Catalans winger could face ban for late hit

James Gordon 26 Mar 2023 12:49 PM

Tom Johnstone may have slipped awkwardly in his attempt to catch Richie Myler in setting up Leeds’ gamebreaking try against Catalans.

But fellow winger Tom Davies certainly didn’t miss the Rhinos full-back.

An eagle-eyed fan spotted that Davies appeared to wipe out Myler with a high shot just after the former Warrington and Catalans man had passed to Harry Newman.

Looks like it was Davies from this view, also looks pretty clear that he had time to pull out…there's almost a pause before he decides to hit him anyway https://t.co/5vVmkbMMNx

— Glos' White (@GlosWhite) March 26, 2023

Newman romped home under the posts, complete with swan dive at the end to celebrate a fine comeback win at Headingley.

Newman had earlier been yellow carded which unusually prompted the Rhinos fightback.

Leeds trailed 22-8 to the previously unbeaten Dragons when Newman was sat down for 10 minutes for dissent.

But tries from Myler and Jarrod O’Connor dragged the hosts back in to the match despite their numerical disadvantage.

Newman finished the job five minutes from the end after Myler had scooped up Mitchell Pearce’s short kick close to his own line.

Photo: News Images

Despite the late contact that appeared high, Myler sat straight up and got on with the game.

As for Johnstone’s awkward looking fall as he chased down Myler, there appeared to be no concerns post-match.

Catalans coach Steve McNamara did, however, have concerns over three other players who will miss next week’s game against Castleford.

Tyrone May left Headingley wearing a protective boot, while Ben Garcia and Mickael Goudemand suffered head knocks.

McNamara said: “The thing that is really important for us now is our reaction next week.

“Teams go through that and it’s part and parcel of the game. In previous weeks we have had things go our way and that’s sport, we’ve got to roll with it and the important thing is that response next week.”

Rugby league excitement on terrestrial TV

It was an exciting game for the Channel 4 cameras, the perfect exhibition of rugby league on terrestrial TV.

Davies opened the scoring in the right corner, before Newman and Rhyse Martin got Leeds on the board.

Martin had an uncharacteristically off day with the boot, missing his first five attempts at goal, which prompted ironic cheers when he converted Newman’s late try from in front of the posts.

Nene Macdonald was denied a try by the video referee before two quick tries from Adam Keighran and Pearce put the Dragons in command.

Leeds looked like. being the masters of their own downfall when Martin’s offload was spilled on his own try line by Cameron Smith, enabling Paul Seguier to pounce for the easiest of tries.

At 22-8 against a team that had won all five of its previous Super League games, Leeds’ chances of victory looked unlikely but they took their fans on another rollercoaster of a ride.

A superb win away at champions St Helens was followed by a defeat to lowly Castleford, and this result will again raise eyebrows over their frustrating lack of consistency.

But no one was worrying about that in a thrilling final half hour, triggered when they were down to 12 men.

Despite his misfortune with the boot, Martin had a big hand in finding a score to drag Leeds back in to the match, as he stole the ball and released Blake Austin to put Derrell Olpherts over.

Austin’s 40/20 set up field position for Tom Holroyd to score, and Aidan Sezer took on the kicking duties to put Leeds in front at 26-22.

Then as Catalans pushed for a winner of their own, their tired kick chase left them exposed to Myler’s lightning counter attack break, and with Newman on his inside shoulder it was game over.