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.
Salford Red Devils Vs Castleford Tigers
Date: 13/04/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT, Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Salford Red Devils 21-Man Squad: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Kallum Watkins, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Jack Ormondroyd, Andy Ackers, King Vuniyaywa, Andrew Dixon, Sam Stone, Oliver Partington, Chris Atkin, Danny Addy, Tyler Dupree, Shane Wright, Ellis Longstaff, Rhys Williams, Matt Costello, Ben Hellewell, Deon Cross.
Castleford Tigers 21-Man Squad: Niall Evalds, Greg Eden, Jordan Turner, Mahe Fonua, Bureta Faraimo, Gareth Widdop, Jacob Miller, George Lawler, Paul McShane, George Griffin, Kenny Edwards, Alex Mellor, Nathan Massey, Adam Milner, Jack Broadbent, Muizz Mustapha, Daniel Smith, Suaia Matagi, Brad Martin, Sam Hall, Luis Johnson.
Well, the rivals round didn’t get off to a strong start with the bottom of the table clash between Tigers and Trinity. It was everything I expected. Ugly, but you can’t not watch it. There wasn’t much quality on show and even though Castleford won, I don’t think they shown enough to have me thinking they’ll now go on a bit of a run and pick up more wins. They’re still way off the pace, and have another tough game this week, at the AJ Bell.
If there’s any hope for Cas, it’s that Salford have been pretty woeful at home this season. Losing two from three, and the one win they did get, it was in golden point against bottom of the table Wakefield. They haven’t looked convincing at home, but much more so on the road. It was a good win last week at Leigh and I think they follow that up here this week.
Prediction: Salford by 10 points
Huddersfield Giants Vs Catalan Dragons
Date: 14/04/23, Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT, Venue: The John Smith’s Stadium
Huddersfield Giants 21-Man Squad: Jake Connor, Jermaine McGillvary, Esan Marsters, Kevin Naiqama, Jake Bibby, Tui Lolohea, Chris Hull, Nathan Peats, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates, Matty English, Harry Rushton, Owen Trout, Seb Ikahihifo, Adam O’Brien, Leroy Cudjoe, Harvey Livett, Sam Halsall, Jack Ashworth, Will Pryce, Kieran Rush.
Catalan Dragons 21-Man Squad: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Adam Keighran, Matthieu Laguerre, Mike McMeeken, Julian Bousquet, Matt Whitley, Paul Séguier, Benjamin Garcia, Mickael Goudemand, Romain Navarrete, César Rouge, Tiaki Chan, Arthur Romano, Siua Tauleiaho, Jordan Dezaria, Tom Johnstone, Bastien Scimone, Ugo Tison, Sam Tomkins, Tanguy Zenon.
I thought both of these sides were quite disappointing in their respective games last week. While Catalan did it tough against Wire, on the basis of the game itself, they’ll be kicking themselves for strong the two points slip away. It’s not the first time this season that they’ve self-imploded and lost a game late on. They are so frustrating to watch at times.
As for Giants, they look so disjointed and awkward to watch in attack. From a side who last season brought us so much flair and quality, to add a player like Connor to the side and look worse, is something I didn’t expect. Similar to the Dragons, Watson must be pulling his hair out after losing that game, and I think he’ll be doing the same after the French outfit come to town on Friday.
Prediction: Catalan by 6 points
Leeds Rhinos Vs Hull FC
Date: 14/04/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 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, Sam Walters, Liam Tindall, James Donaldson, Corey Johnson, Jack Sinfield.
Hull FC 21-Man Squad: Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe, Darnell McIntosh, Ligi Sao, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Joe Lovodua, Joe Cator, Cam Scott, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Josh Griffin, Davy Litten, Harvey Barron, Will Gardiner, Jamie Shaul, Scott Taylor, Brad Dwyer.
