Catalans v Leeds predictions and rugby league tips: Dragons to have the edge

Friday's Betfred Super League playoff between Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos will take place as planned. Super League released this statement on Thursday evening:

Super League will pay its respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II throughout the period of national mourning.

As Friday’s first Betfred Super League Elimination Play-Off is being played in Perpignan, it will go ahead as scheduled, as with other sporting events involving British teams abroad – with a minute’s silence before kick-off, and the players of Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos wearing black armbands.

The second Elimination Play-Off between Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils on Saturday will take place as scheduled following a consultation with the DCMS and RFL on Friday morning.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 8pm Friday

Best bets

Catalans Dragons to win by one to 12 points
1pt 2-1 Betfair

Catalans Dragons penalty first scoring play
1pt 6-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Leeds penalty first scoring play
1pt 13-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

Six wins from their final seven regular-season matches propelled Leeds Rhinos into the Betfred Super League playoffs but they may run out of steam in Perpignan on Friday.

The one defeat in that sequence came in the Dragons' den just under a fortnight ago when the French side ran out 32-18 winners but things are expected to be much close in this playoff eliminator, just as they were on Leeds' visit to the south of France prior to that match.

A round-21 tussle saw these two locked at 32-all as the final hooter sounded with the Rhinos nicking the victory courtesy of an extra-time try.

That fixture looks a more solid barometer of how this latest clash could play out with plenty more at stake and recent history suggests the home side could have the edge once again.

Catalans have won six of their last seven meetings with Leeds but there is rarely much to separate the two.

The last six meetings have featured winning margins of 14, four, six, nine, eight and 12 so backing the home side to win by one to 12 points looks the way to go, and, given the nature of the contest, backing either side to open the scoring with a penalty goal also looks a decent-value bet.

The Dragons were the lowest point-scorers of the top-six teams with 539 from 27 matches this season - an average of just under 20 points per game - and this could be a proper arm-wrestle in humid conditions.

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