Five bold 2025 Super League predictions including Wigan Warriors, Hull FC and St Helens

The Super League fixtures have been released for the upcoming 2025 season and fans are starting to get excited about the year ahead.
Following this morning’s announcement we’ve dug out our crystal ball and made some early predictions about how the first six rounds of the season could pan out.

Wigan to pick up where they left off

Wigan ended the 2024 Super League season in frightening fashion and while they haven’t made any new recruits, barring George Hirst who is expected to spend the 2025 season with Oldham, they’ll be keen to hit the ground running in the new year. The Warriors start with a derby clash against Leigh Leopards, who might take time to gel after so many off-season changes, before travelling to last season’s strugglers Hull FC.

The trip to Las Vegas will pose challenges, but they’re experienced enough to take it in their stride, manage any potential jet lag or come down and pick up the points against Huddersfield Giants upon their return. In fact, it would not be a surprise at all to see Wigan sitting pretty at the top of the table with 12 points to show for their efforts after six games.

Hull FC to pick up points

The 2024 season was a long one for those of a Black and Whites persuasion. Hull won just three games all season and were regularly handed heavy defeats as they struggled to pull themselves out of a tailspin.

A rebuild has been underway over the off-season and with nine players and a new head coach coming in – and a takeover being announced – it’s fair to say there is optimism around the MKM Stadium once more. It’s a tough start for Hull in truth, with Catalans Dragons and Wigan first up, but there’s no reason why FC shouldn’t be looking at Huddersfield, Leigh, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity as opportunities to get some points on the board as they start to look up the table rather than down it.

Wakefield to pull off a shock

Wakefield lost just one game throughout the 2024 season and arrive back in Super League with a fairly large head of steam behind them. Daryl Powell has made changes to his line-up over the off-season, but confidence will still be sky high and they’ll be looking at that opening game against Leeds Rhinos as a chance to take a big scalp early.

Leeds will be well-drilled after Brad Arthur’s first pre-season, but Wakefield will travel with heaps of self belief that they can cause an upset in round one. It won’t be all smooth sailing for Wakefield, but they’ll be using Leigh as an example of how teams can use momentum to their advantage stepping up from the Championship. Don’t be surprised to see Wakefield humble one or two of the competition’s bigger teams early doors, especially at Belle Vue.

St Helens to make a statement

Paul Wellens will be working with a new spine in 2025 following the addition of Tristan Sailor and that might take some bedding in, but looking at the club’s start of the season they have the opportunity to send out a real statement of intent. The Saints will be favourites for their first three games at the very least against Salford, Castleford and Wakefield.

However, with Hull KR and Warrington Wolves travelling to the Totally Wicked Stadium in rounds four and five, it would not be a shock to see St Helens see off one of last season’s top three. The pressure is on Saints this season after their miserable 2024 campaign and a fast start could be pivotal.

Salford to stumble

Salford’s off the field challenges were revealed by Rugby League Live on Thursday, with the club reportedly finding itself in a financial hole. The Red Devils have been through tough times before but on the field they’ve regularly managed to exceed expectations and prove doubters wrong.

However, they’ve been handed tricky start with Saints, Leeds and Hull KR making up their first three opponents before facing Wigan in round six. Salford being Salford it would not be a surprise to see the club overcome the odds once more, but on the face of it, it feels as though picking up early points could be a struggle for the side that finished fourth last season.