Top five current centres in Super League

One of the top centres in Super League had a difficult day yesterday. Adam Keighran, who has been one of Wigan Warriors‘ top performers this year after his move from the Catalans Dragons, received a red card in Wigan’s narrow win over an inexperienced Warrington side, in a warm-up for the Challenge Cup final.

With Keighran facing a likely ban, Wigan will have to do without one of Super League’s top performers over the last two seasons. Centre is a crucial position in any side, which makes Keighran’s likely ban a particularly significant blow for the Warriors.

In the modern game, centre has become a hybrid position. Top-quality players in that position are expected to have the speed and skill of the back, combined with the power and strength of a back-row forward. Wigan will potentially have to find a creative solution to Keighran’s absence.

Super League is blessed with a number of talented centres. Here are five of the best currently plying their trade in the competition.

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Toby King

Toby King has now re-established himself as a regular fixture in the Warrington Wolves side, although there were times in recent years when he could not take that for granted. Having broken into the Warrington side, he was a first-team regular until 2022, when he fell out of favour.

King was loaned to the Huddersfield Giants for part of the 2022 season, before impressing on loan with Wigan in 2023 during their Grand Final winning season. He returned to Warrington for 2024 and has been a regular under new head coach, Sam Burgess.

King has been an integral part of Warrington’s impressive start to the season. in 12 appearances so far for the Wire, he has three tries and two try assists. He has made 1121 metres with an average gain of 7.19 metres and 42 tackle busts. He sat out Warrington’s narrow defeat against Wigan at the weekend but will be back in contention for the Challenge Cup final.

With England’s mid-season international on the horizon, he will be hoping that his impressive start to the season will put him in the picture for a call up to the national team.

Peta Hiku

Hull KR have been one of the most impressive sides in Super League this season, and Peta Hiku has been essential to their success. Hiku joined the Robins ahead of the 2024 season and has made a flying start in Red and White.

Hiku has been ever present for KR this season, playing 13 times. He is a potent threat in attack, having registered nine tries and four try assists. He is also a tireless worker, having made 204 carries, making an impressive 1712 metres, with 48 tackle busts.

Hiku is also incredibly versatile. Whilst he has mainly featured as a centre for KR, he is also able to play at full back or on the wing. He is part of a deadly combination with Joe Burgess on Hull KR’s right edge. If there is one weakness in his game, it is his defence, which has been questioned at times.

However, having joined the Robins from the NRL, Hiku has proven to be one of the best attacking centres in Super League, and a key part of a thrilling Robins attack.

Jake Wardle

With Keighran missing from the side, the pressure will fall on Jake Wardle to pick up the slack in his partner’s absence. Thankfully, in Wardle, Wigan have one of the best in Super League in his position.

Having started his career with the Huddersfield Giants, he moved to Wigan before the 2023 season and immediately won silverware with the club. He was part of the Wigan side that won the 2023 Grand Final, picking up the Harry Sunderland Trophy for man of the match for his role in the win. He also played in the club’s 2024 World Club Challenge win against the Penrith Panthers.

Wardle has played 11 times for Wigan this season. although his scoring return is modest, with just two tries, he is a prolific creator for others, with seven try assists. He also has an impressive average gain per carry, at 9.27 metres.

Wardle has featured for England, appearing against the Combined Nations All Stars. If his form continues, that could add to that this year.

Esan Marsters

Huddersfield Giants have had a patchy start to the season so far. A strong April put them into play-off contention. However a difficult May saw them slide back into eighth place, and head coach Ian Watson come under scrutiny from their fans.

However, one of their shining lights has been Esan Marsters, who has proven to be a real find since joining the Giants in 2023. This season the Cook Islands international has been a crucial part of the Giants side, and has shone when the team have played well, specially in their famous win against the Leeds Rhinos.

Marsters has appeared 12 times for Huddersfield this season. In that time, he has scored four tries and made six try assists. He has a huge 224 carries for Huddersfield this year, averaging an 8.7 metre gain with each carry. Marsters has made 1949 metres, with 73 tackle busts and 21 offloads.

Marsters will leave the Giants at the end of the season, crossing the Pennines to join the Salford Red Devils. Huddersfield’s loss will certainly be Salford’s gain.

Matt Ikuvalu

The Catalans Dragons have a strong track record of bringing quality overseas recruits in from the NRL, and they have repeated this trick with Matt Ikuvalu. After spells with the Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla Sharks, Ikuvalu joined the Catalans side for the 2023 season.

Ikuvalu had a strong 2023, scoring five tries and making four try assists in 14 games in a season which saw the Dragons reach the Super League Grand Final. He has continued that form this season. In 12 appearances this season, he has scored three tries and created two, as part of a Catalans side which continues to challenge at the top end of the Super League table.

He has made 1121 metres in those 12 games, with 42 tackle busts and nine offloads. Ikuvalu has formed a strong partnership with winger Tom Davies and is certain to play a huge part in the Dragons’ push for silverware in 2024.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the Dragons will be keen to tie him down to extended terms.