Lipowicz Double 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 earned an amazing 26-20 success 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, but the French side were extraordinary as two shots from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.


It seemed like Rovers, regardless of an unconvincing display screen, were hauling their way back towards triumph as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled the scores.


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


It appeared 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 component and last week's Challenge Cup meeting.


That proved to be an incorrect dawn, however, as they showed protective weaknesses, poor discipline at crucial 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 excellent even though they lost 3 forwards to injury, forcing the use of their 18th man Harvey Wilson, and after that saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.


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


But Catalans developed supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz extended to touch down after being dealt with brief of the line.


The Dragons lost excellent prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and after that Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle issue in quick succession but it did not interrupt their flow as Sexton's penalty and his conversion of a second 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 began to get on top.


Oliver GIldart released Burgess to race away for his 150th Super League try, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis 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 unload, Dragons gained back 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 penalties' - response


Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Radio Humberside:


"We made it hard for ourselves but 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 look at our performance, just so numerous mistakes and charges which put us in a bad position.


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