Hull KR vs Catalans Dragons Prediction: Cup winners to see off crisis club with plenty to spare

It's back to reality for the Betfred Challenge Cup winners on Friday night as Hull KR dust off the hangovers to return to the bread and butter of a Betfred Super League title charge with a home clash against Catalans Dragons at Sewell Group Craven Park  (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Catalans are all over the place at the moment, with head coach Steve McNamara having gone and a series of shocking performances leaving the 2021 and 2023 Grand Finalists down in ninth spot and way off the play-off pace. My Hull KR vs Catalans Dragons predictions are below, complete with full team news and Betfred's match odds.

Hull KR vs Catalans Dragons Odds

Despite the possibility of hangovers, KR are naturally the huge favourites as Wembley winners and current league leaders. They are a prohibitive 1/12 to win the game in front of a packed out stadium of home fans only in HU9, with Catalans a 7/1 shot and the draw listed at 22/1.

The handicap markets are plentiful, giving us lots to think about, and in the standard two-way bracket the Robins are up against an 18.5-point start. They're 10/11 to overcome that mark, while the Dragons are 5/6 with the three-score edge.

Team News

These fixtures after Wembley week notoriously produce much-changed line-ups and KR will have to make changes for this game.

Of the players carrying injuries at Wembley last week, hooker Michael McIlorum was the biggest risk and it is no surprise that his participation has seen him sidelined again.

Another man to play injured was prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who had a calf issue. The fact that he played at Wembley means he will now not be fit for another month - a calculated gamble that head coach Willie Peters will feel paid off given that dramatic late cup triumph.

Winger Joe Burgess misses out too - just a minor injury according to Peters. Full-back Arthur Mourgue is back of course having been cup-tied at Wembley, so the versatile Jack Broadbent can be used out wide again.

Eribe Doro is named in the 21, as are Noah Booth and Bill Leyland, the latter of whom is an option to cover for McIlorum.

Rugby League Odds

Catalans have some key names back available, not least their talisman.

Sam Tomkins is named in the 21-man squad by his brother Joel - the interim head coach following McNamara's departure, while also returning are Julian Bousquet, Bayley Sironen, Tariq Sims, Tevita Pangai and Leo Darrelatour.

Handicap 3-way: Hull KR -18 @ 20/21

This is a repeat of the Challenge Cup semi-final won by Rovers 36-12 just a month ago, and despite the respective team news being more positive for the visitors, I can't see even the most lingering of hangovers preventing another Hull KR win.

This Dragons team is a shadow of the dominant force they became under McNamara, and the way they feebly rolled over against Hull FC two weeks back was alarming.

The return of Sam Tomkins and company helps of course, as does the absence of several of the Robins' Wembley heroes, but I struggle to give the visitors any hope of springing a surprise.

A big crowd is expected to welcome their heroes home and I feel that can spark the hosts into life after their boozy celebrations of last weekend.

I have another Hull KR win here, even with a few changes in personnel. The only question, therefore, is how many they will win by. It is worth noting that these first games back after the cup final so often spring a shock defeat. And if the opposition was anyone other than Catalans or Salford Red Devils I may be having a little look at it.

The handicap is at 18, which I think the Dragons have half a chance of beating. I'd certainly be taking most other teams to get within 18 of Rovers this week.

But I can't say that with any degree of confidence given some of the half-hearted dross the Dragons have served up since McNamara's departure, so I am going to sit right on the handicap this week and play it cautiously.

Jack Broadbent anytime tryscorer  @ 10/11

Our top tip for a Wembley try sadly came up without a score in what was a thrilling, defence-dominated, low-scoring final.

But that is not going to deter me from backing Jack Broadbent in what will be a far more open game this week.

Rovers had to be unbelievably patient to wait for their one moment at Wembley, and it was taken by Tom Davies.

There will be bags of chances for them to score a few this week, and Broadbent will again be right in the thick of it - unless, of course, he is another one given a rest after the Wembley party weekend!

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights