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 3rd defeat in their opening four video games as Catalans Dragons made a remarkable 26-20 victory in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all 3 domestic prizes before beating Brisbane Broncos to end up being world champions last month, however 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, despite an unconvincing display screen, were transporting their way back towards victory as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' charge levelled ball games.


In a dramatic ending, Catalans increased the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning shot which enhances them as much as seventh location.


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 fixture and recently's Challenge Cup meeting.


That proved to be an incorrect dawn, however, as they showed protective weaknesses, poor discipline at essential moments and an absence of the style 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 using their 18th guy Harvey Wilson, and then saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


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


But Catalans developed supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz extended to touch down after being taken on 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 however it did not interrupt their circulation as Sexton's penalty 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 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 moment but he unwisely tried to offload, Dragons regained ownership and when they launched one last attack teenager Marc sparked mass events by racing clear of the Robins defence to score.


'Many mistakes 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 method at the back end.


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


"What I took pride in was the method we combated back, we put ourselves back in the video game however at the back end we were searching for the fast repair as we wanted the video game so bad on that one play and it occurred, not simply on Jack [Broadbent's] dip into the end, however throughout the video game.


"My job now is to examine it, look through it and take ownership however when you're playing, the game.


"They put themselves in a position to win but there was a period where we did find some circulation, hold the footy and ask some questions, and when it was time to safeguard 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