Super League 2026, has grown to 14 teams with three new teams entering the bright lights of the Northern Hemisphere's top Rugby League competition. Personally I welcome the addition of York Knights, Bradford Bulls and Toulouse Olympique. The season will be much fairer with Home and Away fixtures and a single rivals round at Everton's Hill Dickinson stadium for the Magic Weekend. There are 27 rounds of the Betfred Super League 2026 season to enjoy starting in mid-February.The argument against 14 teams has always been that there is not enough talent to support an extra two teams, but with the increase in overseas quota spots from seven to ten, all teams look stronger for the new season. If anything, it was a good move ahead of the NRL expansions in Perth and Papua New Guinea for 2027 and 2028 seasons. The 2025 season saw an increase in attendances across the competition, despite fears that figures would drop with all matches now available on Sky Sports' streaming services. The trend was the opposite with games well attended and combined Sky Sports viewing figures rising.
The demise of Salford Red Devils in 2025, might actually be beneficial to the sport. Salford always struggled with home support and the Community Share Scheme highlighted the need for them to achieve 6000+ as an average gate in order to be sustainable. In 2024 Salford achieved an average 4,646 which dropped to only 4,000 in 2025. As a sport ideally every game would have at least 7,500 with the best supported teams achieving 15,000. This would represent real growth in the game and would hopefully improve Sky Sports' viewing figures, representing a potential better offer in Television rights. St Helens and Hull KR representatives have both highlighted the TV deal has being the only way out of the financial crisis affecting the game. Currently, only two teams reported a profit last year, Leigh and Bradford. The Bulls have achieved this whilst being in the Championship and Leigh have significantly increased the fandom section of the IMG grading. Neither team were in the Super League during the covid season and I believe that Leigh did not take the Covid loan. If I was an owner of a Super League team, I would look very closely at how Derek Beaumont is achieving a profit at the same time as increasing the match day experience.
2026 Super League Predictions
Without further ado, let's move on to the predictions.
14. Toulouse Olympique - Financially hampered by having to pay the flight costs for the 12 UK based teams and only receiving half of the central funding. Having two French teams in the Super League may assist in Catalans and Toulouse finding a Television deal in France. Olympique appear to have cut their cloth accordingly and in terms of numbers, they have lost three players and brought in six new players. Brendan Hands played eight times for Toulouse in 2025 on loan before completing a deal for the 2026 season. Hands will be joined by Henry O'Kane, who has experience in the NSW Cup. The most notable signing is Tyler Dupree, on a season-long loan from Wigan. Dupree dropped down the pecking order at the Warriors, and even with a number of front line props leaving the club, was considered surplus to requirements. Having won the 2025 Championship Grand Final, they might believe they are strong enough to finish above the other promoted teams.
Aspirations - 12th
Need more quality
13. Bradford Bulls - Kurt Hagerty has made monumental changes to the Bradford playing squad. 14 players have left Odsall, whilst 16 have made Bradford their new home. Most of the signings are Super League regulars, with the biggest signings being Andy Ackers, Jayden Nikorima, Ryan Sutton and Esan Marsters. This looks like a squad built to compete in Super League, but in reality, it lacks any gold dust. Ackers has made the short journey from Leeds to Bradford, but he has failed to light up Super League since the move to Leeds in 2024. At 32, his best years appear to be behind him. Ryan Sutton could be one of the signings of the season after returning from six seasons in the NRL at Canberra and Canterbury. The last two seasons, however, have been injury-ravaged, and there is an inherent risk with this signing. Mellor, Marsters, Milnes and Nikorima will provide some positives. Question marks remain over the appointment of Kurt Hagerty, who will need all the skills he picked up from Paul Rowley.
Aspirations - 9th
Crowds return to Odsal, but lacking the x-factor
12. York Knights - The future of Super League depends on teams like York Knights. Just outside of the traditional heartlands, York can provide a different demographic to the usual working-class towns built on long-forgotten industries. York is an affluent city and a popular tourist destination. Clint Goodchild is revolutionary thinker in Rugby League circles, and if anyone can make a go of this opportunity, it is Clint. York was an early adopter of women's Rugby League and the Valkyres are one of the top teams. Hopefully, York can utilise hordes of away supporters arriving to witness the LNER Community Stadium for the first time. With a capacity of 8,500 it would be great to see this stadium full to the rafters. 11 players have exited the club and 12 players have joined the squad. The most eye-catching is Paul Vaughan. Vaughan saved his best Rugby for the Challenge Cup in 2025, and came close to lifting the trophy at Wembley. Super League regulars include, Josh Griffin, Sam Wood, Justine Sangare and Jon Bennison all bring much needed experience.
