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 amazing 26-20 triumph in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic trophies before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champions last month, but the French side were extraordinary as 2 tries from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.


It appeared like Rovers, regardless of an unconvincing display, were transporting their method back towards triumph as shots from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled the scores.


In a dramatic ending, Catalans went up the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which increases them approximately seventh location.


It seemed like Rovers were finding their feet after losing their 2 opening games of the league season to York Knights and Leeds Rhinos, as they beat Huddersfield Giants in both their league component and recently's Challenge Cup conference.


That showed to be an incorrect dawn, however, as they revealed defensive weak points, poor discipline at key minutes and an absence of the flair which swept all before them last season.


Catalans, who have a habit of blowing hot and cold, were outstanding even though they lost 3 forwards to injury, forcing making use of their 18th man Harvey Wilson, and then saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


Rovers had begun all right as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and betting his former club, bounced off a tackle and stepped over the line.


But Catalans developed dominance and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz extended out to touch down after being dealt with short of the line.


The Dragons lost excellent prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle problem in quick succession however it did not disrupt their circulation 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, but as their over-worked forwards tired the Robins started to get on top.


Oliver GIldart freed 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 unavoidable.


When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the gaining minute however he unwisely attempted to unload, Dragons gained back belongings and when they released one last attack teenager Marc triggered mass celebrations by racing clear of the Robins defence to score.


'Numerous errors and charges' - reaction


Hull KR head Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:


"We made it hard for ourselves but you have to pay credit to Catalans. They're a gutsy group who work hard for each other and they discovered a way at the back end.


"But when I take a look at our performance, just so many mistakes and penalties which put us in a poor position.


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


"My task now is to examine it, look through it and take ownership however when you're playing, players play the video game.


"They put themselves in a position to win however there was a duration where we did find some circulation, hold the footy and ask some concerns, and when it was time to defend our line we did. We didn't do that for long adequate periods."


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


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


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