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 four games as Catalans Dragons made an exceptional 26-20 triumph in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic prizes before beating Brisbane Broncos to end up being world champs last month, however the French side were remarkable as 2 tries from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.


It seemed like Rovers, in spite of an unconvincing display screen, were transporting their method back towards victory as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled ball games.


In a significant finale, Catalans went up the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which improves them approximately 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 last week's Challenge Cup conference.


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


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


Rovers had started well enough as May, in his 100th Super League look 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 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 issue in quick succession but it did not disrupt their flow as Sexton's penalty and his conversion of a 2nd try for 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 return win looked unavoidable.


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


'A lot of mistakes and charges' - 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 group who work hard for each other and they discovered a way at the back end.


"But when I look at our efficiency, so lots of errors and charges which put us in a bad position.


"What I was happy of was the method we resisted, we put ourselves back in the game however at the back end we were trying to find the fast repair as we wanted the video game so bad on that one play and it occurred, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] play at completion, but throughout the game.


"My task now is to evaluate it, browse it and take ownership but when you're playing, gamers play the game.


"They put themselves in a position to win but there was a period where we did find 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 adequate durations."


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