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 champs Hull Kingston Rovers suffered a third defeat in their opening four games as Catalans Dragons earned an exceptional 26-20 victory in Perpignan.


The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic prizes before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champions last month, however the French side were remarkable 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, in spite of an unconvincing display, were transporting their way back towards victory as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled ball games.


In a dramatic ending, Catalans went up the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning shot which increases them up to seventh location.


It appeared like Rovers were discovering their feet after losing their 2 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 conference.


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


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


Rovers had started all right as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and playing versus his former club, bounced off a tackle and stepped over the line.


But Catalans established dominance and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out 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 after that Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle issue in quick succession however it did not interrupt their flow as Sexton's penalty 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 began 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 charge to square it up and a KR resurgence win looked unavoidable.


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


'So numerous errors and charges' - 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 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 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 trying to find the quick fix as we desired the video game so bad on that one play and it occurred, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] dip into completion, however 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 duration 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 adequate periods."


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, Minchella.


Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Whitbread, Leyland.


Referee: Jack Smith.


Hull Kingston Rovers


Catalans Dragons