Hull KR

Red card, records broken, Catalans in crisis and other Hull KR v Catalans Dragons talking points

by
Sam Cook
June 13, 2025

Hull KR returned back to Super League after their Wembley success with Catalans Dragons their opponents at Craven Park.

The Robins were hoping to avoid a Challenge Cup hangover and it’s fair to say that they did that as they absolutely hammered a hopeless Catalans side, winning 68-6.

Catalans were already at the bottom of the trailing back with just Salford, Huddersfield and Castleford behind them, but they look set to slip even further on the basis of tonight’s performance.

It was a showing that saw them lose their discipline and set records for all the wrong reasons, whilst Hull KR just continued their march at the top of the table.

Hull KR and Catalans Dragons talking points

Hull KR in party mode

It had already been confirmed that the Challenge Cup trophy would be paraded around the pitch after the game but Willie Peters had warned that it would be “pretty sombre” had they lost. Well, they made sure that was never going to be the case with this performance.

The party atmosphere at Craven Park continued long after the final whistle and with 50+ points scored, a Challenge Cup trophy in the cabinet, and first place in Super League wrapped up for another week then it’s no wonder why.

Catalans in crisis

There is no other term for it other than crisis. At this rate, Catalans will be hard pressed to win another game all season. A symbol of just how desperate it’s got at Catalans was when captain Benjamin Garcia was sent off for punching in an act that Jon Wilkin described as sheer frustration.

Wilkin took aim at the attitude of the players with both Tevita Pangai Jr and Luke Keary named, the latter of whom he accused of being on holiday and only being in Super League for a pay cheque.

With Garcia set for a lengthy ban, Les Dracs will have to look for another player to lead them on field as the coming weeks don’t look set to be any easier.

Records broken for the wrong reasons

Catalans had been nilled in three consecutive games and whilst the Robins weren’t able to hold the Dragons to zero, they were able to hold them without a score for long enough that a record was broken.

That record isn’t a welcome one as Les Dracs went a whopping 312 minutes between points with Luke Keary the man at either end. He scored at Magic Weekend and in the second-half tonight but the five hours and twelve minutes in between didn’t see a single point scored, a truly woeful record which breaks that of the 2023 Wakefield Trinity side who got relegated.

Steve McNamara spotted

Joel Tomkins is in temporary charge after Steve McNamara’s sacking, not that it has been officially confirmed or addressed by the club, but McNamara was in attendance at Craven Park.

The Sky Sports cameras showed the Hull-born coach watching the game making him one of very few supporting Catalans with a whopping 11,350 in Craven Park, with all tickets assigned to the home fans.

Disciplinary fallout

With Benjamin Garcia sent for at least one punch, if not more given what the slowed down footage shows, he’s set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Franck Maria could also find himself in trouble but Hull KR might not come out completely unpunished.

Elliot Minchella perhaps did enough to provoke Garcia whilst almost every player on the field got involved in the melee after the Hull KR skipper was floored, so the Match Review Panel will have plenty to check.