Aspirations - 12th
Hopefully, the game will flourish in North Yorkshire
11. Huddersfield Giants - 2022 seems a long time ago for Giants fans, when they narrowly lost to Wigan in the Challenge Cup final and finished 3rd in the league. Since 2022, it has been a rapid descent to the bottom quarter of the table, finishing 9th, 10th and 9th respectively. Injuries were blamed for last season, but the squad appears to be understrength and tires in the latter stages of games. Huddersfield have 7 going out and 5 coming in. Key players like Cudjoe have retired, and the highly rated Oliver Wilson has moved on to Wigan. Starters like Bibby, Wallis and Golding have all left the club. Incoming players appear lightweight. Evalds had played for the Giants on loan in 2025, two signings from Wakefield in Cozza and Russell, and two overseas players in Chris Patola and Asher O'Donnell. It appears that much will rely on Asher being as good as his brother Kai.
Aspirations - Play-offs
10. Castleford Tigers - Chris Chester has been busy delving into his little black book. Leigh Leopards have made reference to the fact that they are in a bidding war with Castleford for every player they are looking to sign. New manager Ryan Carr will inherit a brand new squad 11 players heading for new homes, and 11 players moving to the OneBore stadium. A new Team and a new Manager, logic dictates that it is going to take time to bed in. Will the Fords be more competitive? probably, but I think that other teams have strengthened from a more stable base.
Aspirations - Play-offs
Improvements on the field, but not enough to progress up the table.
9. Catalans Dragons - Big expectations from the Dragons after two consecutive finishes outside the play-offs. The result is to jetison an entire starting 13, including Sam Tomkins, Theo Fages, Tevita Pangai Jr, Fouad Yaha, Arthur Romano, Paul Seguier, Elliott Whitehead, Tariq Sims, Tanguy Zenon, Bayley Sironen, Reimis Smith, Luke Keary, Jordan Dezaria. This is a culling on a monumental scale with the lose of a large number of players with big reputations. Admittedly, they performed nowhere near their potential, but there are risks involved in setting up a brand new side (see Castleford). 12 new players. have moved to the South of France with a raft of overseas players trying to settle in. Toby Sexton is thought to be the pick of the crop, but he is already heading back to the NRL in 2027. The rest of the overseas contingent are predominantly under the age of 25. Joel Tomkins is putting his faith in youth. Not sure it is enough to change the dial and propel them up the ladder.
Aspirations - Play-offs -
Bernard Gausch to wield his chopper on Joel Tomkins
8. Warrington Wolves - Has McNamara managed to clean up the toxic culture that has prevailed at the HJ Stadium for more years than I can remember? There was a stink about the place towards the back-end of Tony Smith's reign in 2017. Steve Price managed to get a tune of sorts, but rumours of a drinks culture were rampant. 2022 with Daryl Powell looked like he would steady the ship, but this all came to nought and Powell lost the dressing room. Sam Burgess provided an upsurge in 2024 and a downsurge in 2025. Most Warrington fans do not know to expect, but it is likely to a be bumpy ride. Burgess and club captain George Williams are expected to return to Australia in 2027, and Danny Walker is on the NRL wishlist. 11 players have moved on from the HJ Stadium, with 7 mostly match-day starters arriving. James Bentley, a man who can start a fight in an empty room, has moved to Warrington and the toxic cauldron. Leeds stated Bentley by mutual consent, but most people suspect a misdemeanour or falling out took place. Sipley, Hopoate and Tanginoa look like good signings, but Warrington still looks lightweight in the pack. Oddly enough, the half-back pairing of Williams and Sneyd has so far failed to gel. The expectation is for youth to be given a chance, and so development may take time for them to settle in.
