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 made an impressive 26-20 success in Perpignan.
The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all 3 domestic trophies before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champions last month, but the French side were exceptional 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, in spite of an unconvincing display, were transporting their way back towards victory as shots from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled ball games.
In a dramatic ending, Catalans increased the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which increases them up to seventh place.
It seemed like Rovers were finding 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 fixture and last week's Challenge Cup meeting.
That showed to be an incorrect dawn, however, as they revealed protective weak points, bad discipline at key moments and an absence of the flair which swept all before them last season.
Catalans, who have a habit of blowing hot and cold, were despite the fact that they lost 3 forwards to injury, forcing making use of their 18th guy Harvey Wilson, and after that saw influential scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.
Rovers had started well enough as May, in his 100th Super League appearance 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 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 after that Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle issue in fast succession but it did not interrupt their circulation 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, but as their over-worked forwards tired the Robins began 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 charge to square it up and a KR comeback win looked inevitable.
When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the gaining moment however he unwisely attempted to unload, Dragons gained back belongings and when they launched one last attack teenager Marc stimulated mass events by racing clear of the Robins defence to rating.
'Numerous errors and charges' - reaction
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Radio Humberside:
"We made it hard for ourselves however you need to pay credit to Catalans. They're a gutsy group who strive for each other and they found a method at the back end.
"But when I look at our performance, simply so numerous errors and charges which put us in a poor position.
"What I took pride in was the way we combated back, we put ourselves back in the video game but at the back end we were trying to find the fast fix as we desired the video game so bad on that one play and it took place, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] play at completion, but throughout the game.
"My task now is to review it, look through it and take ownership but when you're playing, players play the 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 man).
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