Lipowicz Function As Catalans Pile Misery On Hull KR

21 March 2026


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Catalans (14) 26


Tries: Lipowicz 2, Navarrete, Marc Goals: Sexton 5


Hull KR (6) 20


Tries: May, Burgess, Amone Goals: Lewis 4


Reigning Super League champions Hull Kingston Rovers suffered a 3rd defeat in their opening four video games as Catalans Dragons earned an exceptional 26-20 success in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all 3 domestic prizes before beating Brisbane Broncos to end up being world champs last month, but the French side were exceptional as 2 shots from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.


It appeared like Rovers, despite an unconvincing screen, were carrying their method back towards victory as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled ball games.


In a remarkable finale, Catalans went up the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which boosts them as much as seventh location.


It looked like Rovers were discovering their feet after losing their two opening video games of the league season to York Knights and Leeds Rhinos, as they beat Huddersfield Giants in both their league component and last week's Challenge Cup conference.


That proved to be a false dawn, however, as they revealed defensive weak points, bad discipline at key moments and an absence of the style which swept all before them last season.


Catalans, who have a routine of blowing hot and cold, were excellent despite the fact that they lost 3 forwards to injury, forcing using their 18th man Harvey Wilson, and then saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


Rovers had actually started well enough as May, in his 100th Super League look and playing against his previous club, bounced off a deal with and stepped over the line.


But Catalans developed supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz extended out to touch down after being taken on short of the line.


The Dragons lost exceptional prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle problem in fast succession however it did not disrupt their flow as Sexton's charge and his conversion of a 2nd shot for Lipowicz had them 14-6 up at half time.


The home side even rode the loss of Dodd to extend their lead through Navarrete, however as their over-worked forwards tired the Robins started to get on top.


Oliver GIldart released Burgess to race away for his 150th Super League attempt, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a penalty to square it up and a KR return win looked inescapable.


When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it appeared to be the gaining moment however he unwisely tried to unload, Dragons regained belongings and when they released one last attack teenager Marc triggered mass celebrations by racing clear of the Robins defence to rating.


'A lot of errors and penalties' - reaction


Hull KR head coach Willie Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:


"We made it hard for ourselves but you need to pay credit to Catalans. They're a gutsy team who work hard for each other and they found a method at the back end.


"But when I look at our performance, simply so many errors and charges which put us in a bad position.


"What I took pride in was the way we battled back, we put ourselves back in the game however at the back end we were looking for the quick repair as we wanted the video game so bad on that one play and it took place, not simply on Jack [Broadbent's] dip into the end, however throughout the video game.


"My task now is to evaluate it, check out it and take ownership but when you're playing, the video game.


"They put themselves in a position to win but there was a period where we did find some flow, hold the footy and ask some concerns, and when it was time to protect our line we did. We didn't do that for long enough periods."


Catalans: Staines; Cotric, Laulu-Togagae, Faatape, Marc; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Navarrete, Lipowicz, Laguerre, Garcia.


Interchanges: Satae, Bousquet, Leeming, Chan, Wilson (18th male).


Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitehead, Batchelor, Minchella.


Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Whitbread, Leyland.


Referee: Jack Smith.


Hull Kingston Rovers


Catalans Dragons