{"id":328195,"date":"2025-12-21T13:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T13:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/328195\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T13:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T13:51:10","slug":"every-super-league-clubs-most-underrated-player-including-england-internationals-and-dream-team-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/328195\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Super League club’s most underrated player including England internationals and Dream Team stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve combed through every Super League squad ahead of the 2026 season and picked out each side\u2019s most underrated player with a host of stars named.<\/p>\n

Underrated is an often overused word to describe players and that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Throughout the history of Super League, plenty of players have been severely underrated and we\u2019ve only come to appreciate them once they\u2019ve finished up so we\u2019re wanting to give flowers to these players ahead of the new season, so they can be appreciated in their pomp.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

In our list, we\u2019ve picked England internationals, stars of the future and former Dream Team selections, with plenty of room for debate.<\/p>\n

Who is the most underrated player at every Super League club?<\/p>\n

Bradford Bulls \u2013\u00a0Joe Mellor<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, it\u2019s an easy choice to label Joe Mellor as the most underrated player in their squad.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Castleford Tigers \u2013\u00a0Alex Mellor<\/p>\n

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\u2019s best performers and his efforts went to another level in 2025, though they perhaps were not noted given how poor Castleford were.<\/p>\n

Catalans Dragons \u2013 Tommy Makinson<\/p>\n

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\u2019s no reason he cannot still be a top five winger in 2026 despite him turning 34 this past October.<\/p>\n

Makinson has moved to fourth on the all time Super League try-scoring list and whilst he\u2019s 47 shy of Danny McGuire in third, he will surely close in this coming season. That\u2019s not to mention his 2019 Golden Boot win and in an improved Catalans side in 2026, perhaps we could see more Makinson magic.<\/p>\n

Huddersfield Giants\u00a0\u2013 Harry Rushton<\/p>\n

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 \u2018bigger side\u2019. The industrious forward has recently been named vice-captain of the club at just 24<\/a> and such responsibility could see him kick on even more.<\/p>\n

Hull FC\u00a0\u2013 Zak Hardaker<\/p>\n

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\u2019s young backs kick on further.<\/p>\n

Hull KR\u00a0\u2013 Sam Luckley<\/p>\n

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\u2019t result in the arguably deserved England call-up. Instead, it\u2019s another bald forward and that\u2019s Sam Luckley with the Geordie enforcer regularly changing the game by way of his strong offload game when he enters the field.<\/p>\n

Leeds Rhinos\u00a0\u2013 Kallum Watkins<\/p>\n

There\u2019s 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\u2019s improved Leeds Rhinos massively and still showed in the Ashes what he can do on the international stage.<\/p>\n

Leigh Leopards\u00a0\u2013 Lachlan Lam<\/p>\n

How can a player register 41 try assists in a Super League season and still be underrated? We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

St Helens\u00a0\u2013 Harry Robertson<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to be underrated when you\u2019re 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\u2019s more scary is that this isn\u2019t his natural position with the young talent more adept in the spine.<\/p>\n

Toulouse Olympique\u00a0\u2013 Olly Ashall-Bott<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Wakefield Trinity\u00a0\u2013 Mason Lino<\/p>\n

Jon Wilkin previously put up a strong argument for Jay Pitts as one of the competition\u2019s most underrated players but Mason Lino is another. It wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Warrington Wolves\u00a0\u2013 Luke Yates<\/p>\n

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\u2019s found his feet at Warrington and will be asked to lead from the front in 2026.<\/p>\n

Wigan Warriors\u00a0\u2013 Harry Smith<\/p>\n

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\u2019s defensively one of the stronger halves. The balance he adds alongside Bevan French makes Wigan the force they are.<\/p>\n

York Knights\u00a0\u2013 Jack Martin<\/p>\n

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\u2019s perhaps not underrated, more so unknown, but it won\u2019t be long before fans of Super League are familiar with him.<\/p>\n

Check out the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show on our YouTube channel here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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