Super League season approaching critical juncture as several teams hit crossroads

Super League took a break last weekend, but it’s fair to say the competition is back with a bang this week.

As always, there’ll be six games played in round 11, but almost every single one of them is a tough to call corker that literally could go either way. It’s been a competitive campaign so far and just one look at the current Super League table is enough to deduce that.

There are four teams currently locked on 10 points, while the top three sides are separated by just three points, with a title race already developing between Hull KR and Wigan Warriors.

So, as we enter the middle phase of the season, there’s a lot riding on every single fixture and this weekend promises to tell us plenty about where a number of clubs are at. That’s because four games are between teams directly next to each other in the table and with that comes pressure.

Let’s start at sixth placed St Helens, who get the round underway with a clash against Catalans Dragons in seventh. St Helens and Paul Wellens are under an awful lot of pressure at the minute, with results and performances regularly underwhelming.

Wellens’ side have won one of their last five in all competitions and that includes defeats in their last three games. That last result at Magic Weekend against Leeds saw many questioning the head coach’s position and there has been rumours of other potential suitors being lined up.

Simply put then, he needs a win this Thursday night against Catalans to silence the doubters and solidify his position for at least another week. Catalans won’t be feeling the freshest after a draining Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday and they do have key men missing.

However, they pushed the Saints close earlier in the season, they’ve won three of their last four league games and Steve McNamara will have every confidence in being able to kick on this week and move themselves into the play-off picture.

Friday night sees Wigan Warriors go head to head with local rivals Leigh Leopards in a clash that needs no build-up. Leigh won the last game between these two sides 1-0 and Wigan will be desperate to get that one back.

However, given it’s a clash that sees second and third battle it out, the two points on offer are absolutely enormous for both sides. Wigan will be contenders come the end of the season, that’s pretty much a given. Leigh have the chance to really put down a marker, though, particularly after their Cup loss to Warrington.

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A win over Wigan would certainly cement them as Grand Final candidates and open up what would appear to be a three-horse race for the League Leaders’ Shield.

Hull FC need a win when they go to Leeds Rhinos on Friday, too. The Black and Whites have lost their last three and the Magic Weekend defeat to Huddersfield Giants set alarm bells ringing regarding the direction Hull were moving in.

They’ve had players missing, but the break will have done them good and the hope will be that they can put it together get back to winning ways ahead of what promises to be a pivotal period. Fourth placed Leeds, though, are not to be taken lightly and while they aren’t racking up big scores, they are improving week on week.

They beat St Helens last week and pushed Hull KR extremely close the week previous. They’re not in a false position and a win over Hull would elevate them into the best of the rest category. FC would claim that mantle with a result, too, but a loss promises to see them slip out of the top six altogether.

Hull KR host Huddersfield on Saturday in a game that even the most ardent of Giants fans would expect to be fairly one-sided.

That’s before Wakefield Trinity, currently in eighth, host Warrington in ninth. Both teams know a win could carry them into the top six and a loss could well say a lot about their play-off credentials.

Warrington will be on a high after reaching the cup final, but they’ll have to level themselves out quickly and refocus themselves to avoid being beaten for the second time this season by Wakefield. The Wolves have underwhelmed in the league and while things seem to be looking up, they haven’t fully managed to answer those Super League questions just yet.

A win over Warrington at Belle Vue would be the ideal way for Wakefield to build on their Magic Weekend win over Castleford. They’ll be the fresher of the two sides and having beaten the Wolves already this season they have the upper edge psychologically.

That’s another cracker of a contest, no matter which way you look at it.

Castleford Tigers hosting Salford Red Devils in the sixth and final game of the week might not be at a top priority for a neutral, but it’s 10th v 12th and in truth, all the pressure is on the Tigers.

They were well below par last week at St James’ Park and they need to bounce back in convincing fashion against lowly Salford.

This has the potential to be the round of the Super League season so far and we’ll know an awful lot more about a number of side’s credentials after it.