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 4 video games as Catalans Dragons earned a remarkable 26-20 success in Perpignan.
The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic prizes before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champs last month, however the French side were extraordinary as two tries from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.
It seemed like Rovers, in spite of an unconvincing screen, were hauling their way back towards success as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled the scores.
In a remarkable ending, Catalans went up the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which improves them as much as seventh place.
It looked like Rovers were finding 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 fixture and recently's Challenge Cup conference.
That showed to be a false dawn, nevertheless, as they revealed protective weak points, poor discipline at key moments and an of the flair which swept all before them last season.
Catalans, who have a habit of blowing hot and cold, were exceptional although they lost three forwards to injury, requiring making use of their 18th guy Harvey Wilson, and after that saw prominent scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.
Rovers had begun all right as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and betting his former club, bounced off a deal with and stepped over the line.
But Catalans developed dominance and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz extended to touch down after being dealt with except the line.
The Dragons lost excellent prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle problem in fast succession but it did not interrupt their circulation as Sexton's charge and his conversion of a second 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, 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 attempt, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a charge to square it up and a KR return win looked inevitable.
When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the gaining minute however he unwisely tried to offload, Dragons gained back ownership and when they released one last attack teenager Marc stimulated mass celebrations by racing clear of the Robins defence to score.
'A lot of errors and charges' - reaction
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters informed BBC Radio Humberside:
"We made it hard for ourselves but you have to pay credit to Catalans. They're a gutsy team who work hard for each other and they discovered a way at the back end.
"But when I look at our performance, just so numerous errors and penalties which put us in a bad position.
"What I took pride in was the method we combated back, we put ourselves back in the game however at the back end we were looking for the quick repair as we desired the video game so bad on that one play and it happened, not simply on Jack [Broadbent's] play at the end, however throughout the game.
"My job now is to evaluate it, browse it and take ownership however 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 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 guy).
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