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 Wakefield Trinity
Date: 06/04/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT, Venue: The Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Castleford Tigers 21-Man Squad: Niall Evalds, Greg Eden, Jordan Turner, Mahe Fonu, Bureta Faraimo, Jacob Miller, George Lawler, Paul McShane, George Griffin, Kenny Edwards, Alex Mellor, Joe Westerman, Nathan Massey, Jack Broadbent, Albert Vete, Muizz Mustapha, Daniel Smith, Suaia Matagi, Jacob Hookem, Jason Qareqare, Luis Johnson.
Wakefield Trinity 21-Man Squad: Jorge Taufua, Reece Lyne, Mason Lino, Eddie Batty, Liam Hood, Jai Whitbread, Matty Ashurst, Jay Pitts, Jordy Crowther, Liam Kay, Renouf Atoni, Lee Kershaw, Kevin Proctor, Morgan Smith, Samisoni Langi, Harry Bowes, Sam Eseh, Sam Hewitt, Will Dagger, Innes Senior, Nathan Mason.
This certainly won’t be a game for the ages. I think it’ll be one of those things that’s horrendous, but you can’t take your eyes off it. It’s safe to say these two are currently the worst two teams in super league, and with just one win in 14 games between them, this is already a four pointer at the bottom of the league. I said a few weeks ago, I just couldn’t see where either of these two won a game, until they eventually met.
I think Tigers have looked the most likely in recent weeks, with Wakefield’s best and closest effort coming away at Salford a few weeks ago. Castleford had a good run out in the south of France last week and took Catalan to the very end, I think if they show that kind of determination and will in this one, they will come out winners. Wakefield are without a few and seem to be getting more bad hits as the weeks go on, it’s hard to see the light at the end of their long Trinity tunnel.
Prediction: Castleford by 10 points
Hull FC Vs Hull KR
Date: 07/04/23, Kick-off Time: 12:30 GMT, Venue: The KCOM Stadium
Hull FC 21-Man Squad: Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe, Darnell McIntosh, Jake Clifford, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Joe Cator, Kane Evans, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Josh Griffin, Davy Litten, Will Gardiner, Jamie Shaul, Scott Taylor, Brad Dwyer.
Hull KR 21-Man Squad: Lachlan Coote, Tom Opacic, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Sauaso Sue, Matt Parcell, George King, Frankie Halton, Kane Linnett, Elliot Minchella, Jez Litten, Rhys Kennedy, James Batchelor, Matty Storton, Mikey Lewis, Rowan Milnes, Dean Hadley, Louis Senior, Sam Wood, Sam Luckley.
This game could be coming at the best or worst time for Tony Smith and his black & whites. You can view this as a chance to turn the tide and turn their season with a win against their rivals. FC come into this on the back of five straight defeats, conceding 176 points in the process. Meanwhile, KR had their blip a few weeks back, but after back-to-back wins against Wakefield and Leeds, they look to be getting back to their best.
These derby games are always so difficult to call. As the old saying goes, “form goes out the window.” But it’s hard to let FC’s form slide here and actually see them beating a good KR side at the KCOM. KR have been the better, stronger, fitter, and more attractive side in Hull so far in 2023, and it would take a top performance from FC to let this game finish in anything other than a robins win.
Prediction: Hull KR by 14 points
Wigan Warriors Vs St Helens
Date: 07/04/23, Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT, Venue: DW Stadium
Wigan Warriors 21-Man Squad: Bevan French, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Harry Smith, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies, Mike Cooper, Kaide Ellis, Ethan Havard, Kai Pearce-Paul, Joe Shorrocks, Patrick Mago, Iain Thornley, Brad O’Neill, Abbas Miski, Junior Nsemba, Tom Forber.
St Helens 21-Man Squad: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Will Hopoate, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, Morgan Knowles, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Curtis Sironen, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, James Bell, Sam Royle, Konrad Hurrell, Tee Ritson, George Delaney.
The biggest and greatest derby not only in super league, but rugby league in general. Nothing beats these games for me, they are the be all and end all of rugby league. This is a game where indeed form goes out the window and it is anyone’s. We’ve seen poor Wigan sides beat great Saints sides and vice versa. After what’s been a hit and miss start for both of these rivals, this game has so much riding on it, for the rest of the season.
Both have big players missing with Isa suspended and the likes of Field, Cust and Walmsley out injured. Despite that, neither side are one for excuses and both will have strong sides out to get the job done. Wigan will have an reshuffle, but they showed last week how little that affected them with a thumping win at Leigh. It’ll be a battle this one, and I don’t see much in it, home advantage may just carry Wigan over the line.
