Israel Folau has been in rampaging form, scoring once and inspiring his Australian team mates with his devastating running, as his Catalans Dragons team destroyed Super League rivals Hull KR 34-4 at the French side’s Stade Gilbert Brutus home.
Folau’s compatriots James Maloney and Josh Drinkwater were also in superb form as the Dragons proved simply too hot for Tony Smith’s rattled Robins.
Steve McNamara’s French outfit appear to have found their home comforts as 5,000 supporters cheered the Dragons on to a clinical demolition of the league’s second-bottom side.
Robins skipper Joel Tomkins was first over the line, collecting a Maloney kick after 20 minutes of stubborn resistance from Hull, and he doubled his account five minutes later to put Catalans 10-0 ahead.
Maloney added a penalty conversion to put the Dragons two clear scores in front, before Ben Garcia picked up a loose ball and touched down from short range.
The following set switched the ball to the right, where Tom Davies forced his way over the line in the corner just before half-time, Maloney kicking the touchline conversion for a 22-0 interval lead.
The second half saw the home team turn up the heat as handling errors and a creeping penalty count took their toll on Rovers.
Powerful surging runs from giant substitute New Zealand prop Sam Kasiano put the visitors on the back foot – his big hit on Shaun Kenny-Dowall loosened the ball and led to a lengthy period of possession for the home team.
Then a dazzling 80-metre combination between the two Tomkins brothers and David Mead laid the platform for Folau to score on the right wing, Maloney adding the conversion.
Ben Jullien was held up over the line and Folau was disallowed for a forward pass as Catalans put constant pressure on the Robins’ try-line.
The return of Kasiano from the bench put the Dragons back on the offensive and fellow prop Sam Moa went close to scoring before Maloney added a penalty from short range.
At 30-4 Catalans could have eased off the gas in preparation for next Thursday’s trip to Wigan, but Folau’s rampaging run down the left, supported by Sam Tomkins, saw Davies finish with a flourish in the right corner for his second try, Maloney hitting the post with the attempted conversion.
