The new Super League season is now just a month and a half away and over coming weeks and months, clubs will be dialling up their pre-season campaigns.
Friendlies get underway on Boxing Day as Leeds Rhinos take on Castleford Tigers and every other Super League side will be action before the third round of the Challenge Cup, which takes place in early February. From there, eyes will turn firmly to the new Super League season, which promises to intrigue.
Hull KR are the treble winners but it’s fair to say a handful of teams have genuine title aspirations this season with Wigan Warriors eager to respond to their Grand Final defeat, while the likes of St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards will all be keen to push on and get their hands on silverware once more.
As we begin to preview the new season then, and since it’s Christmas, we’ve taken a look into the crystal ball to make seven ‘bold’ predictions. Here goes…
Bold Super League predictions
Jackson Hastings for Man of Steel
The Australian won the 2019 award and he’s returned to Super League after spending four years down under. In St Helens he has signed for a team who are set up to win, too, with Hastings looking like he could well be the final piece in the puzzle for Paul Rowley, whose style most certainly plays into the half-back’s hands.
He’s expected to be the man that controls the Saints’ attack, with the rest of the spine, in Jack Welsby and potentially Tristan Sailor, if the squad numbers are anything to go by, playing off him. If St Helens play to their true potential, though, Hastings could have a field day when it comes to creating.
Hull KR to build into title defence
The Robins will be up there once again in 2026 but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if it took them a while to get up to full speed in Super League. The World Club Challenge will occupy a big place in their thinking over the next couple of months and the trip to Las Vegas follows that immediately.
Both Wigan and Warrington dropped points after playing in Vegas in 2025 and Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos can expect to experience a hangover of sorts in the weeks that follow. On top of that, Rovers have seen some experienced heads depart, while Luke Gale and Ian Watson make up a new look coaching team.
Lewis Martin to make England squad
Lewis Martin was Super League’s top scorer last season and at the age of 21, he’s only getting better. The understanding he had with Aidan Sezer through the 2025 season was sublime and as he continues to grow as a progress as a player, he’s expected to add plenty more tries to his record in 2026.
Of course, a winger’s job is so much more than just try scoring, but as he improves out of backfield and under the high ball, he’ll surely catch Shaun Wane’s eye. He has all the physical attributes to handle the rigours and intricacies of the international game and it won’t be long before he’s knocking on the door.
Wigan to lay down early marker
Wigan will be smarting from their Grand Final defeat in October and after ending the season empty handed, they won’t be short of motivation as they prepare for the new year. They’re an experienced bunch and under Matt Peet, they know what it takes to win.
A trip to Castleford Tigers in the opening round is tricky but they’ll be favourites to come through and the Cherry and Whites will fancy their chances of edging out Hull FC and Leigh Leopards in the following weeks before a run of games against Toulouse Olympique, York Knights and Huddersfield Giants takes them into Easter.
Magic Weekend to set attendance record
More than 25,000 tickets have already been sold for Magic Weekend at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and they have only been on sale for a couple of weeks. That’s enough to demonstrate Super League fans’ excitement to head to Merseyside and watch their side play in a brand new venue.
French teams won’t be involved this year, with Catalans and Toulouse meeting locally, but Bradford Bulls and York Knights fans are sure to travel well and the fact that derby games will be played only adds to the interest.
The current attendance record, which was set in Newcastle back in 2016, stands at 68,276, but it would not be a surprise if 2026’s total attendance surpassed that.
Sam Burgess to bounce back
Eyes will be on Sam Burgess and Warrington Wolves as they start the new Super League season and it’s fair to say that he is the head coach under the most pressure heading into the new season.
However, Warrington have recruited well in both the pack and the backs and they go into the new campaign having drawn a line under what was a disastrous 2025 campaign. Things probably couldn’t get much worse for the Wolves, but we fancy Warrington to bounce back in 2026 and claim a top six spot at the very least.
Sivo set to make a splash
Maika Sivo’s first season in Super League did not go to plan, it’s fair to say. The winger arrived from Parramatta Eels with plenty of promise but ruptured his ACL in pre-season and missed the entire campaign as a result.
The Fijian is closing in on full fitness once more though and he’ll be keen to hit the ground running with the Rhinos and make up for lost time. He’ll be a handful out of backfield or close to the line and he could well prove to be like a new signing for Brad Arthur’s side.
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