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 games as Catalans Dragons made an impressive 26-20 victory in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic prizes before beating Brisbane to end up being world champs 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, in spite of an unconvincing screen, were hauling their way back towards success as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled ball games.


In a dramatic finale, Catalans increased the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning shot which improves them approximately seventh place.


It appeared like Rovers were discovering 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 fixture and recently's Challenge Cup meeting.


That proved to be a false dawn, however, as they revealed protective weak points, bad discipline at essential minutes and an absence of the flair which swept all before them last season.


Catalans, who have a practice of blowing hot and cold, were superb although they lost 3 forwards to injury, forcing making use of their 18th guy Harvey Wilson, and after that saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


Rovers had started all right as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and playing against his previous club, bounced off a tackle and stepped over the line.


But Catalans established supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz extended out to touch down after being tackled except the line.


The Dragons lost outstanding prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and after that Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle problem 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, 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 attempt, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a charge to square it up and a KR resurgence win looked inevitable.


When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it appeared to be the gaining minute however he unwisely tried to unload, Dragons gained back ownership and when they released one last attack teenager Marc sparked 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 but you have to pay credit to Catalans. They're a gutsy group who work hard for each other and they found a method at the back end.


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


"What I was proud of was the method we combated back, we put ourselves back in the game however at the back end we were looking for the quick fix as we wanted the game so bad on that one play and it occurred, not simply on Jack [Broadbent's] dip into completion, however throughout the video game.


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


"They put themselves in a position to win but there was a period where we did discover some flow, 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 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 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