Aspirations - Play-offs
Always their year - but not this year. Burgess is to be asked to bugger off to Australia
7. St Helens - Controversial Saints to finish outside the top six. Popular opinion states Rowley will get the best of the old players and will develop the very talented youth at his disposal. The reality is that St Helens have been on a slide ever since winning the World Club Challenge in 2023. What are the major issues facing Saints? Age - Mark Percival 32 in a few months has always played at 100 mph. Unfortunately, his body can no longer take the knocks, and a 27+ game season is beyond him. Alex Walmsley turns 36 early in the season. Props take a battering, and Big Al takes longer to recover. Unlikely to capture the outstanding performances of just a few years ago. Daryl Clark turns 33 before the start of the season, and every year he makes fewer darting runs from dummy half. Is there a suitable dummy half to rotate with Clark? Jonny Lomax, already 35 years old, was being squeezed out of the matchday side in 2025, despite being the club captain. Given the number 7 jersey for 2026, he is already part of the problem and not the solution. Spine - enough to send a shiver down the spine of any Red Vee fan. Adding Jackson Hastings into the mix does nothing to clear the picture. At Fullback - the natural choice would be Jack Welsby. who has struggled through injuries and poor form. Tristan Sailor was signed as a half-back, but lacks the creativity to be really useful in this position. Sailor has pace to burn, but is lightweight and not good in the tackle. Half-back (6&7), two positions with no individual nailed on to hold these positions down. Jackson Hastings (circa 2018 - 2021 - playing for Salford and Wigan) would absolutely cement a place in this team. Last season Hastings started in reserve grade until week 15. Eventually, he managed just five appearances for Newcastle. He was pushed into playing Loose-Forward, which raises question marks over his ability to still play in the halves. Jonny Lomax is no longer the creative force of old, and Slomax would appear to be a more suitable name for the Saints legend. George Whitby, this young talent, is being carefully managed; he is fully expected to lead the Saints in the future, but is considered not quite ready to face the rigours of a full season. Harry Robertson is another option at 1,6 and 7. I have no doubt he would play 9 and 13 if asked. At Hooker, Daryl Clark appears to be lacking a genuine interchange option. At Loose-forward, Saints have lost Morgan Knowles, who has been the rock at 13 for the last 10 years. St Helens have signed Jacob Host and David Klemmer, but the rest of the squad is made up of refugees from the Salford Red Devils. Rowley likes to sign players he is already familiar with, so expect anyone connected to Salford in the past four years to rock up in the Red Vee.
Aspirations - Top four minimum, with a treble on the cards
A good coach, some good players, but several years of poor recruitment have left the Saints facing younger, faster and leaner opposition moving up the rails. Expect the Saints to bully teams in the lower half of the League, but struggle against the top six sides.
6. Hull FC - John Cartwright, in his first season, was able to turn around the fortunes of the Black and Whites. A huge turnover of players in 2025, was full of hits and misses. Hits included Asiata, Hardaker, Sezer, Cust, Rapana. Knight and Pryce. Misses included Abdull, Holmes and Watts. Injuries to key players hampered progress and they narrowly missed out on the play-offs. FC are hoping to replace the misses with an influx of forwards. Lisone, Batchelor, Bell and Hill. A further missing part of the jigsaw was a half-back partner for Sezer, which will be filled by Jake Arthur. Cartwright looks to have all the pieces in place to push on to the play-offs in 2026.
Aspirations - Top six minimum, hoping for top four
Gaps filled in and a pack ready to rumble. If the spine fires, they will be pushing for a top-four finish. Much will depend on keeping the spine injury-free.
5. Wakefield Trinity - Trinity, who made the play-offs in 2025, have strengthened the side by moving on some older players and fringe players, and replacing them with some major talent from the NRL in the shape of Jazz Tevaga and Tyson Smoothy. These two signings alone will ensure Wakefield will be a team to be respected.
Aspirations - Top six minimum, hoping for top four
Reaching the play-offs in 2025 was a tremendous achievement. Well placed to reach the semi-finals in 2026.
4. Wigan Warriors - The treble winners in 2024, 2nd in the ladder and reaching the Grand Final. This will be considered a bad season for the Warriors. Recruitment is key to keeping a dynasty hungry for more, but instead, Wigan have managed only one major signing in two years. The rumour mill suggests that Oliver Wilson will be out injured for the whole season, after dispatching 3 prop forwards to other clubs. As a two-man team, Wigan will need to wrap French and Field in cotton wool, as with two race horses, they often pull up mid-season with hamstring issues. Wigan have also decided to re-sign club captain Liam Farrell for a further two seasons, despite the fact that, at 35 years old, he is starting to show signs of fatigue.
