The top five halfback pairings going into the 2022 Super League season

There’s perhaps never been a time in Super League’s recent history so full of quality halfbacks more so than now. Virtually every team has a pair of halfbacks capable of guiding their side to the play-offs next season. This of course made putting this list together very difficult and this ranking could change constantly throughout the season as certain halfbacks shine and click at different times throughout what I’m sure will be an enthralling season. 

But going into the new campaign who is the competition’s best halfback pairing?

5. Mikey Lewis and Jordan Abdull – Hull KR

Hull KR’s halfbacks were at the centre of their play-off push last season. Jordan Abdull was a Man of Steel nominee whilst both Mikey Lewis and Rowan Milnes shone alongside him with great creativity. In the end, Lewis settled as Abdull’s partner and scored one of the tries of the season in Hull KR’s play-off triumph over Warrington with a superb chip over the top. With that level of creativity and attacking spark next to the complete game offered by England international Abdull, the pairing will be, alongside the rest of Hull KR’s mouth watering spine, a threatening force going into 2022.

4. Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer – Leeds

Leeds have brought in two former Man of Steel nominees going into next season. Blake Austin came very close to scooping the award in 2019 after scoring tries for fun for Warrington thanks to his running game and it is that running game which will compliment Aidan Sezer’s organisational skills. Sezer nearly won the Man of Steel after a brilliant first season in Super League in 2020 and he and Austin have already formed a brilliant pairing in the past making Canberra one of the best attacking sides in the NRL in 2016 and 2017 outscoring the entire league in 2016 as they finished in the top four.

3. Gareth Widdop and George Williams – Warrington

On paper, these two are perhaps individually the best two halfbacks in the league. Gareth Widdop is an NRL winner and was at the core of the England side for many years guiding them to the 2017 World Cup Final and he showed glimpses of that quality scoring tries for fun at the start of last season. Meanwhile, George Williams is a former Super League Champion and also caught the eye at Canberra in the NRL before making the return to Super League last season. Both are more than capable of winning the Man of Steel and are most certainly complete halfbacks with dangerous running games and organisational skills. If Daryl Powell gets them playing to their best, the pair could be unstoppable in 2022.

2. Jonny Lomax and Lewis Dodd – St Helens

Since returning to the halves full time in 2018, Jonny Lomax has been one of the most consistent performers in the league and has been the heart of St Helens’ recent success. A superb organiser with a fantastic creative spark, he’s capable of both winning a big game through the basics or through flashes of skill. Alongside him this year will be youngster Lewis Dodd. Already a Super League Champion, he inherits the number seven shirt this year and will likely continue his development in 2022 having already showed he has the makings of England’s next top halfback. He could be a real threat to sides in 2022 and beyond.

1. Mitchell Pearce and Josh Drinkwater – Catalans

Josh Drinkwater is perhaps the most underrated halfback in the league. Central to Catalans’ Challenge Cup win in 2018 as well as the Dragons’ success last year, no player registered more assists than the scrumhalf in 2021 as his short kicking game devastated teams weekly. Alongside him is State of Origin winner and NRL Champion Mitchell Pearce. Still at the top of his game, he should shine in Super League this year picking up where former teammate James Maloney left off.