Super League champions Leeds cruised to a comfortable sixth win of the season to retain top spot ahead of St Helens on points difference.

The Rhinos took full advantage of a fragile defence and even more suspect discipline by the Catalans to return to winning ways in emphatic fashion in front of a 13,423 crowd at Headingley.

They struck with three tries in a decisive eight-minute spell just before half-time to establish a stranglehold on the game against a Dragons side which demonstrated plenty of enterprise on attack but simply cannot defend.

Catalans have conceded 190 points in four visits to Headingley but threatened to pull off a shock when second rower Jason Croker and full-back Clint Greenshields combined to get centre Steve Bell over for his first try for the club after only three minutes.

But the Rhinos, looking to bounce back after losing their 100% record at St Helens, hit their visitors with a two-try burst in five minutes.

Stand-off Danny McGuire tracked across the field to find centre Keith Senior in some space and his pass got winger Ryan Hall racing over at the corner for his seventh try of the season.

Kevin Sinfield, like Thomas Bosc, had the misfortune to watch his conversion attempt bounce back off an upright but he was on target when second rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan side-stepped past Greenshields for a second try shortly afterwards.

The Dragons posed plenty of problems for the home side, with skipper Greg Bird demonstrating his undoubted class, but the Leeds defence held firm and they struck three further blows in a devastating spell before half-time.

Sinfield created a try for McGuire, who then produced an inch-perfect kick to the corner for Hall to grab his second try.

Hall looked to be scorching away for a hat-trick after being put in the clear by Senior but unselfishly passed inside to the supporting Brent Webb to finish off a glorious 80-metre move, with Sinfield kicking a third goal.

The Catalans enjoyed another spell on the attack at the start of the second half and winger Vincent Duport reached the line before being turned on his back.

The French side's biggest problems were in defence and they were undone all too easily on 53 minutes when McGuire and Webb combined to get centre Ashley Gibson over for his first try of the season.

The Dragons pulled a try back three minutes later when stand-off Bosc hacked the ball ahead and won the race to touch down.

He also added the goal but Leeds simply stepped up a gear and second rower Carl Ablett touched down for a seventh try after collecting Sinfield's kick off the inside of his boot.

Duport added a third try for the visitors but Leeds finished on top, with hooker Matt Diskin forcing his way over for his side's eighth try just before the end and Rob Burrow added the goal.