Jake Arthur's Late Drop Goal Sinks Catalans as Hull FC Win Thriller in Perpignan
Jake Arthur landed a drop goal two minutes from time to give Hull FC a 27-26 win over Catalans Dragons at Stade Gilbert Brutus on 22 August 2026.
A drop goal — a kicked shot at goal from open play, worth one point — is rugby league's classic tie-breaker, and Arthur's was the difference in a match that swung back and forth all evening. Hull led 14-12 at half-time, but the lead changed hands repeatedly before the Australian half-back settled it BBC Sport.
The subplot added spice. Catalans are coached by John Cartwright, who was in the Hull FC hot seat before taking the job in the south of France. So this was a reunion with the club he recently left — and his former employers left with the points.
Hull's tries came from Logan Moy, Lewis Martin, Harvie Hill and Aidan Sezer. Sezer also kicked five goals — each worth two points — to keep Hull in touch throughout. Arthur's drop goal was the icing BBC Sport.
Catalans crossed through Charlie Staines, Kruise Leeming, Edenn Rogers-Smith and Leo Darrelatour, with Aispuro-Bichet matching Sezer kick for kick with five goals of his own. The sides were locked at 26-26 when Arthur lined up the shot that decided it BBC Sport.
Arthur's composure under pressure fits a pattern. Hull's official channels flagged his reliable boot back in April, and the Super League's own outlet noted his first try in the competition earlier in the season. He is clearly growing into a finisher's role.
The match was a Super League Round 24 fixture, refereed by Tara Jones — one of the competition's regular match officials. Catalans had prepared with a pre-match press conference featuring Cartwright, captain Tommy Makinson and hooker Alix Da Costa, underlining the importance of a late-season home fixture.
Catalans fielded Staines at full-back behind a back three of Darrelatour, Nick Cotric and Tom Makinson, with Sam Tomkins absent and Luke Sexton and Jordan Dodd in the halves. Hull's starting thirteen was built around the Arthur-Sezer half-back pairing, with Franklin Pele and Denive Balmforth providing impact off the bench BBC Sport.
For Hull, a win on the road against a fellow play-off contender is exactly what they needed at this stage of the campaign. For Catalans, losing at home in a match they scored four tries in will sting — particularly with their own coach's old club doing the damage.
