Catalans Dragons v Leeds Rhinos: Kallum Watkins bullish ahead of key run of games for struggling Rhinos

The defending champions are bottom of First Utility Super League after losing their opening two matches.

They face a huge third hurdle at Catalans today before a run of games against the other teams in last year’s top-five, Huddersfield Giants (home), Wigan Warriors (away), St Helens (home) and Castleford Tigers (away).

Four of Leeds’ next five games are against teams who beat them in 2015, beginning at a ground where they were hammered 46-16 in the Super-8s.

“It’s always a tough place to go,” said Watkins of this evening’s match in Perpignan.

“They are very good at home, they’ve signed some players and they’re looking pretty strong.

“It is going to be a tough challenge for us, but we’re certainly looking forward to it.

“We were obviously pretty disappointed with the result last week, but we want to put that right and how we’ve started in Super League as well.”

Rhinos held Australian champions North Queensland Cowboys to 4-4 in the opening period of last week’s Dacia World Club Challenge, but were overrun after half-time.

“The first half was good and we’ve taken a lot of positives out of it in terms of our effort, but we were disappointed with the second half,” said Watkins.

“That was the down side of it, but we have got to move on now.

“We are concentrating on Super League now and it’s a tough game this week and a tough month for us.

“We can go in with a bit of confidence from last week and if we continue what we’re doing we’ll give ourselves a good chance of doing well.

“It is tough with injuries, but you always get them. It is how you deal with them that’s important.”