.
In a one-sided first half Leeds were too strong and too accurate as Croft went over after just four minutes and Fijian wing Sivo soon added a second.
Newman scored the visitors third try before 20-year-old McCormack went in from close range for his first try for Leeds in his third Super League appearance.
A second try from Newman seemingly put the game out of reach at 30-0 but a breakaway on the stroke of half-time ended with Lacans replying for Toulouse.
It was the boost the hosts desperately needed and they came roaring back into the game after the interval with three tries in 12 minutes.
Toulouse worked Polselli into the corner in the first minute of the second half and Lacans soon added their third try.
Leeds knocked on near their own line and Toulouse took full advantage from the scrum to send Laguerre in and suddenly it was a one-score game.
Rhinos settled and went close through Ash Handley before good hands from Jake Connor and McCormack put Sivo in for his second try.
The try killed the hosts’ momentum and Leeds regained full control to streak away in the closing stages.
Mikolaj Oledzki’s break set up a try for Hankinson before an offload from Cooper Jenkins sent Smith in three minutes from time, with Connor kicking his eighth conversion of the match.
Toulouse head coach Sylvain Houles told Sky Sports:
“Obviously, when you play Leeds Rhinos and it’s 30 points, the gap, to come back is always tough.
“It’s been the same story when we are playing those top-six teams. I look at the Wigan game, Hull KR games – we always fall down and try to come back, and we do.
“We manage, we’re brave, we fight hard, we show a lot of resilience, but we need to make sure we don’t fall that far.”
Leeds head coach Brad Arthur told Sky Sports:
“They were playing with energy, everything was sticking and the bounce of the ball was going their way.
“So I was really excited to see, ‘Righto, where are we at? How can we get back on top of this game? Can we show some composure or do we panic?’.
“Full credit to the boys, they showed composure and we didn’t panic, and that just shows another evolution in our game and a bit of growth in our game.”
Toulouse: Rouge; Laguerre, Polselli, Quai-Ward, Ulberg; Lacans, Shorrocks; Roumanos, Hands, Butler, O’Kane, Jussaume, Cator.
Interchanges: Marion, Chan, Toleafoa, Wallace.
Leeds: McCormack; Hall, Newman, Handley, Sivo; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O’Connor, Palasia, Hankinson, McDonnell, Watkins.
Interchanges: Jenkins, Levi, Smith, Cassell.
Referee: Liam Moore.
