We’ve combed through every Super League squad ahead of the 2026 season and picked out each side’s most underrated player with a host of stars named.

Underrated is an often overused word to describe players and that’s in part because of how it is interpreted. A player could be the best player in the league and yet still be underrated with our definition of the word being how someone is perceived by the wider public, compared to our own elevated view of them.

Throughout the history of Super League, plenty of players have been severely underrated and we’ve only come to appreciate them once they’ve finished up so we’re wanting to give flowers to these players ahead of the new season, so they can be appreciated in their pomp.

We’ve picked out one player from each club heading into the 2026 Super League season, explaining the case as to why they could be considered underrated.

In our list, we’ve picked England internationals, stars of the future and former Dream Team selections, with plenty of room for debate.

Who is the most underrated player at every Super League club?

Bradford Bulls – Joe Mellor

Despite not yet playing for Bradford, as is the case with much of the squad given the Bulls have made over a dozen signings ahead of 2026, it’s an easy choice to label Joe Mellor as the most underrated player in their squad.

The veteran can play in the halves or at hooker, an underrated quality in itself, but he does so with such grit, determination, and genuine skill as well. Mellor characterises what it means to be an underrated player.

Castleford Tigers – Alex Mellor

He is probably the best player at the Jungle and there is no doubting that Castleford fans rate him fully, however, across Super League, Alex Mellor does not get a fair shake. He is consistently one of the club’s best performers and his efforts went to another level in 2025, though they perhaps were not noted given how poor Castleford were.

Catalans Dragons – Tommy Makinson

There was a time when Tommy Makinson was universally recognised as a top three winger in Super League and whilst those days have likely gone, there’s no reason he cannot still be a top five winger in 2026 despite him turning 34 this past October.

Makinson has moved to fourth on the all time Super League try-scoring list and whilst he’s 47 shy of Danny McGuire in third, he will surely close in this coming season. That’s not to mention his 2019 Golden Boot win and in an improved Catalans side in 2026, perhaps we could see more Makinson magic.

Huddersfield Giants – Harry Rushton

There could be a number of players named here with Huddersfield players being naturally underrated based on how the club have performed in Super League in recent years, but Harry Rushton could certainly do a job at a so-called ‘bigger side’. The industrious forward has recently been named vice-captain of the club at just 24 and such responsibility could see him kick on even more.

Hull FC – Zak Hardaker

Perhaps the player who inspired this article given how incredible he was in 2025 and how little league-wide recognition he got. Hardaker played in just about every position barring prop or hooker, though he would certainly have done a job there, however, 2026 should be the year he can settle at centre and help the club’s young backs kick on further.

Hull KR – Sam Luckley

Dean Hadley could well have been in this article this time last year but 2025 was the year he got his flowers, even if it didn’t result in the arguably deserved England call-up. Instead, it’s another bald forward and that’s Sam Luckley with the Geordie enforcer regularly changing the game by way of his strong offload game when he enters the field.

Leeds Rhinos – Kallum Watkins

There’s a trend within this article of forwards but Kallum Watkins is one of the ultimate underrated players, be it when he was in the centres or in recent years in the pack. He’s improved Leeds Rhinos massively and still showed in the Ashes what he can do on the international stage.

Leigh Leopards – Lachlan Lam

How can a player register 41 try assists in a Super League season and still be underrated? We’re not quite sure but Lachlan Lam, bar Leigh fans, does not get the love he deserves. Conversations about the best half in Super League feature the likes of Bevan French, Mikey Lewis, Jake Connor, but never Lachlan Lam, yet his consistent output should merit a spot in the conversation.

St Helens – Harry Robertson

It’s hard to be underrated when you’re one of the most talked-about youngsters in Super League, but are we actually talking about Harry Robertson enough? Thrust into the centres ahead of 2025, Robertson flourished and looks set to kick on even further. What’s more scary is that this isn’t his natural position with the young talent more adept in the spine.

Toulouse Olympique – Olly Ashall-Bott

The Widnes-born full-back has been playing out in France since 2022 so is someone unknown among some Super League fans though he had spent time in the top flight before that. He recovered from a terrible injury in 2023 and had an incredible 2025, scoring 23 in 22 so could be set for a big impact in Super League.

Wakefield Trinity – Mason Lino

Jon Wilkin previously put up a strong argument for Jay Pitts as one of the competition’s most underrated players but Mason Lino is another. It wasn’t known if he would be a starter in 2025 but he took his chance and shone with the playmaker guiding Trinity around the pitch and into the play-offs. He now looks to have locked that role down and if Jake Trueman can stay fit then they could be a very exciting pairing in 2026.

Warrington Wolves – Luke Yates

A toss-up between Luke Yates and Ben Currie in the pack but also Josh Thewlis on the wing who is such a consistent performer, although often overshadowed by Matty Ashton. We got to see more of Thewlis in 2025 but he plays alongside one of the most underrated players in the comp in the form of Luke Yates. Incredible at Huddersfield, he’s found his feet at Warrington and will be asked to lead from the front in 2026.

Wigan Warriors – Harry Smith

Similar to Lachlan Lam in the respect that Smith rarely gets mentioned in the conversation for best halves in Super League, yet he is. His kicking game is second to none and he’s defensively one of the stronger halves. The balance he adds alongside Bevan French makes Wigan the force they are.

York Knights – Jack Martin

Another player stepping up to Super League and about to put the competition on notice is Jack Martin, a forward that the Knights signed from the Queensland Cup ahead of 2025. He’s perhaps not underrated, more so unknown, but it won’t be long before fans of Super League are familiar with him.

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