Looking for an edge on the Super League season? Find out who we are backing in each week’s matchups with our weekly Super League predictions. Get all the news, results and opinions to stay ahead of the competition and make your predictions count.
Castleford Tigers Vs Leeds Rhinos
Date: 16/03/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT, Venue: The Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Castleford Tigers 21-Man Squad: Greg Eden, Jordan Turner, Mahe Fonua, Bureta Faraimo, Gareth Widdop, Jacob Miller, George Lawler, Paul McShane, Kenny Edwards, Alex Mellor, Joe Westerman, Nathan Massey, Adam Milner, Jack Broadbent, Albert Vete, Muizz Mustapha, Daniel Smith, Suaia Matagi, Sam Hall, Jason Qareqare, Liam Watts.
Leeds Rhinos 21-Man Squad: Richie Myler, David Fusitu’a, Harry Newman, Nene MacDonald, Blake Austin, Aiden Sezer, Kruise Leeming, Zane Tetevano, James Bentley, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Derrell Olpherts, Justin Sangare, Tom Holroyd, James McDonnell, Sam Walters, Luis Roberts, James Donaldson, Corey Johnson.
I wasn’t brave enough to go bold on this one and predict a Tigers win, but I do feel this is a game they always seem to get up for, no matter the form or lack of confidence in the squad. They’ve both shared the last six meetings, with three wins each, and it’s a game, like any other derby, that can go either way and form goes out the window. But if we did take form in effect here, it should end with a Leeds win, and Tigers limping to 0-5 for 2023.
Leeds come into this one on the back of two good wins that have kickstarted their season. They looked good for both wins, but still showed signs of their lack of quality at times. But good to get over the line without being on top form. As for Cas, they really are a woeful side at present. There’s a lack of everything in that club at present, but a win here could be something to build on.
Prediction: Leeds by 10 points
Huddersfield Giants Vs Wigan Warriors
Date: 17/03/23, Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT, Venue: John Smith’s Stadium
Huddersfield Giants 21-Man Squad: Esan Marsters, Kevin Naiqama, Jake Bibby, Tui Lolohea, Chris Hill, Nathan Peats, Josh Jones, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates, Ashton Golding, Matty English, Harry Rushton, Owen Trout, Seb Ikahihifo, Adam O’Brien, Olly Wilson, Leroy Cudjoe, Harvey Livett, Olly Russell, Nathan Mason, Jack Ashworth, Will Pryce.
Wigan Warriors 21-Man Squad: Jai Field, Bevan French, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Cade Cust, Harry Smith, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies, Mike Cooper, Kaide Ellis, Ethan Havard, Kai Pearce-Paul, Patrick Mago, Brad O’Neill, Abbas Miski, Junior Nsemba.
This is a real good, tough game for both sides. I think both have had indifferent starts to the new season and neither have found their groove or had a game they’ve been great from start to finish in. Wigan have won here in five of their last six visits, so it’s a ground they enjoy a lot of success at, but they’ll need to be a lot better than they were against Catalan to do that this week.
Giants are the team in form here, with back-to-back wins and only 6 points conceded. We definitely saw more of what they’re like last week against Tigers and once Pryce came on the pitch, their attack and fluidity improved tenfold. As for Wigan, it was a real lacklustre performance last week, one that I think they’ll bounce back on here. It’ll be close for large portions and could go either way.
Prediction: Wigan by 4 points
St Helens Vs Hull FC
Date: 17/03/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT, Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium
St Helens 21-Man Squad: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Morgan Knowles, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Curtis Sironen, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, James Bell, Dan Norman, Ben Davies, Sam Royle, Tee Ritson, Wesley Bruines.
Hull FC 21-Man Squad: Tex Hoy, Adam Swift, Darnell McIntosh, Jake Clifford, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Joe Lovodua, Joe Cator, Kane Evans, Cam Scott, Jack Brown, Josh Griffin, Davy Litten, Harvey Barron, Will Gardiner, Scott Taylor, Brad Dwyer.
I hate to blow my own trumpet, but I felt I was the Lone Ranger last week picking Saints to lose at Leigh, my only regret is not picking them to win by more. It’s way too early for Saints to worry or start giving their players and coach a mouthful, but, seeing them lose two in three games is surprising to the whole league, considering their quality over the last four years. I think this week is a perfect game for them to bounce back with a bang in.
Hull FC are a side I thought would be a real rollercoaster this year, and so far, they proved as such. They looked great after two rounds, then lost their last two, shipping an incredible 98 points. Salford tore them a new one last week, and played some unbelievable rugby. Even if Saints are at 50% here, they’ll do the exact same. They’ll be looking to put things right and send their fans home feeling much better about the season so far.
