Hull KR were the red-hot favourites to eliminate the Catalans Dragons from the Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage and march on to Wembley in a month’s time to face either the Warrington Wolves or Leigh Leopards for a chance to finally end forty-five years of hurt and lift the famous old trophy.

It was the first meeting between the two sides in 2025, the most recent game being the round twenty-two clash back in August 2024 which the Robins won by the comprehensive margin of 36-4.

The bookies gave the Dragons a twelve point start on the coupon, expecting that Hull KR would fulfil their favourites tag and make the trip down to London in a month’s time, in front of a bumper crowd made up mostly of KR fans.

After a decent opening showing from the Dragons, they were first to concede on four minutes when Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet failed to deal with a Mikey Lewis grubber kick to the corner, James Batchelor pouncing on the loose ball to force it onto the ground. Lewis hit the upright with his conversion attempt.

On thirteen the Robins were in again through a scruffy try. The Dragons dislodged the ball from a running Lewis, the ball going to ground in goal and being grounded by Batchelor for his second try of the game. This time Lewis found the mark and there was some daylight between the sides with a 10-0 advantage for the red and whites.

Within ninety seconds the Dragons were back in the game with a right to left move, Reimis Smith taking the pass, dropping the shoulder, and going in from ten metres.  Aispuro-Bichet added the extras for 6-10.

The partisan crowd were silenced on twenty-three when a kick was knocked back by Hull KR and picked up by Luke Keary to ground and draw the sides level. Aispuro-Bichet added the extras to nose his side head by two points.

On the thirty-minute mark Hull KR edged back in front after a brilliant Whitbread run and pass to the mercurial Lewis to dove over from five metres out. Lewis shaved the inside of the far post to put his side four points ahead.

As the first half ended the road to Wembley was still open for both sides.

A Lewis penalty goal on forty-three was a further lift for the Robins and their fans but the killer blow came on fifty-three when Jack Broadbent dipped the shoulder and accelerated through a gap to go in from thirty metres to score under the sticks with a brilliant solo try. Lewis added the conversion to make the margin 12 points.

With twelve minutes remaining Broadbent completed his brace to devastate the Dragons as he took the inside pass from Burgess to walk over unopposed. Lewis was on target for his fifth goal of the game for a 30-12 scoreline.

The Dragons heads were already on the plane home when Joe Burgess got in on the scoring action on seventy-two thanks to a great floated pass from Tyrone May which allowed him over from five metres out. Lewis added the conversion from wide, the lead now twenty-four points, the Dragons not troubling the Hull KR line in the second forty.

For long periods of todays game Hull KR were simply in a different league to a lacklustre Catalans Dragons who looked defeated as soon as they stepped foot on the pitch. KR lived up to the pundits and their fans expectations and can now plan their trip to the Challenge Cup final on the seventh of June where they will face either Warrington or Leigh as favourites to break their trophy drought. Steve McNamara and his Catalans side will now focus on trying to salvage something from a disappointing 2025 season as they look for a top six finish.

Hull KR: Broadbent (2T), Davies, Hiku, Batchelor (2T), Burgess (T), Lewis (T, G 6/7), May, Sue, Litten, Warea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Whitbread, Minchella.  Subs: Brown, Luckley, Tanginoa, Leyland. 18^th Man: Doro.

Catalans Dragons: Aispuro-Bichet (G 2/2), Cotric, Smith (T), Laguerre, Makinson, Fages, Keary (T), Pangai Junior, Da Costa, Bousquet, Sims, Whitehead, Partington. Subs: Satae, Navarrete, Séguier, Sironen. 18^th Man: Yaha.

Half-Time: 16-12.

Full-Time: 36-12.

Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 10-4, 10-6, 10-10, 10-12, 14-12, 16-12 : HT: 18-12, 22-12, 24-12, 28-12, 30-12, 34-12, 36-12 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: KR – Square – Dragons - KR.

Referee: Chris Kendall.