After last night we now know the full line-up for the 2023 Super League season and it’s set to be one of the most exciting in Super League history.
That’s because a star-studded Leigh Centurions team is set to join the competition after a 44-12 win over Batley in the Championship Grand Final. But where will they finish in Super League next year and can they avoid relegation – the fate that has befallen them the last three times they’ve been promoted.
To answer that, here’s our early prediction for the Super League table in 2023.
1. St Helens
Though St Helens will have a new coach in 2023, they could be even stronger if they can avoid injury for the majority of the campaign. That’s because they will have star halfback Lewis Dodd back which will sharpen their attack and give them more balance. They’ll also have a more settled pack and Alex Walmsley back in the mix. This could make them immovable at the top and favourites for a fifth consecutive Grand Final win.
2. Wigan Warriors
Though Wigan’s recruitment for next year isn’t yet finalised, the Warriors have already secured the services of their two most important players in Jai Field and Bevan French for next year which will again make the Warriors electric in attack and could see them again finish second.
3. Leeds Rhinos
Leeds finished the 2022 campaign as the form team and now that Rohan Smith has a full pre-season to assemble his squad and stamp his identity fully on their play style, they could be a real threat in the race for top spot so long as they avoid injuries.
4. Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield had a superb campaign in 2022 and are going to try and kick on next year. Under a top tier coach in Ian Watson, the Giants have the right man at the helm and have already secured some impressive signings going into next year.
5. Salford Red Devils
As last season drew to a close, we saw just how good and dangerous Salford can be and if they can keep their squad together, which at this stage looks likely, they should have the necessary firepower to return to the play-offs again in 2023.
6. Catalans Dragons
After finishing top in 2021, Catalans appear to be in a period of transition once again with lots of players confirmed as leaving and not too much in terms of incomings. That said, they still have plenty of quality and a nucleus of a team that got to Old Trafford and that could be enough to secure their play-off spot for fourth consecutive season.
7. Hull FC
Hull FC have made some exciting signings for 2023 in Brad Dwyer, Jake Trueman and Liam Sutcliffe so already have an exciting squad for next year. Meanwhile, the appointment of Tony Smith is perhaps their biggest signing ahead of next year. He will revamp the culture and play style and could lead the club back towards the play-off mix.
8. Castleford Tigers
The Tigers came up just in the play-off race and it could be a similar case in 2023. They’ve made some exciting signings for next year but based on the fact they came up just short this season, it could just be a bridge too far again for the Tigers in 2023 especially with Radford having to settle an entirely new halfback pairing for the season.
9. Hull KR
Now in the post Tony Smith period, the big thing for Hull KR in 2023 is avoiding injuries. That will make the Robins a real threat in the play-off mix once again however in a period of transition under new boss Willie Peters could see the Robins just miss out.
10. Warrington Wolves
The big question over Warrington is whether or not their new signings will fix their problems in 2023. If they do what the Wolves need them to do, the Wire could be back in the play-off hunt but that’s a lot of pressure on a lot of new bodies. 2024 may be the bigger year for Warrington to focus on.
11. Leigh Centurions
Many are tipping Leigh to go straight down because they will have to let go of some overseas stars due to quota spots. However, they’re set to make some impressive signings which will help sustain the squad and don’t be surprised to see them not too far off the play-offs. In fact, all 12 teams will likely have a sniff of the top six at one stage but consistency will be key which may be something Leigh lack in their first season back in the top flight playing high intensity games week on week.
12. Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield have taken a massive gamble in letting go of Willie Poching and bringing in unproven Mark Applegarth. If this pays off we could see Trinity in the play-off mix, otherwise it could be another tough season. It could all be determined by who they bring in with very little confirmed in the way of signings as of yet and big players like Jacob Miller leaving the club.
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
Warrington Wolves
Sam Burgess makes decision on future following South Sydney links
Castleford Tigers
Revealed: Why Sylvester Namo was found guilty
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers boss comments on rumoured transfer
Gaz Parkinson
October 3, 2022 at 11:13 am
Wire to come bottom this season. Leigh will finish above them for sure.
John Walsh
October 4, 2022 at 10:23 am
For those people writing off Leigh as relegation fodder next season note the following:
– on their previous visits they have always had last pickings on recruitment as they were not guaranteed SL status until well after all other clubs had recruited the best. This meant that they had to take a chance on players that no one else wanted, either past their best or not SL standard.
– this time they have invested in a mixture of young and experienced SL standard players whilst in the Championship so there will be a greater element of continuity compared to previous attempts at SL. A lot is being made of the number of overseas players that they will have to let go but the ones that remain will be more than capable of holding their own in SL…..the likes of Blake Ferguson, Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam have already been confirmed and, John Asiata, Tom Amone, Kai O’Donnell and Caleb Aekins would make up a very strong overseas contingent.
– this time Leigh will also have a nucleus of British players who can easily move up to SL….Joe Mellor, Josh Charnley, Joe Wardle, Ed Chamberlain, Ben Reynolds, Keenan Brand, and Aaron Smith (if they can retain him from Saints)
– perhaps most importantly they have a top class coaching/recruiting set up in Adrian Lam, Chris Chester and Tony Clubb who know SL inside out. This is something that they haven’t had on previous visits to the big time.
So those writing Leigh off do so at their peril. I feel much more optimistic this time round and no matter what I know that, under the current regime, they will recruit the right players for the right positions as they have done this year and will give it a good crack.