Lipowicz Double 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 third defeat in their opening four video games as Catalans Dragons made a remarkable 26-20 success in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic trophies before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champs last month, however the French side were extraordinary as two 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 display, were hauling their way back towards success as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge games.


In a significant finale, Catalans increased the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning shot which improves them up to seventh location.


It appeared 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 a false dawn, nevertheless, as they revealed protective weaknesses, poor discipline at key minutes and an absence of the flair which swept all before them last season.


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


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


But Catalans developed supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out to touch down after being tackled brief 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 quick 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, 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 try, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a charge to square it up and a KR return win looked inescapable.


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


'A lot of mistakes and penalties' - response


Hull KR head coach Willie Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:


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


"But when I take a look at our performance, simply so numerous errors and penalties which put us in a poor position.


"What I was proud of was the method we resisted, we put ourselves back in the video game however at the back end we were looking for the fast repair as we desired 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 examine it, check out it and take ownership however when you're playing, gamers play the 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 sufficient 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