Leeds Rhinos vs Catalans Dragons Predictions: Yaha to catch hosts napping

Two strangely out-of-sorts sides meet at Headingley on Friday (20:00, Sky Sports+) as the Leeds Rhinos host Catalans Dragons, with the French side now targeting a top-four finish having fallen off the pace, and fallen giants Leeds looking unlikely to even make the playoffs.

The inconsistency of these two sides has been remarkable this season, which could make for a hugely unpredictable contest in west Leeds. Read below for my Leeds Rhinos vs Catalans Dragons predictions and all the latest team news.

Leeds Rhinos vs Catalans Dragons Odds

Leeds (8/15) are favourites to triumph at home but the odds of a Catalans Dragons (8/5) aren't sky-high, so the visitors are considered to have an outside chance at the very least, while the draw (18/1) is very much a long shot.

Team News

Leeds suffered a huge blow this week when star winger Ash Handley was ruled out for the season.

The England man has undergone surgery on a wrist injury and won’t play again this year.

Better news sees the return of playmaker Brodie Croft who missed Magic Weekend to attend the funeral of his grandfather in Australia.

Teenager Riley Lumb is included for the first time since May, while Corey Johnson drops out of the squad from last week.

Catalans boss Steve McNamara only names a 20-man squad after injuries to winger Matt Ikavalu and substitute Jarrod Wallace. Yacine Ben Abdeslem comes in.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 3: Catalans Dragons -4 @ 23/10

I can’t back either of these sides with any confidence right now but I am really struggling to recommend a punt on the Rhinos.

There have been improvements under Brad Arthur but the team still looks to me to lack both cohesion and belief and I feel despite the Dragons problems on the road this year they are capable of pulling off a performance in Leeds.

Both teams suffered damaging defeats at Magic Weekend, Leeds comprehensively undone by Warrington and the Dragons thrashed 36-4 by Hull KR.

Leeds have a chance of scraping into the playoffs but that would need both an upturn in form and a slide from one of the sides above them and I can’t see both of those things happening in the next month or so.

Catalans have slipped off the pace but are still a good bet for a top-four finish and they will feel a win at Headingley can represent a statement of that intent.

The French side haven’t conceded a point in two of their last three games against Leeds, and won 26-0 in Perpignan. That said, the Rhinos have a decent recent record at home to McNamara’s men, winning their last two against the Dragons at Headingley.

I spoke to league legend Sean Long this week - who used to be assistant coach at Leeds. He fancies a Rhinos win here, which is enough for me to go the other way!

This is a horrible game to call but my gut is leaning towards an away win, and given that the value is with Catalans this week I will be siding with the French to finally find some form.

Fouad Yaha Anytime Tryscorer @ 5/4

France international Fouad Yaha didn’t feature in the Magic Weekend drubbing by title-chasing Hull KR but scored a try in the previous week’s win over Huddersfield and in the shock 12-10 defeat at lowly London the week before that.

When he plays, I like him as a try option, and if he starts at Headingley I think 5/4 is a great shout for the powerful outside back to cross.

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