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 champs Hull Kingston Rovers suffered a 3rd defeat in their opening 4 games as Catalans Dragons made an impressive 26-20 triumph in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all 3 domestic trophies before beating Brisbane Broncos to end up being world champions last month, but the French side were remarkable 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 transporting their way back towards victory as shots from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled ball games.


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


It appeared like Rovers were finding their feet after losing their two opening games of the league season to York Knights and Leeds Rhinos, as they beat Huddersfield Giants in both their league fixture and recently's Challenge Cup meeting.


That showed to be a false dawn, however, as they revealed defensive weak points, bad discipline at essential minutes and a lack of the style which swept all before them last season.


Catalans, who have a habit of blowing hot and cold, were exceptional despite the fact that they lost three forwards to injury, requiring the use of their 18th guy Harvey Wilson, and then saw influential scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


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


But Catalans established supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out to touch down after being dealt with short of the line.


The Dragons lost prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle issue in fast succession but it did not disrupt their flow as Sexton's penalty 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 try, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a penalty to square it up and a KR comeback win looked inevitable.


When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it appeared to be the gaining moment however he unwisely tried to offload, Dragons restored belongings and when they introduced one last attack teen Marc sparked mass events by racing clear of the Robins defence to rating.


'Many errors and charges' - response


Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Radio Humberside:


"We made it hard for ourselves but you have 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, so lots of errors and charges which put us in a bad position.


"What I took pride in was the way we fought back, we put ourselves back in the video game however at the back end we were trying to find the quick repair as we wanted the game so bad on that one play and it occurred, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] dip into the end, but throughout the game.


"My job now is to evaluate it, browse it and take ownership however when you're playing, gamers play the video game.


"They put themselves in a position to win but there was a period where we did discover some circulation, hold the footy and ask some concerns, and when it was time to safeguard our line we did. We didn't do that for long adequate durations."


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