Ranked: The top five English wingers in Super League in 2024

Wingers often get all the glory given that they’re typically a team’s most prolific try-scorer, but who are the best English outside backs in Super League?

Over the years Super League has seen some exceptional wide men but the current crop isn’t too bad either, spearheaded by veteran Ryan Hall who is chasing down the all-time Super League try-scoring record.

Prime Ryan Hall was arguably the best English winger to ever grace Super League but does the current 36-year-old version still crack the top five in 2024? Here’s Serious About Rugby League’s rankings for the best English wingers in the competition so far in 2024.

Super League legend sneaks into top five English wingers as two internationals miss out

Controversially Ryan Hall has cracked the top five and two big names Tommy Makinson and Tom Johnstone have missed out. Johnstone was a revelation in 2023 with his move to Catalans highlighting what he could do in an elite team. He was a Man of Steel contender but he hasn’t hit the heights in 2024 and whilst he would undoubtedly be in Shaun Wane’s plans, he’s not on the board for this list.

As for Tommy Makinson the St Helens veteran has been quieter in 2024 than his previous two years in which he racked up a combined 46 tries for the Red Vee. It’s now being widely reported that he will replace Tom Johnstone at Catalans for the 2025 season which will be exciting given how Johnstone fared in his debut season in Perpignan.

5 – Ryan Hall (Hull KR)

Of course, he had to be in the top five. Ryan Hall is invaluable to Hull KR and remains one of the best ball-carriers in the competition, helping the Robins time after time with strong yards.

Hall’s big build is more akin to a prop than a winger and whilst that and his age have seen his pace decline, he’s not forgotten how to cross the whitewash with Hall tallying 15 or more tries in each of his three seasons at Craven Park.

After scoring three in his first five this season as well as a brace in the Challenge Cup the veteran slowed down before scoring against Wigan last night to move ever closer to the all-time Super League record.

It will be his last season at Craven Park though after confirmation earlier this week that he would be returning to Headingley for one last dance in 2025.

4 – Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves)

There’s plenty of pace at Warrington with full-back Matt Dufty and the electric winger Josh Thewlis. Another of the speedsters that Sam Burgess has available to him is Matty Ashton who Warrington acquired from Swinton following his incredible 30-try 2019 campaign.

The 2023 season marked the first year that Ashton recorded 20 tries and he’s started 2024 in the same vein, his England experience in the Test series against Tonga having clearly bolstered his status in Super League.

Ashton has scored three in his opening eight whilst he was incredible in Wire’s Challenge Cup victory over St Helens and he’ll be one of the men expecting a call-up when the international side next reconvenes, particularly if he carries over his form.

3 – Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos)

Incredibly it was only last season that Ash Handley made his England debut but he took that opportunity with both hands as he ran in a hat trick against France, however, that wasn’t enough for him to be called into the squad to face Tonga.

His early season form dictates that he should potentially be among the first names on the teamsheet with the Leeds Rhinos man seeming to be in competition with himself to score the Super League try of the season.

Whilst form propels him up this list, the current injury issues for Handley and the fact he hasn’t charted elite returns since the 2020 season in which he scored 20 in 19, mean that he doesn’t crack the top two.

2 – Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors)

With Abbas Miski on the other wing, it seems that Liam Marshall got forgotten in 2023 but he had himself an incredible season and for this writer’s opinion has gone under the radar as the best winger in Super League.

Marshall has tallied 50 tries in his past two seasons and nine in the first nine rounds as well as six in the Challenge Cup suggesting that he’s well on his way to replicate his 25 try-a-season average.

Moreover, Marshall is exceptional in carry numbers and yardage taking huge pressure off the Wigan pack. He’ll turn 28 this season which likely indicates he is reaching his prime, suggesting he could well improve which is a scary thought for all non-Wigan fans.

1 – Adam Swift (Huddersfield Giants)

There couldn’t have been anyone else topping this list really. Adam Swift has been the best signing of the season so far, without a doubt.

After leaving Hull FC, for whom he had an incredibly under-appreciated 2023 scoring 19 Super League tries, the speedster has lit up the competition in 2024 for his new club.

Incredibly, Swift currently has scored almost as many tries this season than the entire Hull FC squad with his haul of 15 tries in just 11 games narrowly falling short of FC’s total of 17 tries in 9 games.

Swift ranks third for both metres and carries whilst leading the league in clean breaks and he looks well in line for the first England call-up of his career.