Sky Sports pundits Jon Wilkin and Jodie Cunningham have ranked the top five half-back pairings in Super League with a split in opinions.
Both had the same five teams represented and they agreed on the fifth and fourth-ranked halves, however, they could not agree on the top three halves pairings.
Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May, Leeds Rhinos’ Brodie Croft and Jake Connor, as well as Wigan’s Bevan French and Harry Smith were the three dynamic duos who featured in the top three and it’s no surprise with each pairing featuring a former Man of Steel winner.
In fact, Leeds have two Man of Steel winners in their pairing and both men will certainly be in the frame this year but neither pundit selected the Rhinos as their best half-back pairing in Super League.
Instead, Jon Wilkin went for Hull KR whilst Jodie Cunningham went for Wigan Warriors with the pair explaining their decisions on Sky Sports’ pre-match coverage of Leeds Rhinos versus Wakefield Trinity.
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Super League halves ranked as Hull KR and Wigan Warriors edge pundit picks
Jon Wilkin’s top five Super League halves pairings
5: George Williams & Marc Sneyd
“Talking about complimentary assets, my fifth partnership is George Williams and Marc Sneyd simply because George Williams is a dynamic runner of the ball and Marc Sneyd is an organiser and a kicker.”
4: Jonny Lomax & Jackson Hastings
“I thought Jonny Lomax needed a Jackson Hastings. Saints needed a kicker and Jackson Hastings has brought all that control on last plays.”
3: Bevan French & Harry Smith
“Third is Bevan French and Harry Smith – complimentary. Bevan breaks games open, Harry Smith organises and controls.”
2: Brodie Croft & Jake Connor
“Brodie Croft and Jake Connor sit below Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May for one reason and one reason alone and that is they haven’t won anything.”
1: Mikey Lewis & Tyrone May
“Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May have won the World Club Challenge this year and they won everything last year. I in think the opening nine rounds of the year their is nothing between those two (pairs), other than silverware.”
Jodie Cunningham’s top five Super League halves pairings
Cunningham’s assessment was more brief as she confirmed that the Wigan pair topped the list in her opinion based on their historic contributions.
“Mine is not too dissimilar to Jon’s and there is a lot I agree with,” the St Helens captain said.
“The biggest difference for me is that I’ve got French and Smith at the top and for the exact reason as Jon put Lewis and May over Croft and Connor, I think they’ve proven time and time again how well they work. Also when you take them out of the team you see how difficult Wigan find it to move around the field.”
5: George Williams & Marc Sneyd
4: Jonny Lomax & Jackson Hastings
3: Brodie Croft & Jake Connor
2: Mikey Lewis & Tyrone May
1: Bevan French & Harry Smith
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