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The Super League table will look like this at the end of 2022

It’s that time for predictions as pre-season for the majority of Super League sides gets into full flow.

For some, it’s a case of trying to assess what went wrong in 2021, but for others it’s a time of trying to build on the good times that occurred.

St Helens ran out eventual champions in the showpiece Grand Final event at Old Trafford, overcoming a stubborn Catalans Dragons side, 12-10.

That was Saints’ third Grand Final victory in a row, but can the Dragons and the rest of Super League stop them in 2022?

Serious About Rugby League has already experimented with how the Super League table will look in 2022, but with a whole host of new signings confirmed, here is how we predict the table will look at the end of next season.

1. Catalans Dragons

After the highs of 2021, Catalans Dragons have a lot to live up to in 2022. However, Steve McNamara will still have enough firepower in his ranks to reach the play-offs with ease. James Maloney has left the club, but Mitchell Pearce is equally as destructive, and, with Tyrone May and Dylan Napa now confirmed to be following from Australia, then the Dragons will arguably be more imposing in 2022 than in 2021. It’s a breathtaking team looking at it on paper, with the likes of Sam Tomkins and Sam Kasiano still incredibly dangerous and youngsters such as Arthur Mourgue, Mathieu Laguerre and Corentin Le Cam further steeled in the way of the Dragon.

2. St Helens

They missed out on top spot to Catalans in 2021, but Kristian Woolf’s men are well-placed for another tilt at Super League in 2022. The club have gone about their transfer business well, bringing in the likes of Will Hopoate, Curtis Sironen and Joey Lussick from abroad as well as James Bell from Leigh and Konrad Hurrell from Leeds. This is probably the strongest a club has ever been in the Super League era since its conception back in 1996, so don’t be surprised to see Saints in the Grand Final once more in 2022. However, Catalans look monstrous on paper and may (no pun intended) pip them to the top.

3. Warrington Wolves

Daryl Powell’s greatest ability as a coach is being able to forge the consistency necessary to be there or thereabouts at the top of the table. It worked at Featherstone Rovers and it worked at Castleford Tigers, although the last two seasons at the Jungle were disappointing to say the least. However, in his first full season at the Tigers in 2014, Powell propelled the club to the Challenge Cup Final and was one game away from winning the League Leaders’ Shield. With the likes of George Williams, Gareth Widdop and Daryl Clark at his disposal, watch Powell turn around Warrington in quick fashion.

4. Wigan Warriors

They finished fourth in 2021, too. However, that year proved a terrible one for the Wigan Warriors as head coach Adrian Lam came under fire for some poor attacking performances. In fact, Wigan’s points per game average was the worst in Super League – even worse than the relegated Leigh Centurions’. Now, though, a new quartet of Matty Peet, Sean O’Loughlin, Lee Briers and Shaun Wane look set to reinvigorate the DW Stadium and bring that good-feel back to the Warriors. Alongside a brand-new coaching staff is an updated roster with NRL star Cade Cust joining alongside Patrick Mago, Kaide Ellis, Abbas Miski and Iain Thornley. There is reason to be optimistic this season and a cup run could be on the cards, especially with Wane back in the fold.

5. Castleford Tigers

There seems to be a new, confident air about the West Yorkshire club heading into the 2022 Super League season. Former Hull FC head coach Lee Radford has taken the reins after eight-and-a-half years of Daryl Powell at the Jungle and he has already made his mark on the squad by bringing in eight new signings including livewire outside back Jake Mamo and enigmatic second-rower Kenny Edwards. Above all, though, Radford brings a trophy-winning pedigree, having guided Hull to back-to-back Challenge Cup successes and the Castleford faithful appear to have bought into the new era in their droves.

6. Leeds Rhinos

This all depends on what happens with the coaching situation at Headingley. With Richard Agar reportedly set to take a more backroom role, names such as Ryan Carr, James Webster and Tony Smith have been banded about as possible replacements. Whoever does take the job, though, has a wonderful squad at their disposal with new halfback partnership Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin and a conglomerate of superb youngsters waiting for their opportunity. And, with rookie fullback Jack Walker once more fighting fit, Leeds could be set for a better season than sixth – if they get the right man.

7. Hull FC

9. Wakefield Trinity

Perhaps no one believes that Wakefield Trinity will be anywhere near the top six play-offs in 2022. But, look at what Willie Poching achieved towards the back end of the 2021 Super League season. Five wins from their last seven games meant that Trinity ended the season as one of the most in-form sides in the competition. And, with star halfback Jacob Miller now confirmed to be staying at Belle Vue alongside new signings Lee Gaskell and Tom Lineham, 2022 looks a whole lot rosier for the West Yorkshire side. Add into that a fit Tom Johnstone and Bill Tupou and Wakefield could cause a lot of damage which will ensure safety from relegation.

10. Huddersfield Giants

Again, another poor season is predicted for the Huddersfield Giants who finished ninth in 2021 with nine wins from 24 games. Ian Watson’s men did put together a good run of form towards the back end of the season with Will Pryce and Oliver Russell pulling the strings, but the weight on those two youngsters will be immense in 2022. Lucky for them then that Watson has brought in Tui Lolohea and Theo Fages from Salford Red Devils and St Helens respectively. However, after finding problems with consistency too many times in 2021, it is unclear whether or not Watson can steer the Giants into the play-offs.

11. Salford Red Devils

Predicted to finish exactly where they ended the 2021 Super League season, the Salford Red Devils are in a rebuilding stage. Paul Rowley is the new head coach following the departure of Richard Marshall, whilst Marc Sneyd and Brodie Croft are the eye-catching recruits hoping to propel Salford up the table. However, it may take a while for the halfback duo to gel having never met before, plus we may see what happened to Huddersfield in 2021: that it takes time for a new coach to put his stamp on a squad that he is taking control of for the first time.

12. Toulouse Olympique

Every new Super League side will probably always be predicted to finish bottom, it’s just how it goes. Like the London Broncos in 2019, though, Toulouse will not go down without a fight so prepare for some shock results along the way. The French side’s hopes of staying in the top-flight will largely depend on the success of Johnathan Ford and Mark Kheirallah in taking to the Super League, though they do have a lot of top-flight experience in their ranks with the likes of Lloyd White and Harrison Hansen. However, it could be a tough baptism of fire for Toulouse.

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