With five rounds of Super League complete, off-season recruits have firmly began to fit in to their new surroundings, and some are already prospering in their new colours.
Be it a big name addition or a name unfamiliar with the northern hemisphere, a range of players have stood out in the opening weeks of the competition, and a number of clubs will be happy with how their new stars are performing.
We have comprised a starting 13 of signings who have started the season particularly well, and there is a total of eight clubs represented.
Bradford Bulls and Catalans Dragons boast the most picks with three each, whilst Warrington Wolves also take up a couple of spots.
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Super League Signings XIII of the season so far
Full-back: Charlie Staines
The Catalans number one currently tops the metres stat across Super League, and has been a brilliant signing for Joel Tomkins’ side. With the faster ruck speed, Staines has adapted brilliantly to life in Perpignan.
Wingers: Connor Wynne and Innes Senior
Arguments can be made that both Bradford wingers should be in this side, but Wynne just takes it over teammate Ethan Ryan. The pair have both scored four tries, but former Hull FC man Wynne has made more metres and from less carries.
Leigh’s Senior is currently averaging just under 140m per game this season, and has scored three tries in his first five games for his new club.
Centres: Krystian Mapapalangi and Albert Hopoate
Given their start to the season, it’s hard to think Castleford warrant a player in this side, but Mapapalangi has by far been the club’s standout player over the last five rounds. Averaging over 100m per game, the former Newcastle man’s efforts don’t reflect the rest of the side, and he has been unlucky to be on the wrong end of some poor defeats.
Warrington are flying in the early part of the season, and centre Hopoate has been a key part of their attacking threat to far. Scoring tries in three of the opening four matches, the former Canberra man is making over 125 metres per game.
Halves: Toby Sexton and Jackson Hastings
Jack Sinfield is very unlucky to miss out in this side, and would definitely make the bench of this hypothetical line-up. However, Sexton has provided just what Catalans needed after last season’s underwhelming showing and Hastings has returned to Super League like a duck to water, making a mark on the Red Vee straight away.
Props: Ryan Sutton and Paul Vaughan
Arguably both Bradford and York’s biggest signings of the off-season, the pair are proving incredibly fruitful. Sutton is leading the Bulls pack incredibly, showing form of his Wigan days that, after a torrid time with injury in the NRL, many thought they wouldn’t see again.
Vaughan is another who had big expectations on his shoulders, and so far has come up with the goods. Playing more minutes than he is used to, the former Origin star is thriving under Mark Applegarth at the minute.
Hooker: Danny Levi
Leeds’ attack needed a more dynamic number nine, and Levi has shown signs of that in his opening few matches in Blue and Amber. The former Huddersfield man has combined well with Jarrod O’Connor to create a strong partnership out of the ruck area.
Back-row: Zac Lipowicz and Kelepi Tanginoa
Another Catalans man, Lipowicz came to Super League as an unknown, but has been one of Tomkins’ most consistent players so far, and backed that up with a try double in victory over Hull KR.
Tanginoa has featured off the bench in his opening four matches at the Wolves, but in his first start he put on a monstrous performance, scoring four tries in Warrington’s hefty victory over Castleford Tigers.
Loose forward: Joe Mellor
A positional switch to 13 has taken Mellor’s game to a whole new level, and after five rounds he currently sits top of the tackle charts with 243 – an average of 48.6 per game. The newly-appointed Bulls captain has been integral to Bradford’s brilliant start to the competition, with his leadership skills proving just as vital as his efforts on the field.
