Super League 2026 starts ranked by difficulty with St Helens and Wigan Warriors among easiest

The Super League fixtures are here and supporters across the country will be assessing their side’s fixtures for the 2026 campaign.

Every game in Super League is tough and next season promises to be no different with York Knights, Toulouse Olympique and Bradford Bulls stepping up with ambitions of making their presence felt and claiming some big scalps.

York have been handed an extremely tough start to life in the top flight, though, with three of last season’s top four to face inside the opening five games. Bradford must wait a little longer to take on the so-called big boys, though, with their landing in Super League ever so slightly softer.

With that in mind, we’ve ranked all 14 teams’ starts to the the 2026 season based on the average 2025 league position of their opponents before the play-offs got underway.

As such, despite failing to clear the first hurdle, Leeds still have a value of three, while York Knights, who won the Championship League Leaders’ Shield have a value of 12, Toulouse 13 and Bradford are 14.

Super League starts ranked by difficulty

1. York Knights

First five: Hull KR (h), Leeds Rhinos (a), Hull FC (a), Warrington Wolves (h), Wigan Warriors (a). Average 2025 position: 4.4

York Knights start to Super League couldn’t have been harder really, with the Knights taking on three of last seasons top four. The easiest it gets, based on last season’s league position for York is a home game against Warrington Wolves, who underperformed last year. Their first five opponents have an average position of 4.4.

2. Leigh Leopards

First five: Leeds Rhinos (a), St Helens (a), Wigan Warriors (a), Catalans Dragons (h), Wakefield Trinity (a). Average 2025 position: 5.2

This start promises to be a real test of Leigh’s early mettle. But, if they can come through this challenge unscathed and with multiple wins on the board, it will be a great sign for them moving forward.

3. Catalans Dragons

First five: Huddersfield Giants (h), Bradford Bulls (a), St Helens (h), Leigh Leopards (a), Hull KR (h). Average 2025 position: 6.6

A home game against Huddersfield to open is relatively kind but it gets harder from there, with home games against St Helens and Hull KR to follow. The trip to what promises to be a raucous Odsal in round two will be far from straightforward, too.

4. Leeds Rhinos

First five: Leigh Leopards (a), York Knights (h), Hull KR (a – Las Vegas), Castleford Tigers (h), Hull FC (a). Average 2025 position: 6.8

Leeds have the luxury of a trip to Las Vegas but it comes against the champions in Hull KR. A trip to Leigh is a challenging game in round one, as is the trip to Hull, just as the post-Vegas hangover takes hold.

5. Castleford Tigers

First five: Wigan Warriors (h), Toulouse Olympique (a), Huddersfield Giants (h), Leeds Rhinos (a), Warrington Wolves (a) Average 2025 position: 7.4

Games against Wigan, Leeds and Warrington are offset by clashes with Toulouse and Huddersfield ensuring Castleford will targeting at least four points from their opening five games.

6= Hull FC

First five: Bradford Bulls (h), Wigan Warriors (a), York Knights (h), Wakefield Trinity (a), Leeds Rhinos (h) Average league position: 7.6.

Hull will be happy to have two of the three promoted teams at home first up, but trips to Wigan and Wakefield look set to test their early credentials, that is for certain.

6= Toulouse Olympique

First five: Wakefield Trinity (a), Castleford Tigers (h), Bradford Bulls (a), Wigan Warriors (h), St Helens (h). Average league position: 7.6.

Every game is going to be tough for Toulouse, but their first three could provide a relatively soft landing in Super League before they welcome St Helens and Wigan to the south of France.

6= Warrington Wolves

First five: St Helens (h), Wakefield Trinity (h), York Knights (a), Castleford Tigers (h), Leeds Rhinos (a). Average league position: 7.6.

The opening game looks set to be extremely intriguing with both sides having something of a point to prove. Warrington would be due to face Hull KR in round two, but the Robins will be taking on Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge instead, so we’ve taken round six into account, here.

9. Hull KR

First six: York Knights (a), Brisbane Broncos (WCC), Leeds Rhinos (h – Las Vegas), Huddersfield Giants (a), Catalans Dragons (a), St Helens (h) Average 2025 position: 8

Hull KR requested a newly promoted team in round one before the World Club Challenge and they open against York Knights. They’ll be favourites heading to Las Vegas, but the trip to Catalans just a few weeks later could be a gruelling one. With Brisbane to play instead of Warrington in round two, we’ve taken round six into account.

10= Huddersfield Giants

First five: Catalans Dragons (a), Wakefield Trinity (h), Castleford Tigers (a), Hull KR (h), Bradford Bulls (a) Average 2025 position: 8.2

Catalans Dragons away is far from the ideal start, but things get a little easier after that with trips to Castleford Tigers and Bradford Bulls giving the Giants an opportunity to pick up points.

10= Wakefield Trinity

First five: Toulouse Olympique (h), Huddersfield Giants (a), Warrington Wolves (a), Hull FC (h), Leigh Leopards (h). Average 2025 position: 8.2

Toulouse will provide a stern test for Wakefield in round one, but Daryl Powell’s side will see that game as a very winnable opening clash. Of the Trin’s first five, Leigh Leopards are the only side to have finished in the play-offs last season.

12. Bradford Bulls

First five: Hull FC (a), Catalans Dragons (h), Toulouse Olympique (h), St Helens (a) Huddersfield Giants (h). Average 2025 position: 8.8

Bradford will be happy with their start and they would have every right to believe they can get some early points on the board. Every game will be extremely tough but St Helens are the only one of their first five that finished in the top six last year.

13. Wigan Warriors

First five: Castleford Tigers (a), Hull FC (h), Leigh Leopards (h), Toulouse Olympique (a), York Knights (h). Average 2025 position: 9.2

Castleford look set to be a different beast under Ryan Carr and home games with Hull and Leigh, who Wigan lost to last season, will be tough. But, Wigan know they really should be beating Toulouse and York in rounds four and five.

14. St Helens

First five: Warrington Wolves (a), Leigh Leopards (h), Catalans Dragons (a), Bradford Bulls (h), Toulouse Olympique (a). Average 2025 position: 9.4

On paper, based on last season’s league standings, St Helens have the least challenging start to the season. However, trips to Warrington and Catalans certainly look difficult and Leigh got the better of them on more than one occasion last year.