It looked like a stroll in the French sun. Then, the panic set in. Leeds Rhinos nearly blew a massive 30-point lead in the south of France but managed to steady the ship, beating Toulouse 48-24 to climb back to the top of the Super League. It was ugly at times. But they got the job done.
For forty minutes, it was a clinic. Brodie Croft crossed after just four minutes, setting a ruthless tone. Maika Sivo followed quickly. Harry Newman bagged a brace, and young Fergie McCormack, in only his third top-flight appearance, grabbed his first senior try. At 30-0, the game was dead. Or so everyone thought.
Complacency is a killer. Thomas Lacans struck just before the break, giving Toulouse a flicker of hope. That flicker became a bonfire after the interval. Luke Polselli scored within seconds of the restart. Lacans grabbed his second. When Matthieu Laguerre capitalized on a Leeds knock-on to score, the deficit was down to six. 30-24. The home crowd was roaring. Leeds was sweating.
They woke up. Sivo eased the tension, finishing off a slick move involving Jake Connor and McCormack. That killed the French momentum. Late tries from Chris Hankinson and Cameron Smith put the game beyond doubt, while Connor finished with a perfect eight goals from eight attempts.
It was Leeds’ first-ever victory at Stade Ernest Wallon. The win puts them back above Warrington Wolves on points difference. Toulouse, rugby’s perennial survivors, remain rooted to 12th after their tenth defeat of a miserable campaign. They showed fight, but fight doesn’t buy points.