Prediction: St Helens by 24 points
Warrington Wolves Vs Leigh Leopards
Date: 17/03/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT, Venue: The Halliwell Jones Stadium
Warrington Wolves 21-Man Squad: Matt Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Peter Mata’utia, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater, Daryl Clark, Paul Vaughan, Ben Currie, Matty Nicholson, Sam Kasiano, Joe Philbin, Danny Walker, Gil Dudson, Tom Mikaele, Greg Minikin, Tom Whitehead, Luke Thomas, Leon Hayes, Matty Russell.
Leigh Leopards 21-Man Squad: Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Ed Chamberlain, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Joe Mellor, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Jack Hughes, John Asiata Ben Nakubuwai, Gareth O’Brien, Matt Davis, Aaron Smith, Jacob Gannon, Tom Nisbet, Kai O’Donnell, Nathan Wilde, Ava Seumanufagai, Joe Shorrocks.
This could be the game if the weekend of both sides play to their potential shown in recent weeks. Leigh have really settled in the league and picked up some impressive and eye-catching wins. As for Warrington, they look the best side so far this season after four rounds and are definitely a side who look real compact and together. I’ve been impressed with their ability to grind out wins and come from behind in games they’d have lost in recent seasons.
Leigh only have one win in six meetings with Warrington, going back to 2015. This is a different and much stronger Leigh squad, probably the best version of Leigh, that the Super League has seen. It’s an intriguing game, as Wire have been tested in the last two games, won, but tested for sure. If Leigh can play their game and stay strong in defence, they could cause another upset here.
Prediction: Warrington by 8 points
Catalan Dragons Vs Hull KR
Date: 18/03/23, Kick-off Time: 19:00 GMT, Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus
Catalan Dragons 21-Man Squad: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Adam Keighran, Tyrone May, Mike McMeeken, Micky McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Paul Séguier, Benjamin Garcia, Alrix Da Costa, Mickael Goudemand, César Rouge, Tiaki Chan, Arthur Romano, Siua Taukeiaho, Jordan Dezaria, Tom Johnstone, Bastien Scimone, Manu Ma’u, Ugo Tison, Tanguy Zenon.
Hull KR 21-Man Squad: Lachlan Coote, Tom Opacic, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Sauaso Sue, George King, Frankie Halton, Elliot Minchella, Jez Litten, Rhys Kennedy, James Batchelor, Jimmy Keinhorst, Will Dagger, Mikey Lewis, Rowan Milnes, Dean Hadley, Louis Senior, Sam Wood, Luis Johnson, Sam Luckley, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e.
Catalan impressed me last week. I thought they’d trudged through the opening two weeks, snuck a couple wins, then got a decent win against Hull FC, at home. Wigan away was their first real test, and they came through with flying colours. It’s early, but they have started real strong and even with some big players missing, look a tough side to beat.
Hull KR were the same for the opening rounds but have just fell short in recent weeks. KR are a side who can beat anyone on their day. They played Wigan and Salford off the park early doors, playing some nice rugby to boot. However, after recent results and travelling down to the south of France, it’ll be a tough ask to get back to winning ways and I do see Catalan continuing their perfect start to the season.
Prediction: Catalan by 12 points
Salford Red Devils Vs Wakefield Trinity
Date: 19/03/23, Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT, Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Salford Red Devils 21-Man Squad: Brierley, Sio, Watkins, Lafai, Croft, Sneyd, Ormondroyd, Ackers, Vuniyayawa, Stone, Atkin, Addy, Dupree, Wright, Sidlow, Longstaff, Bourouh, Williams, Costello, Hellewell, Cross.
Wakefield Trinity 21-Man Squad: Taufua, Hall, Lyne, Lino, Battye, Hood, Whitbread, Ashurst, Pitts, Crowther, Kay, Atoni, Kershaw, Smith, Butler, Bowes, Eseh, Windrow, Butterworth, Pratt, Hewitt.
I picked Salford to lose quite comfortably last week, and they then went and scored 60 points, away at Hull FC. It’s clear I’m either real bad at this (most likely) or Salford blow hot and cold (also likely). However, I do feel confident in saying they will win this game rather comfortably, and maybe even win by much more than predicted below.
I don’t see a way out for Wakefield, and I do feel so sorry for Applegarth. If it’s not the pitch issues, it’s on field issues. If they were to be nilled once again this week at Salford, it will actually break a post-war record in rugby league. That’s not something they want to be associated with. I can’t find any positives to give them hope here, and it’s only set to get worse after this week too. I hope I’m wrong.
Prediction: Salford by 30 points
