Super League round five is in the books so we’ve picked our Team of the Week with six teams represented across the seven games.
The competition resumed after a week off for the Challenge Cup action with two teams resuming their unbeaten start to the season, albeit in very different fashion. Wigan Warriors survived a scare as they beat York Knights 23-22 on Thursday night, before Warrington Wolves hammered Castleford Tigers 72-6 on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday also saw Hull KR’s sorry start continue as they lost 26-20 to Catalans Dragons, leaving the Robins on just two points alongside the aforementioned Castleford as well as Leigh Leopards, who lost 18-14 to Wakefield Trinity.
Huddersfield remain on zero points after a 24-16 loss to Bradford Bulls with Luke Robinson sacked off the back of it, whilst Friday’s earlier kick-off saw St Helens beat Toulouse Olympique 30-16 in France.
The final game of the weekend saw Hull FC beat Leeds Rhinos 24-16 at the MKM Stadium with one of their players working his way into the Serious About Rugby League Team of the Week.
Super League Team of the Week
Full-back: Charlie Staines (Catalans Dragons)
Staines continues to be an excitement machine with his incredible running as he tacked on another 210 metres, taking his total for the season beyond 1,000 metres already. He troubled Hull KR all night long and looks set to trouble plenty of other teams across the course of the year.
Winger: Lewis Murphy (St Helens)
Murphy had a difficult season in 2025 but he’s firmly finding his feet now with a two-try display against Toulouse among his best performances yet. Saints had success all night long on their left edge and Murphy was a beneficiary as he scored two tries.
Centre: Esan Marsters (Bradford Bulls)
The centres were tough to pick this week but Esan Marsters did what he does best, which is make plenty of metres and generate second-phase play thank to his offload game.
Centre: Albert Hopoate (Warrington Wolves)
Albert Hopoate is the first of several Warrington players with the ex-NRL man racking up 160 metres, many of which came on his breakway try. He’s another overseas recruit who is set to take Super League by storm in 2026.
Winger: Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves)
A near-perfect return for England’s star winger. Matty Ashton was back scoring tries within five minutes after taking to the field for the first time in 314 days. He’d soon bag a second and even completed his hat-trick late on as he made 151 metres in total.
Half-back: Tristan Sailor (St Helens)
Whilst named at full-back, Sailor played a lot of this game in the halves and we couldn’t not include him given how masterful he was. His assist for David Klemmer’s try is one of the best feats of athleticism you will see all year whilst his 176 running metres weren’t bad either.
Half-back: Jayden Nikorima (Bradford Bulls)
Another player returning from injury and putting on a show was Jayden Nikorima who stood up when Bradford needed him most, with his two second-half tries proving crucial. Described by head coach Kurt Haggerty as ‘comfortably the best player on the pitch’, we couldn’t agree more.
Prop: Ryan Sutton (Bradford Bulls)
Another player on that pitch who was exceptional once again was our pick for this year’s signing of the season – Ryan Sutton. The former NRL man has been excellent for the Bulls and Friday was no different, as his stats of 57 tackles and 113 running metres will highlight.
Hooker: Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield Trinity)
There were a number of candidates here with Brad O’Neill and Amir Bourouh considered but Smoothy takes it. He replaced Harvey Smith, who was brilliant in the Challenge Cup, so the pressure was on and he met it with a 48-tackle and two assist performance.
Prop: George Delaney (St Helens)
With no Matty Lees, Alex Walmsley, Jacob Host, Curtis Sironen or Joe Shorrocks, it’s fair to say Saints’ pack is depleted and that meant plenty of work for George Delaney who stood up masterfully. The former Super League Young Player of the Year nominee is showing just how important he is to Paul Rowley’s side.
Second-row: Zac Lipowicz (Catalans Dragons)
Another Catalans man and another overseas signing with Lipowicz recruited from the Penrith Panthers, and his pedigree shines through. Whilst he scored two tries, it was his overall performance and the work rate that was most impressive.
Second-row: Kelepi Tanginoa (Warrington Wolves)
Four tries Kelepi, four? That’s insane! The former Hull KR man is finding his feet at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and he had a hell of a day on Saturday, not just with his tries but also his dominant running and incredible lines.
Loose forward: John Asiata (Hull FC)
Honourable mentions go to York Knights’ Sam Cook on Super League debut and Bradford Bulls’ 61-tackle hero Joe Mellor, however, it just had to be John Asiata. He was by far and away the best player on the pitch on Sunday with his class shining through. If healthy for the full season then Hull FC have a chance at the play-offs, it’s as simple as that.
