St Helens 48-2 Catalans Dragons: Fijian captain Kevin Naiqama scores a hat-trick of tries as Super League champions cruise to 12th Grand Final
- Kevin Naiqama scored a hat-trick as St Helens cruised past Catalans Dragons
- St Helens, the defending Super League champions, reached the Grand Final
- They will play a mouthwatering derby against Wigan in Hull on Friday
Fijian captain Kevin Naiqama scored a hat-trick of tries as defending Super League champions St Helens brushed aside Catalans Dragons to reach a record 12th Grand Final.
Full-back Lachlan Coote contributed 22 points in the second semi-final to help his side set up a mouthwatering derby with Wigan at Hull’s KCOM Stadium on Friday.
Coote said: ‘I’m very proud of the boys’ effort. The two weeks off helped us. We lifted the intensity in training and it showed. It was a massive effort.
Fijian captain Kevin Naiqama scored a hat-trick of tries as St Helens beat Catalans Dragons
‘Goal-kicking has been a focus this year, but my form is due to the boys and the service I’m getting.’
After the eight-try cruise, St Helens coach Kristian Woolf said: ‘We were outstanding. I was really happy with the way we attacked. We controlled the game and backed it up with good defence.’
It was a disappointing end to the season for outplayed Catalans and coach Steve McNamara reflected: ‘I’m disappointed with the finish on the scoreboard after the effort from everyone at the club this year.
St Helens had way too much for Catalans Dragons on Friday and will play Wigan next week
‘To get beaten like that is harsh. I had two men in the sin bin for a period of time.
‘This is about St Helens and Wigan getting to the Grand Final and clearly those two teams are the best in the competition.
‘We couldn’t score a try and neither could Hull against Wigan in their semi-final.’
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