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Grading every Super League club’s signings going into 2023

Most clubs have completed their transfer business for 2023.

Yes the likes of Catalans Dragons and Leigh Leopards could still make big signings but the majority of the high profile transfers have already been and gone.

But who has done the best business going into 2023?

Castleford Tigers
Gareth Widdop (Warrington Wolves), Muizz Mustapha (Leeds Rhinos), Jacob Miller (Wakefield Trinity), Albert Vete (Hull KR), Jack Broadbent (Leeds Rhinos), Jacob Hookem (Hull FC), Bailey Dawson (Hull KR), Ilikaya Mafi (Midlands Hurricanes)

Grade: B
A solid off season of recruitments, there should be excitement over the future at the Jungle with young players drafted in. They also have a new halfback pairing. How they perform will determine how this window of recruitment is perceived.

Catalans Dragons
Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters), Manu Ma’u (Hull FC), Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity), Romain Navarrete (Toulouse Olympique), Adam Keighran (Sydney Roosters)

Grade: C
An incomplete recruitment drive as of right now from Steve McNamara. He still wants to add a centre and a prop. They have left themselves plenty to do but have signed some real quality.

Huddersfield Giants
Esan Masters (Gold Coast Titans), Jake Bibby (Wigan Warriors), Jake Connor (Hull FC), Harvey Livett (Salford Red Devils), Kevin Naiqama (Sydney Roosters), Harry Rushton (Canberra Raiders), Sam Halsall (Wigan Warriors), Nathan Peats (Toulouse Olympique), Jack Bibby (Wigan Warriors)

Grade: A
Another busy off season for the Giants and they have added some sheer class to their squad with Jake Connor, Kevin Naiqama, Esan Marster and Jake Bibby all eye catching signings. This should help the Giants become more frequent scorers which held them back in 2022.

Hull FC
Jake Trueman (Castleford Tigers), Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds Rhinos), Tex Hoy (Newcastle Knights), Brad Dwyer (Leeds Rhinos), Jake Clifford (Newcastle Knights)

Grade: A
The Black and Whites have a ready made attacking combination to inset into their side in the shape of Tex Hoy and Jake Clifford. They also won the race for Jake Trueman whilst adding real strike in Liam Sutcliffe and Brad Dwyer.

Hull KR
Tom Opacic (Parramatta Eels), Louis Senior (Huddersfield Giants), James Batchelor (Wakefield Trinity), Rhys Kennedy (Brisbane Broncos), Sauaso Sue (Newcastle Knights), Yusuf Aydin (Wakefield Trinity)

Grade: B
The Robins have added some important depth to their side after they struggled with injuries in 2022. They have also drafted in some NRL stars which could make for an exciting 2023.

Leeds Rhinos
Derrell Olpherts (Castleford Tigers), Sam Lisone (Gold Coast Titans), Justin Sangare (Toulouse Olympique), James McDonnell (Wigan Warriors), Luke Hooley (Batley Bulldogs), Luis Roberts (Leigh Leopards), Leon Ruan (Doncaster), Nene Macdonald (Leigh Leopards), Tony Warren (York City Knights)

Grade: B
Like Castleford, the fruits of this recruitment drive may be seen more in the next five years than now. The signings they have made for the first team should bolster them in key areas but there is a lot of pressure for them to exceed the efforts of those they’re replacing.

Leigh Leopards
Gareth O’Brien (Castleford Tigers), Zak Hardaker (Leeds Rhinos), Jack Hughes (Warrington Wolves), Matt Davis (Warrington Wolves), Tom Briscoe (Leeds Rhinos), Ricky Leutele (Huddersfield Giants), Oliver Holmes (Warrington Wolves), Rob Mulhern (Warrington Wolves), Jacob Gannon (Warrington Wolves), Nathan Wilde (Newcastle Thunder), Tom Nisbet, Aaron Smith (permanent deals from St Helens after loan with Leigh last season)

Grade: A
12 signings all in all, they all add quality to the Leopards’ ranks and give them a squad capable of pushing for the play-offs in 2023.

Salford Red Devils
Oliver Partington (Wigan Warriors), Andrew Dixon (Toulouse Olympique), Adam Sidlow (Leigh Leopards), Sam Stone (Leigh Leopards), Ben Hellewell (Featherstone Rovers), Ellis Longstaff (Warrington Wolves, loan)

Wakefield Trinity
Kevin Proctor (unattached), Morgan Smith (Featherstone Rovers), Renouf Atoni (Sydney Roosters), Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons)

Grade: B
An underrated set of signings from Trinity. They all add definite quality and competition for places going into 2023. But should they have signed more?

Warrington Wolves
Sam Kasiano (Catalans Dragons), Paul Vaughan (Canterbury Bulldogs), Josh McGuire (St George Illawarra Dragons), Gil Dudson (Catalans Dragons), Josh Drinkwater (Catalans Dragons), Matty Russell (Toulouse Olympique)

Grade: B
There is a clear effort to Daryl Powell’s signings to bolster the pack ahead of the new season. Many of them though are in the twilight of their careers. Great players, the question will be can they still have the same impact in 2023?

Wigan Warriors
Jake Wardle (Huddersfield Giants), Toby King (Warrington Wolves, loan)

Grade: B
The Warriors have signed the players they needed at centre and have got two top players in to take on the roles in 2023. Couldn’t have asked for much else.

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