Huddersfield Giants have been handed the toughest start to the 2025 Super League table, it seems. The Giants start the season off with the visit of Warrington Wolves on Sunday, February 16, and things don’t get a whole lot easier for Luke Robinson, as he embarks on his first season as a full-time head coach.
The West Yorkshire outfit take on each of last season’s top five, with a home game against 2024 strugglers Hull FC being seen as their easiest fixture of the first six rounds of action. Using last season’s league table, Huddersfield’s first six opponents have an average league position of 4.33 and that ensures they have the toughest start by some distance across the competition.
Of course, Huddersfield will fancy their chances of picking up points early doors after bringing in the likes of Tom Burgess and Jacob Gagai from South Sydney Rabbitohs, but with at least three Grand Final hopefuls to take on in their opening six games, it’s clear their start could have been easier. Perhaps optimistically the club will be hoping Wigan Warriors return from Las Vegas with a hangover, as they will be the side that welcome the quadruple winners back to the UK in round four.
Conversely, Hull KR have been handed what could be considered the easiest start of the season. The Robins kick off with a home game against Castleford Tigers before travelling to newly promoted Wakefield Trinity in round two. Games against Salford Red Devils, St Helens, Leigh and Huddersfield follow, kicking out an average ranking of 7.66.
Hull FC’s start isn’t much tougher on paper, with Wakefield, Castleford and Huddersfield featuring in their first six games and that will give John Cartwright hope that he can get some points on the board early in his new job.
Wakefield’s welcome back to Super League is a tough one as Daryl Powell’s side face off against four of last season’s play-off teams, with Leeds Rhinos and Hull the other two, producing a score of 5.83, based on last season’s final positions.
Warrington and Catalans will be relatively content with their respective starts with the pair having an average position of opponent of 7.16. Salford and Leeds could have had simpler starts to the campaign though, with their opponents coming out at 6 and 6.16 respectively.
Super League’s toughest starts according to opponents’ average 2024 league position
1. Huddersfield Giants – 4.33
2. Wakefield Trinity – 5.83
3. Salford Red Devils – 6
4. Leeds Rhinos – 6.16
5. Castleford Tigers – 6.33
6. St Helens – 6.33
7. Wigan Warriors- 6.66
8. Leigh Leopards – 7
9. Catalans Dragons – 7.16
10. Warrington Wolves – 7.16
11. Hull FC – 7.33
12. Hull KR – 7.66
