SUPER LEAGUE PREVIEW: Spring forth from the winter of darkness

Next Saturday night, the clocks will spring forward and we will have light beyond 7PM each night. The night before, Super League returns. It has been a long four-months without competitive rugby league action. In a world where everything is still uprooted, I cannot wait to have this piece of normality back.

Speaking of normality, the first big question to ask of the 2021 Super League season is will the status quo remain? As Super League enters its 26th season, there are still only four names engraved on the trophy (with one of those teams a Championship side now). 

In my blogposts, I try to be as honest as I can be. In that spirit, my answer to that first question posed is yes. St Helens and Wigan were several steps ahead of the other teams in Super League last season. Wigan have retained players such as Bevan French and Jackson Hastings, who were linked with the exit door and are boosted by the re-signing of John Bateman, one of the best backrowers in the world. When you add the core strength of their squad and a batch of young talent who have one year more of experience, Wigan are not going to be far away from success this year.

After years of stability, there have been some comings and goings at St Helens for 2021. Zeb Taia, Dom Peyroux and James Graham have moved on, being replaced by Joel Thompson, Sione Mata'utai and Iggy Paasi. St Helens' fate in 2021 is likely to depend on how those signings go. If they are successes, there is no reason they cannot back up another title. If they don't, they will probably fall short.

When we talk of the Super League title, Warrington's name is always mentioned. And with good reason. Their squad is expensively assembled and the envy of many. Greg Inglis is this year's star signing. He was one of the best players in the world, the question is whether he still is, after so long out of the game. I do not see Inglis being a 'middle of the road' player this year. He will either be devastatingly brilliant and light up the competition, or be a total flop. If he is the former, then Warrington can also count themselves in as challengers this year. That is subject to an improvement in their half back pairing Gareth Widdop and Blake Austin, who are good players, but are yet to prove themselves of championship winning quality.

Leeds haven't had the best pre-season with many injury woes. The loss of Robert Lui was a blow, but was softened by the return of Kyle Eastmond to the sport. 2020 was a big success for Leeds in my view. Richard Agar far surpassed expectations by winning a trophy. A cup run may be Leeds' best chance of a trophy again in 2020. Whilst they have the squad to rise to the occasion, I remain unconvinced that they will be able to go the distance when it comes to play-off time. Improvement will be the watchword for 2020.

Hull FC's 2020 was very unusual, even by their own standards. They invested heavily in their squad and finished 6th out of 11 teams, earning a play off place only by virtue of a late addition of a sixth team to the structure. They did make the most of it though, defeating Warrington to reach a first Super League semi-final since 2017. This gave an up and down 2020 and flattering glow. Brett Hodgson is the new coach, who has a strong reputation despite never taking a head coach role. Hull FC seem to have a new dawn most years with squad overhauls. This year has been more modest and the challenge for Hodgson will be to get the most out of a talented squad.

The surprise news of the last week was that Castleford head coach Daryl Powell will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Powell has been a tremendous success for the Tigers, taking the club from bottom of the table in 2013 to contenders. But, few coaches stay in the same role for as long as Powell has done, so maybe a change will benefit all parties. It is hard to say how this will impact Castleford. Whichever way their season goes, a narrative will be constructed around Powell's departure. Castleford have a good squad and the signing of Niall Evalds is quite the coup. If they can stay injury-free, the play offs will be the minimal expectation.

Ian Watson is the hottest property when in comes to Super League coaches, so it was a shock to see him join Huddersfield in the close season. Huddersfield have gone on a spending spree this winter with Jack Cogger, Jack Ashworth, Josh Jones, Ricky Leutele, Joe Greenwood and Luke Yates just some of the names to join the club. Watson achieved so much with so little at Salford. Now at a club with more resource, many are tipping a big year from the Giants, so much so that the dark horse moniker wears this. How will Watson handle being at a club where he is no longer the underdog?

It was a tough year in 2020 for Catalans. We all owe a debt of thanks to Catalans owner Bernard Guasch for ensuring Catalans flew to England every week to complete the season. Despite these hurdles, Catalans finished 4th in their best season since 2012. Catalans have lost Casty, Moa, Simon, Maria, Folau, Tierney and Mead though. I worry with the signings of only Dudson and McMeeken (in the pack), whether Catalans have enough grunt up front to trouble the play offs this year.

Salford have lost Niall Evalds, Gil Dudson and Kris Welham for 2021, as well as head coach Ian Watson. But, they have got more depth this year, making 11 permanent signings as replacements. Salford have always had a notoriously small squad, so this seems a deliberate ploy by new coach Richard Marshall, who gets a deserved chance at the top level. For Salford, the first aim is always to avoid a relegation battle. Whilst I don't see another final appearance this year, the Red Devils should be comfortable enough to avoid a relegation scare, but probably don't have enough to challenge for a play off spot.

Since Hull KR's return to Super League in 2018, they have scrapped for survival each time. In 2019, they avoided the trap door on points difference only. Hull KR's recruitment is better this year. Ryan Hall, Korbin Sims and Brad Takairangi are eye-catching and ambitious signings. There are still deficiencies in their squad, which lacks experience and depth. Hull KR are taking small steps though and if 2021 brings a year without a relegation worry, it will be a success.

With the 2020 Championship season curtailed, and Toronto's demise, Leigh received an unexpected promotion to Super League. It is hard to judge Leigh on the basis of last season, but they were unbeaten in the few games they did play. Leigh have recruited heavily for this season and have a squad with plenty of Super League experience. Four of those players were in Toronto's squad last year, a team which lost each of their games they played. Leigh will have one ambition. To survive. It's open to debate whether they do it. But I do think they will compete.

2020 was a very difficult year for Wakefield, one in which they spluttered along, but did manage to avoid a wooden spoon courtesy of a late season rally. Wakefield have only made one signing for this season, half back Mason Lino from Newcastle Knights. They did have severe injury problems last season, but if their squad struggled last year, there is little to suggest anything will change this year with largely the same squad. Like with most years, to survive is to succeed.

I have gone through this preview in the order that I think teams will finish. Although since I only predicted two teams final positions accurately last season, maybe it's for the best not to pay attention to what I think!

So I'll end with a non-controversial prediction. It's going to be brilliant to have Super League back on our screens from this Friday and we will have the usual season of thrills, highs and lows. Roll on 17th May, when we can hopefully see the sport in the flesh again!