The Top 50 Super League Players: 50-41

Super League is truly blessed with talent at the moment with top tier signings arriving from Down Under, great youngsters coming through the ranks and every club being able to boast at least one standout player.

So, over the next few weeks we’re going to rank the 50 best players in Super League starting today with the players from 50-41.

50 Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)

Last year’s Super League Young Player of the Year truly proved he has a special future ahead of him in 2020. The Rhinos number three dramatically improved defensively producing some very complete performances against the likes of Warrington and Huddersfield pocketing England centre rivals like Toby King. His performances certainly caught the eye of Shaun Wane with the youngster being drafted into the England squad despite his age. Unfortunately, his season was curtailed by a brutal leg-break but should he get back on track next year and continue to develop, he could soon shoot up this list.

49 Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)

Warrington’s number 11 is one of the most dynamic second-rowers in Super League. If you ever let Currie have an inch of space, you’ll regret it. His pace and power make him a danger close to the line but also from deep. He’s a worker too, always helping the Wire in the forward battle tackling everything that moves and offering the hard yards.

48 Kelepi Tanginoa (Wakefield Trinity)

It was as if Tanginoa had come from nowhere to claim his place in the Dream Team last season. He was one of the few high points in a disappointing campaign for Trinity and was certainly key in guiding the West Yorkshire outfit to some late-season victories to give them optimism going into 2021. Should he continue his 2020 form, he could very well help Trinity to a much better campaign.

47 Ricky Leutele (Huddersfield Giants)

Leutele captured plenty of attention at Toronto last season. The centre was always a standout performer for the Wolfpack in their inaugural and all too brief Super League campaign. Even though they failed to notch a win, Leutele was a consistently great performer and deserving of a move to Huddersfield who, with their off-season recruitment, look a real dark-horse for Super League success this season.

46 James Bentley (St Helens)

The young Saints second-row wasn’t a player many were talking about going into the 2020 campaign. But soon enough the former Bradford back-row cemented himself in the Saints side so much that he started their Grand Final victory against Wigan. In many ways, he’s the perfect modern second-row matching physicality with skill. I can’t wait to see him come up against the likes of John Bateman this season.

45 Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)

Johnstone is undoubtedly one of the best try-scorers in Super League and more than deserves a place in the top 50 players in the competition. No one can quite finish a try like he can, with acrobatic finish after finish where he has no right to score. Add to that his sublime pace and you have a top-draw winger. It has been a shame to see him struggle with injuries over the last few years, but should he find consistent form and fitness in 2021 he could be knocking on the door for England’s World Cup squad.

44 Marc Sneyd (Hull FC)

Since guiding the Black and Whites to back-to-back Challenge Cups, claiming a pair of Lance Todd trophies in the process,, Sneyd’s career has somewhat stagnated. The halfback has often been blighted by the inconsistencies that have derailed Hull in the last three seasons. When on song, few are better than the ex-Salford half but for me he needs to nail down some consistency to warrant being any higher on this list.

43 Jake Wardle (Huddersfield Giants)

Last season, Wardle’s form was drumming up interest from Down Under and that says it all. The 22-year-old somewhat quietly burst onto the scene in 2018 and has steadily improved ever since, matching work-rate with the traditional flair of a centre. He was a key component in a relatively successful season for Huddersfield last campaign and I fully expect him to continue to improve in the years to come.

42 Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons)

Last year, both Davies and Catalans took a gamble on the deal to bring the former Wigan wing to the South of France. Davies had struggled with injury and subsequently failed to properly settle at Wigan despite a positive start to life at the DW. The move to France certainly brought the best out of him as he went onto score 12 Super League tries last season which left him joint-second in the try scoring charts. If he continues his form into 2021, I imagine he’ll be in the conversation for the top scorer award again.

41 Regan Grace (St Helens)

From one winger to another, the Welsh wizard on Saints’ left is often overlooked in favour for wing-partner Tommy Makinson but he himself oozes quality. With flair and pace he can score tries of all kinds and is a delight to watch. Last season he produced one of the finest individual performances you’ll ever see with a truly complete hat-trick against Leeds at Headingley. He’s now won two Grand Finals and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him claim more in the years to come.