Christmas is a time for giving, and as many of you reading this will be doing so on Christmas Day, we hope you all got what you wanted, and that Santa brought you everything you wished for.

However, it won’t just be the fans that are hoping for something special to take into next year, clubs will be hoping to receive some festive cheer, too. Be it a new player, a new contract, or a change in fortune, the 14 Super League clubs will all be hoping for different things this year, as they all look to improve in 2026.

With that in mind, here is one Christmas present that each Super League club could do with, as we head into the new season, and let’s hope for the joy of the competition, some of them get what they are hoping for.

What every Super League side will want for Christmas

Bradford Bulls  – loose forward

The Bulls have opted for quantity this off-season, bringing in over a dozen players. The likes of Ryan Sutton, Andy Ackers and Jayden Nikorima are all quality signings, but one position they seem to be lacking in is loose forward.

Currently, the club’s only natural 13 is Sam Hallas, who despite being a great servant at the club, isn’t experience in Super League, and could be classed as a weaker point in the side. If they bring in an established loose before the season starts, with Hallas to be used in stints, it would bode them well for their first top flight campaign since 2014.

Castleford Tigers – back-rower

Currently, the Tigers only have Jordan Lane and Alex Mellor as their second row options, meaning they are light in the position. They have people who can cover, but that damages other parts of the side, and if one were to go down, it would likely be that either George Lawler or Joe Stimson would cover, two players who are already set to be in the 13, meaning they would have to switch roles in order to cover.

Jeremiah Simbiken would have been that depth option, but he has since moved to London Broncos, alongside five other PNG internationals.

Catalans Dragons – hooker

The Dragons opted to try and use captain Ben Garcia at nine in 2025, but that move failed, as the Frenchman looked out of his depth in the role, and more comfortable in the back row and at loose.

However, the club have not recruited a hooker this off-season, and with Joel Tomkins admitting that their recent addition of Manase Kaho being their last addition, it means they will be running with Alrix Da Costa and Ugo Tison in the role, and whilst the former especially is solid, he’s probably not at the level of a top four or top six hooker, something Catalans will be hoping to achieve this year.

Huddersfield Giants – an injury-free season

Huddersfield had by far the worst run in the league when it came to injuries this year, with an average of five players from their squad numbers 1-13 missing each game. If Luke Robinson can keep his first choice side relatively fit in 2026, they will be able to start to build and hopefully find some momentum that could see them climb up the table, after finishing 10th this year.

Hull FC – Liam Knight new contract

The Aussie prop has been in brilliant form since arriving at Hull FC in March this year. He was awarded a new one-year deal at the end of the campaign, but speculation around a move back to the NRL has always seemed to persist, so signing a new, longer-term deal would be just the treat for Hull fans this Christmas.

Hull KR – a smooth transition into 2026

With two new assistant coaches coming in, leaders such as Micky McIlorum and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leaving, and a packed schedule early on that includes a World Club Challenge clash with Brisbane Broncos and a trip stateside to take on Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas, Hull KR will just be hoping that they’re not burnt out by the time we reach the derby on Good Friday.

Leeds Rhinos – back-up half-back

Like Hull KR, Leeds’ issues, if you can call it that, aren’t with the starting 17, it’s with the squad depth. After Jack Sinfield left the club to join Wakefield Trinity, it leaves them with no back-up half, so if Brodie Croft or Jake Connor were to go down injured, they’d be relying on youth players. Currently, that would be George Brown, a highly-rated youngster in the academy who impressed across the U18s and reserves this season.

Leigh Leopards –  Robbie Mulhern new contract

Following the news earlier in December that Mulhern was a target for NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs, the perfect Christmas gift would be for their star prop, who is out of contract at the end of the season, to put pen to paper on a new deal. Mulhern has been at the club since his Warrington exit in 2022, and has made 78 appearances for the club.

St Helens – settled spine

Saints’ flaws this season mainly revolved around the spine, and their inability to have a settled full-back and halves combination. With Paul Rowley said to be bringing his renowned attacking style to the club, Saints will be hoping that he can unlock the full potential of Tristan Sailor, as well as bringing the best out of Jack Welsby and Jackson Hastings. Jonny Lomax and George Whitby are also available, two players at opposite ends of their careers but can be equally as valuable.

Toulouse – Super League experience

Sylvain Houles’ side were already full-time in the Championship, meaning their recruitment didn’t need to be as drastic as the other two promoted sides. However, what they lack, and Bradford and York have brought in, is Super League experience.

Whilst the majority of the squad have played together in 2025, the jump between the first and second tier is huge, and they need to be able to hold their own if they want to compete in Super League.

Wakefield Trinity – a strong start

In Trinity’s first eight matches, five of those come against teams either promoted or who finished below 10th is season. They also take on Hull FC, Warrington and Leigh, with only the latter making it to the play-offs in 2025.

A strong start will be required, and Daryl Powell will be hoping for wins in at least six, if not seven of those ties, and should they do that, it would be the perfect start to continue the club’s upward trajectory.

Warrington Wolves – consistency

Warrington’s success this year will be down to whether they can remain consistent, and put in performances week in, week out, particularly against the teams they should be beating.

Wire’s fixtures are in blocks of difficulty. For example, they play Huddersfield, Toulouse and Bradford all in a row, then take on Hull FC, St Helens, Leeds, Catalans, Leigh, Wigan, Hull KR and Leigh again, all back-to-back.

To end the season though, they face Castleford, Bradford, York, Huddersfield, Hull FC, Wakefield and Toulouse, which is a considerably easier run of fixtures. If they can keep consistent in those games, they will have a good chance of picking up points and potentially even climbing to a play-off spot.

Wigan Warriors – game time for Jack Farrimond

The Warriors have one of the brightest young halves in the game in Farrimond, but he is currently finding senior game time hard to come by. The star quality of Bevan French and Harry Smith put them as one of the first names on the team sheet, so unless either one gets injured, Farrimond will remain in the reserve grade competition.

If Wigan can find a loan move for him, be that in the Championship or Super League, and he gets regular minutes under his belt, it will only be a positive in the long-term for both player and club.

York Knights – loose forward

Similarly to Bradford, the 13 role is a weak point in York’s side. Jordan Thompson was the club’s loose last year in the Championship, and was even nominated for the Player of the Year award. However, the step up to Super League is large, and at 34, York should be looking at a younger option to complement him.

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