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 third defeat in their opening four games as Catalans Dragons made an impressive 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 champions last month, however 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 appeared like Rovers, regardless of an unconvincing display screen, were hauling their method back towards victory as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty 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 boosts them approximately 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 component and last week's Challenge Cup conference.
That showed to be an incorrect dawn, however, as they showed defensive weaknesses, poor discipline at crucial minutes 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 although they lost 3 forwards to injury, requiring the use of their 18th man Harvey Wilson, and then saw influential scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.
Rovers had begun all right as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and betting his previous club, bounced off a take on and stepped over the line.
But Catalans developed supremacy and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out to touch down after being taken on brief of the line.
The Dragons lost outstanding prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then to an ankle problem in fast succession but 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, but 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 try, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a penalty to square it up and a KR comeback win looked inescapable.
When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the winning moment however he unwisely attempted to unload, Dragons restored possession and when they introduced one last attack teen Marc stimulated mass celebrations by racing clear of the Robins defence to score.
'So lots of errors and penalties' - reaction
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:
"We made it hard for ourselves however you have to pay credit to Catalans. They're a gutsy team who strive for each other and they found a method at the back end.
"But when I take a look at our performance, so numerous mistakes and charges which put us in a poor position.
"What I took pride in was the way we resisted, we put ourselves back in the video game but at the back end we were searching for the fast repair as we desired the game so bad on that one play and it took place, not just on Jack [Broadbent's] play at completion, but throughout the video game.
"My task now is to examine it, look through it and take ownership but when you're playing, players play the video game.
"They put themselves in a position to win however there was a duration where we did discover some flow, hold the footy and ask some questions, and when it was time to defend our line we did. We didn't do that for long sufficient 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