Round 3 of the Super League season has just been completed. Here is our wrap of the weekend’s action in European rugby league.

Leeds Rhinos versus Huddersfield Giants
The Rhinos opened up Round 3 with their third consecutive league win and their first win over their West Yorkshire rivals in eight meetings in a rather scrappy encounter at Headingley Carnegie.

It looked like it would be a comfortable night as the Rhinos dominated the first quarter to open up an 18-0 lead with tries from Carl Ablett, Adam Cuthbertson and Ryan Hall, as the Giants struggled to settle playing into a flurry of snow. Kevin Sinfield converted all three tries.

But once the conditions settled down and the Giants managed to complete some sets they got back into the game. Tries from Jamie Ellis, his first for the club, and Joe Wardle with both converted by Danny Brough got the Giants back into the game at 18-12 at the half time hooter.

The second half could not have started better for the Rhinos – prop Mitch Allchurch slipped a pearler of a pass out of the tackle for young back rower Stevie Ward to steam onto, he beat three defenders before back handing a brilliant overhead pass to supporting winger Tom Briscoe to score their fourth try and give them a 10-point lead.

Then it all started to go wrong for the Rhinos. Giants winger Jermaine McGilivary was held up over the line before a clever kick from Leroy Cudjoe led to a try for Kyle Wood.

Within five minutes Brett Ferres powerd out of a Zak Hardaker tackle to score and Brough’s conversion pushed the Giants in front for the first time, 24-22.

They could not hold onto the lead for long though and it was Papua New Guinea hooker Paul Aiton who scored his first try for the Rhinos and won them the game, Sinfield converted and the Giants could not get over the line to gain their first win of the season. The Rhinos made it three from three with a 28-24 victory.

NRL watch
Rhinos – Former Panthers and Sharks hooker Paul Aiton had an outstanding game and took out the man-of-the-match award. He scored his first try for the Rhinos to win the game, made 43 tackles and was a constant threat from dummy half.

Adam Cuthbertson (Knights) scored for the second match in a row and Joel Moon (Broncos and Warriors) had a superb hand in Ryan Hall’s try. Forwards Mitch Allchurch (Eels) and Kylie Leuluai (Sea Eagles) had big impacts from the bnch.

Giants – 16 of the Giants 17 man squad were British and the only former NRL man in their line-up was Ukuma Ta’ai. The former Warriors back rower had a steady, if unspectacular, match in the Giants pack.

St. Helens versus Castleford Tigers
Reigning champions St. Helens recovered from their heavy World Club Challenge defeat to South Sydney Rabbitohs to record their third straight league victory against a Castleford Tigers side struggling to cope with the loss of a number of major players since last year.

Having said that, the Tigers will know that they created enough chances to win the game and did well to recover from a 14-0 deficit just after half time. Jordan Tansey was pulled back for a forward pass and Ryan Boyle for the same thing with the try line at their mercy. Winger Justin Carney was held up over the line all in a first half which had seen the Saints open up a 10-0 lead through tries from wingers Adam Swift and Tommy Makinson with one conversion from Mark Percival.

Within two minutes of the re-start the Saints had increased their lead to 14-0 when a terrible pass from Justin Carney, within 10 yards of his own try line, was collected by Josh Jones who forced his way over to score a try.

Shortly after the Tigers were back in the game when Carney scored two quick fire tries – one off a superb pass from skipper Michael Shenton and the second from a perfect Luke Gale cross field kick.

Unfortunately Gale could not convert either try and the Saints quickly extended their lead, despite being a man down with Kyle Amor in the sin bin, with Mark Percival taking a pass from Josh Jones to score.

Percival converted to give the Saints 12 point lead and skipper Jon Wilkin extended the lead with seven minutes to go with his first drop goal in 10 years.

The Tigers persevered and were rewarded two minutes from time when Jordan Tansey latched onto another Gale kick to score a consolation try. The conversion by Gale was successful and the Saints held out for a hard fought win – 21-14.

NRL watch
Saints – Travis Burns (Panthers) struggled to make an impact and was poor defensively, missing six tackles. Atelea Vea worked hard and Mose Masoe (Roosters and Panthers) was his usual handful. The Saints are still waiting for half back Luke Walsh to regain full fitness.

Tigers – Ben Roberts (Bulldogs and Storm) pulled out with a hamstring injury while Junior Moors (Storm) put in his best performance so far and looked strong in attack. Justin Carney scored another two tries, Scott Moore (Cowboys) struggled to make an impact out of dummy half and Grant Millington (Sharks and Bulldogs) put in a big defensive shift making 38 tackles.

Catalans Dragons versus Warrington Wolves
Former Raiders, Roosters and Sharks half back Todd Carney made his debut for the French Dragons and helped his new club to a 38-18 win against a Wolves team who were slow out of the blocks off the back of their World Club Series appearance last weekend.

The Dragons opened up an 18-0 half time lead with Willie Tonga heavily involved. Tonga scored his first try for the Dragons after good work from Zeb Taia before a double from French winger Vincent Duport, with assists from Ben Pomeroy and Tonga, extended their lead sat the break.

