Leeds Rhinos climbed two points clear at the engage Super League summit but their victory was overshadowed by a potentially serious injury to Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock.

The Rhinos forward, who led the Lions superbly in last autumn's otherwise disappointing Tri-Nations series in Australia and New Zealand, limped off the field after just two minutes with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

He was replaced by Jamie Thackray and did not reappear, but Tony Smith, the Rhinos boss and newly-appointed Great Britain coach, did not seem fazed in the slightest.

Nor did Brent Webb, who scored a scored a classic hat-trick of tries to take his tally for the season to nine as the Rhinos put clear daylight between themselves and nearest challengers Bradford.

New Zealand international Webb arrived at Headingley during the winter with a reputation as the world's finest full-back.

He has enhanced that status this season and tries in the 10th, 22nd and 64th minutes from the former New Zealand Warriors man helped the Rhinos to a comfortable victory.

The leaders claimed three first-half tries and ran in a further six after the break, with the victory going some way to erasing the pain of their shock 30-22 loss to Catalans in Perpignan back in February.

Yet Catalans sensed another famous scalp after opening the scoring in the seventh minute at Headingley.

Leeds were busy reshuffling their pack after losing Peacock to injury when Andrew Bentley found Olivier Charles out wide on the right with an exquisite long offload.

He touched down in the corner but Thomas Bosc missed the conversion and the French resistance lasted no more than three minutes.

Excellent forward play from the outstanding Gareth Ellis saw the Great Britain international find skipper Kevin Sinfield and his clever offload allowed the onrushing Webb to scamper clear.

Twelve minutes later, Webb again demonstrated his remarkable eye for an opportunity by seizing on a delightful inside pass from Danny McGuire to claim his second.

Catalans then lost centre Adam Mogg to the sin bin for 10 minutes for persistent offending and four minutes before the interval Leeds had their third try when replacement Clinton Toopi crashed over from close range.

Leeds needed just two minutes of the second half to extend their lead when Sinfield went over from close range and soon after the hosts had their fifth try when Ellis collected a bouncing ball to touch down in the left corner.

Yet Catalans refused to surrender and a swift counter-attack orchestrated by Alex Chan and Bosc led to Mogg racing clear down the right flank.

That cut Leeds' advantage to 22 points but the hosts never looked to be in any real trouble.

Indeed, so it proved as Webb raced clear for his hat-trick try shortly after the hour mark before Donald broke free down the left to register his seventh of the season.

Burrow claimed a deserved touchdown with five minutes remaining before Sinfield notched his second in the dying stages.

The Leeds skipper, fittingly, had the final say with the boot to give him an impressive nine goals from as many attempts.