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 champions last month, however the French side were exceptional as 2 shots from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.


It looked like Rovers, despite an unconvincing display, were transporting their method back towards triumph as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled the scores.


In a significant finale, Catalans increased the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which boosts them as much as seventh place.


It looked like Rovers were finding their feet after losing their two opening 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 conference.


That proved to be an incorrect dawn, however, as they showed defensive weaknesses, poor discipline at crucial moments and an absence of the flair which swept all before them last season.


Catalans, who have a routine of blowing hot and cold, were outstanding despite the fact that they lost 3 forwards to injury, requiring making use of their 18th male Harvey Wilson, and after that saw influential scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


Rovers had begun well enough as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and betting his previous club, bounced off a deal with and stepped over the line.


But Catalans established supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out 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 after that Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle issue in quick succession however it did not disrupt their circulation as Sexton's charge and his conversion of a 2nd try 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 released 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 resurgence win looked inescapable.


When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the gaining moment however he unwisely tried to offload, Dragons gained back ownership and when they released one last attack teen Marc stimulated mass events by racing clear of the Robins defence to score.


'So many errors and penalties' - 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 team who work hard for each other and they discovered a method at the back end.


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


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


"My job now is to evaluate it, look through it and take ownership but when you're playing, players play the game.


"They put themselves in a position to win but there was a duration 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 durations."


Catalans: Staines; Cotric, Laulu-Togagae, Faatape, Marc; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Navarrete, Lipowicz, Laguerre, Garcia.


Interchanges: Satae, Bousquet, Leeming, Chan, Wilson (18th male).


Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitehead, Batchelor, .


Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Whitbread, Leyland.


Referee: Jack Smith.


Hull Kingston Rovers


Catalans Dragons