Lipowicz Double As Catalans Pile Misery On Hull KR

21 March 2026


148 Comments


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 earned an amazing 26-20 victory in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all 3 domestic prizes before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champs last month, however 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 display screen, were hauling their method back towards success as shots from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled the scores.


In a significant ending, Catalans increased the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which enhances them up to seventh place.


It appeared like Rovers were discovering 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 component and last week's Challenge Cup meeting.


That showed to be an incorrect dawn, nevertheless, as they showed protective weak points, bad discipline at crucial moments and a lack of the style which swept all before them last season.


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


Rovers had begun all right as May, in his 100th Super League look and playing versus his former club, bounced off a deal with and stepped over the line.


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


The Dragons lost outstanding prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle problem in quick succession but it did not disrupt their flow as Sexton's penalty and his conversion of a second 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 attempt, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a penalty to square it up and a KR return win looked inevitable.


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


'A lot of errors and penalties' - reaction


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 strive for each other and they found a way at the back end.


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


"What I was happy of was the way we fought back, we put ourselves back in the game but at the back end we were looking for the fast repair as we wanted the game so bad on that one play and it happened, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] play at the end, but throughout the game.


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


"They put themselves in a position to win however 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 enough 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