Leeds: Miller; Hall, Newman, Simpson, Hankinson; Croft, Sinfield; Oledzki, O’Connor, Jenkins, Gannon, McDonnell, Palasia.
Interchanges: Watkins, Bentley, Lisone, Holroyd.
Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Cotric, Smith, Yaha; Keary, Fages; Dezaria, Tison, Navarrete, Sims, Sironen, Garcia.
Interchanges: Bousquet, Satae, Seguier, Zenon.
Referee: Jack Smith.
Huddersfield: Flanagan; Gagai, Milne, Bibby, Halsall; Rush, Frawley; Rogers, Woolford, Powell; Rushton, Greenwood, Cudjoe
Interchanges: Wilson, Golding, English, King
Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Romano, Laguerre, Darrelatour; Keary, Fages; Maria, Da Costa, Navarrette; Garcia, Sironen, Partington
Interchanges: Sims, Satae, Dezaria, Balmforth
Sin-bin: Sironen (31 mins)
Referee: Aaron Moore.
Catalans last scored a point 34 days ago when they faced Hull KR in the Challenge Cup semi-final, and the first of three consecutive shutout defeats after that in May cost Steve McNamara his job after almost eight years at the helm of the Perpignan club.
Their inability to grab an early score at Craven Park also meant they set an unwanted record for longest time between points in Super League history, passing the previous 259-minute wait Wakefield Trinity endured in 2023.
In stark contrast, since the Robins last faced the Dragons they have amassed 19 tries in four games and ended their long wait to lift the cup.
While the key trio of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Michael McIlorum and Joe Burgess were all ruled out injured after helping Hull KR to Wembley glory, the East Yorkshire side remained at their irrepressible best against a French side in wretched form.
Garcia being held up over the line in the 11th minute was the highlight of Catalans’ first half in Hull.
Davies, Batchelor and Sue’s tries that followed had the hosts cruising, but Catalans’ hopes of making it a contest after that were dashed by the sin-binning of Maria – for his illegal hit on Sue – before Garcia’s was shown a red card for swinging a punch at Elliot Minchella and Lewis.
An avalanche of tries followed before the interval, leading Catalans’ interim head coach Joel Tomkins to do some damage control at half-time.
An unlikely comeback was not on the cards, however, as Sue added to the Robins’ advantage while Keary grabbed what was a mere consolation effort for the Les Dracs before another four tries were piled on them in a chastening final 15 minutes.
Hull KR have gone 40 years without a major trophy and lifted their only Challenge Cup even further back, in 1980.
But hopes are sky high in Humberside, with Rovers sitting top of Super League and now in their ninth Challenge Cup final after an emphatic second-half display.
KR showed first as both sides ignored the unusually high spring temperatures and went full-tilt in a breathless first half.
Batchelor chased down Lewis’ kick through to score after Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet failed to punch the ball out of the in-goal area, and then added a hotly-debated second try after a lengthy video review.
Matthieu Laguerre appeared to ground the ball at the same time as the second-rower, but video referee Ben Thaler could not overrule Chris Kendall’s on-field decision to award the try.
Dragons offered little in attack in the opening 15 minutes but then exploded into life, as Smith cut back inside to split open the Rovers defence and cross near the posts.
And when Keary chased down a chip ahead soon after, Thaler did this time overrule Kendall – who had called offside – as the Dragons pinched the lead.
Catalans went close to extending that lead moments later, but Julian Bousquet’s rash flicked offload just metres from the line instead found a Rovers hand.
But the match turned again before half-time as Jai Whitbread’s brilliant offload in the tackle sent Lewis flying over to restore the Hull KR advantage.
Lewis booted a penalty as Rovers piled on the pressure after the restart and then cracked the French side when Broadbent spotted a gap and launched a scorching diagonal run through to the posts.
Jez Litten’s thrilling run from his own half sparked a breathless move which fell just short, but KR killed the game with 10 minutes left as Catalans visibly wilted.
Kelepi Tanginoa was sent clear by Lewis’ cut-out pass and fed Burgess, whose pass inside gave Broadbent a clear run to the line. Burgess then ran in at the left corner for try number six.