But the Wolves are nothing if not persistent and tries from Joel Monaghan and Gary Wheeler, both converted by Gareth O’Brian, had them back in the game at 18-12.

Scott Dureau kicked a penalty to extend the Dragons lead to eight points before a length-of-the-field try pushed the Dragons further ahead.

Fullback Morgan Escare picked up a loose ball near his own line and inter-passed with winger Michael Oldfield to get the Dragons in to the Wolves half. On the next tackle, Taia charged over the line for a converted try.

Another Taia try quickly followed, this time Carney made his first real impact on the match when the Wolves defence took a clever dummy in mid-field. The half broke down the middle of the pitch before releasing Taia, who went to the line unchallenged.

Dureau converted and Dragons held a 20-point led with less than 15 minutes to go.

It was too big a gap for the Wolves to pull back although they did score next through young back rower Joe Philbin.

However, it was the Dragons day and it was fitting that they finished the scoring off. A Dureau cross-field kick was collected higher by Oldfield and he touched down to score.

Dureau added the touchline conversion and completed a great performance from the French team.

NRL watch
Dragons – Todd Carney made his long awaited debut and looked to slot in well. He created a try for Zeb Taia (Knights) in the second half.

Taia finished with two tries and was a constant threat to the Wolves defence. Willie Tonga (Bulldogs) scored his first Super League try and also provided an assist.

Ben Pomeroy (Sharks) also provided a try assist but was pretty quiet, Scott Dureau (Knights) kicked seven goals from seven and provided two assists while former Warriors hooker Ian Henderson was a constant menace and Jeff Lima (Rabbitohs) put in some damaging runs. Michael Oldfield (Sea Eagles and Roosters) made three clean breaks and scored the final try of the match.

Wolves – Former Australia international Joel Monaghan scored his first try in four games. Ashton Sims (Cowboys) recovered from a late hit from Jeff Lima to put in another powerful performance and Roy Asotasi (Rabbitohs) looked strong coming off the bench.

Salford Red Devils versus Hull FC
Rangi Chase inspired the Salford Red Devils to their first win of the season and produced a piece of magic to set up one the second half tries for Josh Griffin that killed off the hopes of a Hull victory.

Chase also set up another three tries as the Red Devils but a dreadful start to the season behind them.

The Red Devils started quickly and fullback Niall Evalds, in for the still injured Kevin Locke, scored the first of his two tries before hooker Tommy Lee supported a Weller Hauraki break to before sending young half back Theo Fages in to score. Josh Griffin converted one of the tries and Salford held an early 10-0 lead.

Hull responded through a converted try from Jordan Rankin, in his first appearance of the season, but Chase was on hand again to set up Evalds second try and the Griffin conversion gave them a 16-6 lead.

Adrian Morley put Salford down to 12 men after being sin-binned for a high tackle and FC took advantage when prop forward Jordan Thompson powered over the line. The conversion by Marc Sneyd made it 16-12 and Sneyd added a penalty on the stroke of half time to give the hosts a precarious two point advantage, 16-14.

Hull needed to be quick out of the blocks in the second half and they were. Salford were not helped by injuries to full back Evalds and three quarter Mason Caton-Brown, who was carried off on a stretcher, and Hull scored through Setimata Sa who followed up a kick from Leon Pryce to touch down.

However, Salford did not lie down and came back fighting. A long pass from Chase sent in winger Josh Griffin, who converted his try from the touchline, and Griffin’s second quickly followed on the back of a piece of Chase genius.

Chase ran across the face of the Hull defence, through a pass to himself, went into contact and through a reverse pass behind his back to Griffin to score his second try – the touchline conversion was again successful and the Red Devils now held a 28-18 lead.

Hull had a Tom Lineham try turned down but Jordan Thompson stormed over for his second try which Sneyd converted and Salford quickly responded with an unconverted Junior Sau try, again created by Chase, to lead 32-24 with minutes remaining.

Hull kept going and the few minutes were not comfortable for the Red Devils, Lineham got over the line to score and despite late pressure they could not get the score they needed to win the game. The Red Devils held out for a much needed 32-28 win.

NRL watch
Red Devils – Salford were without the injured Michael Dobson, Kevin Locke and Cory Patterson but the Red Devils performance was all about Rangi Chase (Dragons) who had four try assists and produced a piece of genius for one try in the second half (see it if you can). Junior Sau (Knights andamp; Storm) scored a try while Lama Tasi (Roosters and Broncos) was solid in the front row. Roosters legend Adrian was sin-binned.

Hull FC – Jordan Rankin (Titans) played at full back and scored on his first appearance of the year. Setaimata Sa (Roosters) also scored a try and Mickey Paea (Bulldogs) gained 138 metres and Mark Minichello (Titans) made 32 tackles. Former Wests Tigers and club skipper Gareth Ellis missed out through injury.

Hull Kingston Rovers versus Wigan Warriors
Captain Terry Campese, playing in front of his rugby legend uncle David, produced a brilliant performance to lead Hull KR to their first win of the year against last year’s runners up.

It didn’t look like that would be the case after 41 minutes though as the Warriors scored their fourth try immediately after the re-start. Joe Burgess made a break down the left wing and young half back George Williams supported on the inside to score what looked like a match deciding try as the Warriors led 20-6.