Blimey, where to start with Hull FC. I mean, last week could not have been any worse for them. To lose in a derby is bad enough, but to remain scoreless and that happen in front of your home fans, unforgivable. They look a right mess, they really do. Such a once sided game, with absolutely no light at the end of the tunnel.
Leeds once again blew hot and cold in their 80 minutes. They started so poorly and looked set to be on the end of a hiding. But they grew back into the game, and found some confidence again. Akin to the Dragons game, they came back strong and found a way to win. I can’t see anything, but a Rhinos win this week.
Prediction: Leeds by 18 points
Hull KR Vs St Helens
Date: 14/04/23, Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT, Venue: Craven Park
Hull KR 21-Man Squad: Lachlan Coote, Tom Opacic, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Matt Parcell, George King, Frankie Halton, Kane Linnett, Elliot Minchella, Jez Litten, Rhys Kennedy, Matty Storton, Jimmy Keinhorst, Mikey Lewis, Rowan Milnes, Dean Hadley, Louis Senior, Sam Luckley, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Corey Hall.
St Helens 21-Man Squad: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Will Hopoate, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joey Lussick, LMS, Jake Wingfield, James Bell, Sam Royle, Konrad Hurrell, Lewis Baxter, Tee Ritson, Dan Hill, George Delaney, McKenzie Buckley, Wesley Bruines.
You couldn’t get two more divided sides after last week. One won their derby in convincing fashion, the other lost theirs a bit more narrowly, but didn’t stamp their impact on the game and will be disappointed. Both will be up for this, for different reasons and I think it could lead to a cracker.
KR looked incredible last week, scoring seven tries and keeping a FC to nil, is some effort. Saints never got going on Good Friday and never looked likely to win. Saints are still without Walmsley and look set to lose Knowles also. Saints have a tough period coming up and this is a real tough follow up game after a derby defeat.
Prediction: Hull KR by 8 points
Warrington Wolves Vs Wigan Warriors
Date: 14/04/23, 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 Clarke, Paul Vaughan, Ben Currie, Matty Nicholson, Josh McGuire, Sam Kasiano, Danny Walker, Greg Minikin, Tom Whitehead, Luke Thomas, Leon Hayes, Jamie Reddecliff, Matty Russell, Lucas Green.
Wigan Warriors 21-Man Squad: Bevan French, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Harry Smith, Brad Singleton, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Willie Isa, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Ethan Havard, Kai Pearce-Paul, Joe Shorrocks, Patrick Mago, Iain Thornley, Brad O’Neill, Abbas Miski, Harvie Hill, Junior Nsemba, Tom Forber.
Warrington are no doubt the team of the season so far. Neutrals can laugh and joke about them, but they deserve their plaudits so far in 2023. Every week, non-Warrington fans are waiting for them to slip up and lose, or go back to last year’s form, but they just keep getting better. Last week’s win at Catalan, down to 12-men was a real good and big win for them.
It feels different around Wire this year and this week’s game is another huge one in the Wigan rivalry. Smithies will be missed for the Warriors, but so will Philbin for the Wolves. Wigan will be on cloud nine after the last two weeks and are looking a tough side to beat themselves. I think it’ll be a fantastically tight contest.
Prediction: Wigan by 6 points
Wakefield Trinity Vs Leigh Leopards
Date: 16/04/23, Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT, Venue: Belle Vue
Wakefield Trinity 21-Man Squad: Posted upon release
Leigh Leopards 21-Man Squad: Posted upon release
Both come into this on the back if defeats, while this isn’t new territory for Wakefield, it is the first time Leigh have suffered back-to-back losses since the opening two rounds. I feel like I say this every week, but I just can’t see who and how Trinity finally gets their first win. I do keep hoping it comes as it’s horrible to see them struggle.
As for Leigh, they’ll be disappointed with last week’s game. They never looked likely throughout, and some poor individual errors cost them dearly. I struggle to make a convincing case for Wakey this week, but, being at home, against a struggling Leigh side of late, a win is not beyond the realms of possibility here.
Prediction: Leigh by 12 points
