Round 1 Winners and Losers

 Not a surprise for Rugby League, we have 7 winners and 7 losers and no draws. 

1. Winners - York Knights - on a fantastic opening night, York managed one of the greatest upsets in 30 years of Super League, beating the treble winners of 2025, Hull KR.

2. Losers - Hull KR - on the flip side of the opening night, the Robins expected an easy victory on the way to 2 frantic weeks, with the World Club Championship and a Super League match in Las Vegas against the Leeds Rhinos. Hull KR have a week to turn around the disappointment of the opening night and face the formidable Brisbane Broncos. Brisbane is taking this match very seriously and wants to win the trophy for Australia, after a recent period of dominance by the English clubs. Little Willie Peters has a tough job to turn around the season before it goes off the rails, before it has really started.

3. Winner - Ata Hingano apparently slotted home his first-ever drop goal. The precision and coolness of the night were a thing of rare beauty.

4. Winner - Warrington Wolves - totally unfancied after last year's drop down the table. All the talk was of Paul Rowley, Jackson Hastings, triumphant return and a treble for St Helens. Instead, Warrington won the game in the first half with a magnificent display by the young Cai Taylor-Wray. The loss of Matt Dufty is on nobody's lips in Warrington.

5. Losers - St Helens - for all the reasons above and huge expectations of this club, this was a bad night. The bad news continued the next day with the public beheading of CEO Mike Rush, who was blamed for the handling of club legend Paul Wellens sacking. James Roby, another club legend, walked away, and now Mark Percival's signed contract has mysteriously vanished. Club Captain, Matty Lees is out for 10 weeks, and now it is believed Jack Welsby will join him on the sidelines. A club in turmoil after only one week.

6. Loser - Jack Welsby - after missing a large chunk of the 2025 season, Welsby has been trying to regain the form that made him the best full-back in Super League. A relatively poor end to the season was capped by a flaccid performance in the Ashes series. A shoulder injury that will potentially see him in rehab for up to 10 weeks.

7. Losers - Leeds Rhinos - After an impressive 4-game domination of the Leigh Leopards, Leigh finally got their revenge. Much will be made of the Rhinos' weakened team and the absence of the current Man-of-Steel. It may only be the first round, but games against the teams likely to be in your vicinity come the end of the season may come back to haunt you. Without Jake Connor, Leeds failed to find any real creative spark.

8. Winner - Will Pryce - After returning from a disappointing spell in Australia, Will Pryce looks poised to take Super League 2026 by storm. A fantastic running Full-back, he just needs to remain fit and healthy for the full season.

9. Winners - Bradford Bulls - They may have lost narrowly to Hull FC, but Bradford have come away with a great deal of credit. Of course, they will not be happy until they break the duck, like all the other promoted teams have managed. Joe Mellor and Waqa Blake are the stand-outs in a losing team.

10. Winners - Toulouse Olympique - on their return to Super League pulled of one of the shocks of the round beating the much fancied Wakefield Trinity. Special mention goes to Olly Ashall-Bott, who has become a veteran at Toulouse since finding himself surplus to requirements at Huddersfield. A two try haul was just enough to get Toulouse Olympique over the line after Cesar Rouge kept hitting the woodwork with his conversions.