The first half was very tight, full of errors from both sides and was also very niggly with a few flare ups. There was no score in the opening 25 minutes but it was the home side that finally opened the scoring.

A little kick through from former Wigan centre Darrel Goulding was left too long by Burgess who expected it to go dead and Ken Sio pounced to touch the ball down. Josh Mantellato converted and Rovers led 6-0.

Burgess made amends shortly after when he was on the end of a flowing move which gave them the numbers on the left hand side and he was unopposed as he scored his sides first try. Matty Smith missed the conversion, 6-4 to the Robins.

Rovers have struggled at the end of first halves and the start of second period’s under coach Chris Chester and this match was no different.

The Warriors scored further tries through Lee Mossop, his first since returning to the club, and winger Josh Charnley claimed his first of the year right on the half time hooter – Smith converted the Mossop try and suddenly the Warriors had a eight point half time advantage.

This quickly became 14 with Williams’ try and the Rovers fans were worried about a second half collapse.

But it didn’t happen – the fans got behind the team and they turned it around. With Campese prompting, organising, passing and kicking brilliantly Rovers were a constant threat in the second half.

Albert Kelly lost the ball close to the line as he tried to stretch over but very quickly Sio got his second after a lovely handling move to the right put his centre Goulding away before he off loaded to Sio out of the tackle for the wingman to score his third of the year. Mantellato missed his first conversion of the year but the Robins kept going.

A break by Sio set up the position for Mitch Allgood to crash over for a try which Mantellato converted before clever kicks from Campese and Kelly allowed them to build more pressure on the Wigan defence which Kieran Dixon took advantage of when he forced his way over from dummy half with eight minutes remaining. Mantellato kicked his 12th goal of the year and Rovers led.

Despite some pressure from Wigan, Rovers defended very well – a facet of the game that they drastically needed to improve upon after conceding 84 points in their first two games – and held out for a much needed first win, 22-20, in front of the ecstatic home support. It was Rovers first win over the Warriors since 2009.

NRL watch
Rovers – Former Raider captain Terry Campese was superb. He was involved in everything Rovers did and his passing and kicking game were outstanding and he caused the Warriors defence tons of problems.

Halfback partner Albert Kelly (Titans) had his quietest game for the Robins while his former Titans teammateMaurice Blair was employed in the second row and did a very good job. Ken Sio scored two tries but looked vulnerable defensively, Mitch Allgood (Eels) was very strong in the pack and loved mixing it with the Warriors forwards and Josh Mantellato was solid and was successful with three from four conversions.

Warriors – Roosters-bound Joe Burgess had another mixed bag costing his team another try but scoring one and providing an assist as well. Tauliam Tautai (Sharks and Eels) worked hard defensively in the Warriors pack but made little impact on attack.

Widnes Vikings versus Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
The Vikings ripped apart the Wildcats to earn an all too easy 58-16 win. It was the Viking first win of the year and a result that Wildcats coach James Webster was not expecting and he labelled his side’s performance “unacceptable and disgraceful”.

The Wildcats had won their first two games of the year and were in a confident mood but the Vikings did not give them a look in.

Vikings captain Kevin Brown was on top form in his 300th Super League appearance and scored two of his sides 10 tries. Hooker Lloyd White, making his first appearance of the year, scored four tries for the first time in his career and also kicked four conversions for a match total of 24 points.

The Vikings took just two minutes to get their first try when half back Joe Mellor touched down from a Brown kick which Danny Tickle converted.

Brown scored his first try to extend the lead even further before White got his first from dummy half and Brown got his second to extend their lead to 22-0.

Wildcats winger Chris Riley went 80 metres to score when intercepting a Brown pass before Tickle kicked a penalty goal to give the Vikings a 24-4 half time lead.

The second half was no better for the Wildcats. Patrick Ah Van powered over for a try before Brown set up White for his second before he completed his hat-trick after a barnstorming run from debut prop Gil Dudson which put the game well beyond the reach of the Wildcats at 40-4.

The Viking eased off a little bit and the Wildcats scored two tries in three minutes through Matt Ryan and Riley. Both were converted and the score was 40-16.

After that little bit of respite, Kevin Brown got his hands back on the ball and two clever kicks created tries for Ah Van and Chris Clarkson. White then scored his fourth to round off an emphatic win.

NRL watch
Vikings – Patrick Ah Van (Warriors) scored two tries, Rhys Hanbury (tigers) was a constant danger from full back and ran for 171 metres. Hep Cahill (Storm) worked hard in defence and racked up 33 tackles while Danny Galea (Panthers, Tigers and Raiders), Aaron Heremaia (Warriors) and Manase Manuokafoa (Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Eels) all came off the bench.

Wildcats – Half backs Tim Smith (Eels and Sharks) and Jacob Miller (Tigers) had limited effect against a beaten pack. Their subs bench consisted of Scott Anderson (Storm and Broncos) who was injured after just five minutes action, Ali Lauititi (Warriors), Pita Godinet (Warriors) and Lopini Paea (Roosters), neither of whom could do anything to turn the tide.