There are just three weeks of the regular Super League season left, and with the table so tight, every point matters as teams look to finish as high as they can before the play-offs.
Following the conclusion of Wigan Warriors v Hull KR last night, only 20 games remain in the year, and a fair few of those will directly affect league positioning and the final standings, in what has been one of the closest and most competitive Super League competitions for a while.
It’s not just the top of the ladder that is tight, but the bottom as well, with the race to avoid the wooden spoon well and truly on, with four teams separated by just two points.
With so little of the season left, here are some key games you need to pencil into the calendar, and they range from potential Grand Final dress rehearsals to final day shootouts.
St Helens’ new coach, World Cup fail and Hull KR’s top six chances – Click here to watch this week’s episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
The key games that remain in the 2026 Super League season
St Helens v Leeds Rhinos – Friday 28th August:
Whilst other fixtures in this list put teams a lot closer than 1st v 7th together, this game is equally important considering what happened at the Brick Community Stadium last night.
The Warriors took a 46-0 victory over a weakened KR side, and that put the home side top of the table, two points ahead of Leeds.
On the flip side, KR remain in sixth, and have now given Saints a chance to claw level with the Robins, should they defeat the Rhinos this evening.
Both sides need the win tonight, with the points on offer critical for their respective ambitions.
Wakefield Trinity v Warrington Wolves – Saturday 5th September
Moving on to next week, and we have a 3rd v 4th battle that could well be a play-off meeting if the draw falls that way.
Trinity, who face York Knights on BBC Two tomorrow [Saturday], battle the Wolves, who travel to Hull FC. Both teams are expected to pick up the win this week, making for an even better contest at Belle Vue next week.
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors – Saturday 5th September:
This game is without question the biggest game of the Super League season by far, with the winner at Headingley almost certainly lifting the League Leaders’ Shield the following week.
After their win last night, Wigan head into that one off the back of 13 consecutive victories – the most in their Super League history, whilst Leeds will be hoping to take on Matt Peet’s men after overcoming rivals Saints tonight.
York Knights v Bradford Bulls – Thursday 10th September:
Moving on to the final round, and we move from the top of the ladder to the bottom, where York v Bradford could be a game where the loser is handed the wooden spoon.
As it stands, York sit on 14 points, but travel to Wakefield and Catalans before their meeting with the Bulls.
Bradford, who are on 12 and are bottom, would ideally want to pick up one win before they travel to North Yorkshire – they play Toulouse away and Castleford at home – so a win is not out of the question should they get some bodies back.
Leigh Leopards v Wakefield Trinity – Friday 11th September:
A rematch of last year’s play-off eliminator, both sides have continued to improve since that meeting, with Wakefield hoping to make more of a dent in the finals than they did last year.
Depending on how they go against Warrington, and how Leigh in the next two weeks, this game could decide who finishes fourth, with Warrington all but certainly cementing a place in the top three.
It will likely be the case that whoever wins the round 27 clash will host the loser the following week, with fourth taking on fifth in the first round of the finals.
St Helens v Hull KR – Friday 11th September:
We’ve got a battle for fourth spot and a battle for sixth spot both taking place on the final day, with the Robins and Saints heading towards an 80-minute final-day decider to claim the last spot in the six.
Saints need to go into the final day level on points with KR due to the gulf in points difference. Saints have 177 worse differential, meaning that they will be unable to pip the Robins on points difference should both teams end the year level – making the Red Vee’s game agaisnt Leigh next week equally as must-win.
