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 third defeat in their opening four video games as Catalans Dragons earned an exceptional 26-20 triumph in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic trophies before beating Brisbane Broncos to end up being world champs last month, but the French side were exceptional as two tries 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 success as shots from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled the scores.


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


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


That showed to be an incorrect dawn, nevertheless, 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 superb despite the fact that they lost three forwards to injury, forcing using their 18th male Harvey Wilson, and then saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


Rovers had begun 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 established dominance and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out to touch down after being tackled except 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 flow as Sexton's charge and his conversion of a second try 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 freed 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 unavoidable.


When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the winning moment but he unwisely tried to offload, Dragons restored possession and when they released one last attack teenager Marc triggered mass celebrations by racing clear of the Robins defence to rating.


'Many mistakes and penalties' - response


Hull KR head coach Willie Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:


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


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


"What I took pride in was the method we combated back, we put ourselves back in the game but at the back end we were trying to find the fast fix as we desired the game so bad on that one play and it happened, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] play at completion, however throughout the video game.


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


"They put themselves in a position to win but 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 enough 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