Prediction: Wigan by 8 points
Leigh Leopards Vs Salford Red Devils
Date: 08/04/23, Kick-off Time: 14:30 GMT, Venue: Leigh Sports Village
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, Ben Reynolds, Oliver Holmes, Matt Davis, Tom Nisbet, Kai O’Donnell, Nathan Wilde, Umyla Hanley, Ava Seumanufagai.
Salford Red Devils 21-Man Squad: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Kallum Watkins, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Jack Ormondroyd, Andy Ackers, King Vuniyayawa, Andrew Dixon, Sam Stone, Chris Atkin, Danny Addy, Tyler Dupree, Shane Wright, Ellis Longstaff, Rhys Williams, Matt Costello, Ben Hellewell, Deon Cross.
I was really shocked at how bad Leigh were last week in their hammering at home to Wigan. They started the game so well, scoring early and looking the more likely. But the following 70 minutes was a swing and a miss. I’m sure Leigh fans are pretty disgraced with their efforts, especially the second half, where they shipped five tries. It’s a worry, and a bruising defeat to their local rivals, but I think they can use this week to bounce back in style.
Salford are just a hot and cold side. I know they’re missing a few and struggling week to week with naming a 21-Man Squad, but with back-to-back defeats and their last win being a golden pointer against struggling Trinity, they’ve not seemed likely for a while now. I think Leigh being at home, throw the ball about, play fast, attacking rugby and get over the line in this one.
Prediction: Leigh by 10 points
Catalan Dragons Vs Warrington Wolves
Date: 08/04/23, Kick-off Time: 17:00 GMT, Venue: Stade Gilbert Brutus
Catalan Dragons 21-Man Squad: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Adam Keighran, Matthieu Laguerre, Mike McMeeken, Micky McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Matt Whitley, Paul Seguier, Benjamin Garcia, Alrix Da Costa, Mickael Goudemand, Romain Navarrete, Cesar Rouge, Tiaki Chan, Arthur Romano, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Jordan Dezaria, Tom Johnstone, Ugo Tison, Tanguy Zenon.
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, Josh McGuire, Sam Kasiano, Joe Philbin, Danny Walker, Gil Dudson, Greg Minikin, Tom Whitehead, Luke Thomas, Jamie Reddecliff, Matty Russell, Lucas Green.
This is the start of a tough April for Warrington. One many think will be their first test to see where they’re really at in 2023. I think Wire have been great this season. Only side undefeated and the highest scorers in the league with the fourth best defence. They deserve to be where they’re at and while this is their first test of games to come, they need credit for a great start.
Catalan made a good start of their own, and only had one loss. However, they still seem a beatable side to me. They are grinding out wins some weeks, which is a good sign, and I think they’ll need to be on form to grind out this one. I do think Warrington have a little more in attack and continue their dominant start to the 2023 super league season.
Prediction: Warrington by 8 points
Leeds Rhinos Vs Huddersfield Giants
Date: 09/04/23, Kick-off Time: 18:00 GMT, Venue: Headingley Stadium
Leeds Rhinos 21-Man Squad: Richie Myler, Harry Newman, Nene MacDonald, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Mikolaj Oledzki, Zane Tetevano, James Bentley, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Justin Sangare, Tom Holroyd, James McDonnell, Luke Hooley, Sam Walters, Liam Tindall, Luis Roberts, James Donaldson, Corey Johnson, Leon Ruan.
Huddersfield Giants 21-Man Squad: Jake Connor, Jermaine McGillvary, Esan Marsters, Kevin Naiqama, Jake Bibby, Tui Lolohea, Chris Hill, Nathan Peats, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates, Matty English, Harry Rushton, Owen Trout, Seb Ikahihifo, Adam O’Brien, Leroy Cudjoe, Harvey Livett, Olly Russell, Sam Halsall, Jack Ashworth, Will Pryce.
It must be the most frustrating thing in the world to support Leeds in 2023. They are a side who go away to the champions and win. Then lose at a terrible Castleford side. Then they inflict Dragons’ first defeat in what was a superb second half performance, but then follow that up with a woeful effort away at KR, where they should’ve lost by more. You never know what you’re going to get.
Giants have been the same, but definitely shown more in their defeats, losing out narrowly to Wigan and Saints recently, but got a great win at Salford last week. I do think they turn up here and beat this Leeds side. But then again, this Leeds side could turn up and win. Rhinos are the hardest team to predict this season, and their fans must be fed up with the inconsistency week on week.
Prediction: Huddersfield by 10 points