2025 is here and it won’t be long until the new Super League season gets underway. Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity and already been in pre-season action but over the next month or so, the other 10 top flight teams will play trial games as they ready themselves for the road ahead.
Unlike in seasons gone by, the Challenge Cup third round will signal the start of the competitive action for top flight sides. All 12 Super League outfits will enter the competition over the weekend of February 8/9, in a seeded draw designed to give lower league teams the chance to host a big name in a money spinning tie.
The league season will get underway the following weekend and with the fixtures released and the featured TV games picked, supporters will have their side’s games circled in their 2025 calendars.
Last year was a a good one for rugby league but this year promises to be even better and here’s five reasons why.
Viva Las Vegas!
We’ll start with the most exciting thing of the new year: Super League is going to Las Vegas! In just under two months’ time supporters of Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves will be boarding plans bound for Sin City to watch their teams go head to head at the Allegiant Stadium.
It promises to be a history making experience for both clubs as they get play in North America for the first time and open up a bumper day of rugby league. Two NRL games will follow the Super League round three clash, with a Test match between England Women and Australia taking place in between.
Of course, the NRL went to Vegas in 2024 as well, but this year promises to be bigger and better and hopefully Super League clubs can be involved in such events on a regular basis going forward.
NRL imports
This year’s batch of NRL imports is eye catching to say the very least. The additions of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Tom Burgess were announced some time ago now, joining Hull KR and Huddersfield Giants respectively, but the two men are considered legends of the sport’s premier competition and will certainly draw attention.
Maika Sivo is a huge signing by Leeds Rhinos after falling out of favour at Parramatta Eels, while St Helens addition Kyle Feldt scored 23 tries in last season’s NRL alone to show what he can still do. Catalans Dragons recruits Tevita Pangai Jr, Luke Keary and Nick Cotric are massive names, too, as is Elliott Whitehead, who is returning to Super League after nine seasons Down Under.
Hull FC have landed Jordan Rapana, as well, just to hammer home the level of talent coming over for 2025.
The chasing pack
Wigan Warriors set the bar high by winning everything there was to win last season in what was a history making campaign. They started the campaign by seeing off NRL champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge and after winning the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders’ Shield, they wrapped it all up by beating Hull KR in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
It was a season that will live long in the memory of Cherry and Whites fans, who will have high hopes that Matt Peet can lead their side to glory once more this year. Wigan are in the crosshairs of every other Super League team, though, and several can be considered genuine contenders to knock them off their perch.
Hull KR and Warrington Wolves will be up there once more this season, while Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Catalans Dragons will all be looking to make big improvements. It promises to be one of the most competitive and tightly contested seasons yet and we’re most certainly here for it.
Emerging talent
Last year was one defined by young talent with the likes of Mikey Lewis and Junior Nsemba, aged 23 and 20 respectively, starring on a weekly basis and more new household names will emerge this year.
Most Super League clubs are now investing heavily in their talent production line and with the salary cap remaining tight, bringing young players through into the first-team picture is high on the agenda for so many. Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and St Helens have been prolific in producing first-teamers in recent years, but the likes of Hull FC, Warrington and Catalans are starting to bring through some exciting talent, too.
Youngsters to watch include Harry Robertson, Alfie Edgell, Logan Moy, Leon Hayes and Jack Farrimond but more will emerge as the season progresses.
The Ashes return
Next year will see the return of the Ashes for the first time since 2003. England were initially set to make their way Down Under at the end of the campaign but roles have been reversed with Shaun Wane’s side now set to host the series and it promises to be a belter.
England were simply too good for Samoa in autumn, and while the challenge of facing off against Australia will be a different proposition entirely, the hosts will fancy their chances of providing something of a shock. Venues haven’t been released as of yet, but the hope is that some larger stadiums can be filled with the likes of St James’ Park and Anfield being mentioned as potential host grounds.
With a World Cup set to take place in 2026, the Ashes series certainly has all the ingredients needed to whet the appetite and reignite international rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere. Bring it on.
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