Aspirations - Silverware as a minimum, with a treble on the cards
A very strong squad of 20, but the salary cap skews the full squad with 23 down to 35 filled with academy kids. Of course, Wigan are renowned for a production line of talent, but this does not mean they are ready for a plethora of games. Everything will hinge on French and Field remaining on the pitch for as much of the season as possible.
3. Leeds Rhinos - Brad Arthur, on a rolling contract, has provided a bit of stability, and with Jake Arthur also now in the country, there are more reasons to stay. A large NRL contract may soon change all of that. A fourth-place finish for Leeds was a first home play-off for many a season, with the two previous seasons resulting in Leeds missing out on post-season Rugby. In 2024, after missing out, he made sure they still continued to train, rather than hit the beaches early. Arthur is known as a disciplinarian, and that was obvious in the structure of the defence. Jake Connor was nurtured slowly after initially being left out of the squad. 2026 will see a former and the reigning Man of Steel partnering for a second consecutive season. How well the Rhinos progress is dependent on Croft and Connor combining well. Croft in his final year, has seldom shown the form that resulted in a fee being paid for his services from Salford. Recruitment is strong with Jeremiah Mata'utia, Ethan O'Neill and Danny Levi joining the Rhinos, but there are some big losses with Morgan Gannon, Sam Lisone and James Bentley leaving. Maika Sivo, having not played last season, will be like having a new signing.
Aspirations - Top four as a minimum, Silverware will be expected
Is the Las Vegas game going to adversely affect Leeds. They will also have one of the easier matches at Magic Weekend.
2. Hull KR - Reigning treble winners, will have a bullseye slapped on their backs, as they prepare to defend all three titles and win a fourth against the Brisbane Broncos. Recruitment has been difficult with the salary cap starting to pinch. All those treble winners will be looking for a pay rise in their new contracts. Litten and Lewis will need extra incentives not to eye up those lucrative NRL deals. The old warhorses Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Micky McIlorum have hung up their boots after a magnificent swansong. Kelepi Tanginoa left to seek a longer contract with Warrington. To replace the departing players, in step, Tom Amone and Karl Lawton. Lawton offers plenty of NRL experience and, more importantly, possible cover at hooker. Tom Amone will be a worry for little Willie, will he get Castleford 2025 or Leigh 2024, Tom Amone. There is the issue of defending all three trophies, the Robins also have a strength-sapping trip to Las Vegas straight after the World Club Challenge. This will also result in having to squeeze an extra regular-season fixture to replace the one missed because of the World Club Challenge. There are then two early-season trips to the South of France, all before the middle of April.
Aspirations - Retain all three trophies and win the World Club Challenge
Hull KR have broken the hoodoo, but defending it might be harder than achieving the treble in the first place. Hull derbies are going to be much more competitive, and there are three to enjoy with Magic Weekend.
1. Leigh Leopards - Adrian Lam has been working on a five-year strategy. Although not publicly stated, it would be fairly reasonable to assume that winning the Grand Final in 2027 is the ultimate goal. Finishing the regular 2026 season in first or second would amount to steady progress toward that objective. 2023 - 5th place, 2024 - 5th place(4th place with play-offs), 2025 - 3rd place. This rise through the ranks has been achieved without a long-established academy, but through shrewd recruitment first with a raft of unknown NSW/QLD cup players and some experienced older heads. This later morphed into a much younger group of talented overseas players and bringing through the likes of Owen Trout, Keenan Brand, Bailey Hodgson and Umyla Hanley. The crown jewels of the team are Lachlan Lam and Edwin Ipape. NRL veterans Joe Ofahengaue and Issac Liu bring a level of professionalism to the team. There is also a sprinkling of stardust from Tesi Nui and David Armstrong. The team has lacked a top-quality goal kicker and a creative half-back in all three seasons in the Super League. Matt Moylan was briefly the answer to the creative half-back, but was later swapped with Gaz O'Brien due to defensive frailties. Adam Cook has been identified by Adrian Lam as the missing piece of the jigsaw and the perfect foil for Lachlan Lam. If Lammy snr is correct, then the Leopards will be incredibly dangerous and coupled with a fully fit David Armstrong, then attacking from any part of the field becomes a real option.
Aspirations - Top two finish - Challenge Cup a bonus.
Leigh has a relatively settled side, but this might be the last season due to salary cap constraints. They are a difficult side to beat, and this season is going to be a tough competition.
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