Super League 2024 Preview - Why I Hate Your Team

I don't know if it's just me, but does this off-season seem to have dragged? It seems a very long time since 14th October when Wigan defeated Catalans at Old Trafford.

But we're close to being back. So it's time to complete my annual ritual of humiliating myself by making predictions that turn out to be laughably inaccurate. 

People tend to get quite upset when other people make predictions that suggest their team may not do that well. Relax. They're just predictions. Most are almost certainly going to be wrong. Or, I dunno, maybe I just hate your team. That's the more simple explanation.

Anyway, this is how I see the table looking in 2024.

1st Place - St Helens

I think many are underestimating St Helens this year after (by their standards) a disappointing 2023.

This is partly based on an assumption that they are weaker without James Roby. I disagree. Roby was unparalleled for his career but time caught up with him last year. Whilst Roby was a better player over his career, a 31 year old Daryl Clark is an upgrade on a 38 year old James Roby. 

St Helens have some decent good depth and Paul Wellens will be desperate to claim a trophy, with his contract expiring at the end of the year (possibly more desperate for it than Wigan, who won it last year). I'm backing them for first spot.

2nd Place - Wigan

Wigan have the strongest squad in Super League in 2024. The only reason I predict them to finish second is because no English side who has played in the World Club Challenge has topped the Super League table that season, since Leeds did it in 2009.

Ultimately, there is little difference between finishing in first or second place in Super League. I therefore think Wigan will put a lot into the World Club Challenge and a cup run, that may come at the cost of first place. 

Saying that, I am confident Wigan will have another excellent year. I'm tipping them to retain the title.

3rd Place - Hull KR

I'm excited about Hull KR's prospects this year. They have strengthened significantly, especially in the backs and have players with who have played in the biggest of games. I expect them to have a major say in the latter stages of the season.

It looks as though Peta Hiku will line up as full back. He hasn't player here for many years, which is the only question mark I have. But when you have Niall Evalds who can fill in there too, there are options if a reshuffle is needed and Hiku is returned to centre.

4th Place - Leigh

I'm not making the same mistake as last year and underestimating Leigh. The rationale for my prediction is that Leigh finished 5th last year and are stronger this year.

They have recruited smartly. Matt Moylan is a significant upgrade on Ben Reynolds. Leigh have also made some less eye-catching signings but have added to the depth of their squad, arguably their greatest weakness of 2023, when Adrian Lam had limited potential to rotate and less competition for places.

5th Place - Catalans

Last year was an outstanding one for Catalans but 2024 is a year of change. Six players who played in the Grand Final have now left the club. And very influential players at that.

Their recruitment for 2024 isn't bad. They have done the best they can but I'm not sure that the players coming in are as good as those who have left. 

It may take some time for what is a new group to gel. I would not be surprised if Catalans made a slow start and improved as the year went on.

6th Place - Leeds

Leeds's success or failure in 2024 will turn on their spine. They entered the 2023 season with a spine of Myler, Austin, Sezer, Leeming and Smith. Only one of those players remain and their have a new spine of Miller, Croft, Frawley, Ackers and Smith.

Two of those new players are experienced in Super League, Frawley was poor at Huddersfield but I expect better than that when he plays for Leeds. Meanwhile, Miller and Croft are upgrades on Myler and Austin, respectively. On that basis, I expect Leeds to improve and return to the play offs. 

7th Place - Warrington

Warrington have taken quite a risk in appointing Sam Burgess as coach. Everyone knows this is a gamble, nobody knows whether it will work. We can only go off instinct. My instinct is that this appointment is not going to result in any material improvement. 

I am looking forward to watching Lachlan Fitzgibbon in Super League and think he will become a fan-favourite at Warrington.

The Wire scraped into the play offs last year, largely off the back of an excellent start to the season. Put simply, I think they will miss out on the play offs this year as there are six squads better than theirs.

8th Place - Huddersfield

After an impressive 2022, many expected Huddersfield to kick on in 2023 and it didn't happen. I was never persuaded that Ian Watson knew how to get the best our of Huddersfield last year, evidenced by frequent changing of personnel and changing which roles the 'spine' players took.

If that isn't resolved, then 2024 will be similar to 2023. Huddersfield will be hoping that Adam Clunes offers that organisation that was so desperately lacking last time out.

9th Place - Hull FC

I am not a Hull FC fan but despite that feel frequent frustration at their regular underperformance. Under several coaches and squads, a recurring theme of Hull FC has been disgraceful home thrashings by sides who should be their equal and abysmal ends to the season.

Tony Smith's first aim should be to make Hull FC a side you don't want to play. Mid-season wins over Wigan and St Helens last year looked to be a starting point. but they never kicked on.

There seems to be a huge overhaul of players at Hull FC every year but nothing changes on the field. 2024 sees another overhaul. Past, recent history suggests a finish towards the lower end of the table is likely.

10th Place - Castleford

I read Jordan Turner's comments about Castleford's disastrous pre-season of 2023 with interest. Given that, it was little surprise that the club endured a substantial decline in on field fortunes.

There seems to be greater positivity and professionalism at Castleford this year but the attempted rebuild may take some time. I expect improvement and a year of consolidation. They won't have enough to threaten the play offs but will steer clear of the bottom two. 

11th Place - Salford

My eyes widened when I saw Salford had just 24 players in their first team squad this year. Losing Croft, Ackers, Burgess and Sio are terrible blows, which any side would struggle to cope with, let alone one with the financial difficulties of Salford.

I don't think Salford have a bad starting 13. There is still some class there. But when you have such little depth and injuries or suspensions bite (which they will, especially in a squad which contains King Vuniyayawa) success is going to be hard to achieve. I predict a year of struggle for Salford.

12th Place - London

If London do better than expected, the narrative will be that they were galvanised by their pre-determined relegation. If London do as expected, the narrative will be that they had little motivation before the season started.

This squad is largely the same one that finished 5th in the Championship last season (notwithstanding an outstanding play off run). They have already got three key players with long term injuries. 

In terms of recruitment, they have signed just one player from a Super League club. The rest were playing Championship, League 1, in the French leagues and in the lower reaches of the Australian game in 2023.

Whilst there are some gems in those leagues, you can't have a squad full of them and expect to compete.