Five way too early 2025 Super League predictions including Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR and Leigh Leopards

The start of the new Super League season is still seven weeks away, but the excitement is already starting to build. Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity played out their traditional Boxing Day fixture at Headingley this morning and next month’s schedule is jam-packed full of friendlies and testimonials.

As such, we’ll know more about teams in a month or so, when they’ve been given the time to ready themselves for the month ahead and make the finishing touches to their preparations. Making any prediction at all is always difficult, especially at this time of year, but as it’s Christmas, we’ve put our necks on the line to make five way too early predictions for 2025.

St Helens to bounce back

There’s been a bit of change at the Totally Wicked Stadium over the off-season with additions being made on and off the field to prevent another season like 2024. Lee Briers and Eamon O’Carroll have joined Paul Wellens’ coaching ranks, while Tristan Sailor, Kyle Feldt and Lewis Murphy look to be three astute signings.

Sailor is desperate for the chance to show what he can do on a weekly basis and it seems as though he’ll be playing alongside Jonny Lomax in the pivots, while Feldt looks like the ideal replacement for Tommy Makinson on paper. Other key men have left, but Saints will be hoping to fill those holes from within with some impressive talent emerging through the ranks and into the first-team picture at present.

After falling short of expectations last season, 2025 is big for Wellens, but if they can stay relatively injury free, they should have it in them to build a head of steam and finish inside the top four at the very least.

Wakefield Trinity to compete for top six

Momentum is so important in rugby league and Wakefield Trinity have it in abundance at present. The West Yorkshire side lost just one league game all season last time around as they proved too good for the second tier and they enter the Super League riding a wave of confidence and optimism under Daryl Powell.

They’ve got a tough start with Leeds, Hull KR, St Helens and Warrington Wolves to play in their opening four rounds, but they’ll fancy themselves to take an early scalp or two and kick on from there. Trinity are a club moving in the right direction one and off the field and while they are favourites to finish bottom of the table at present, if they can find some continuity, there’s no reason why they can’t target a play-off spot in 2025.

Only time will tell whether they have what it takes to actually climb into the top six, but seeing them go close isn’t beyond the realms of imagination.

Jake Connor to find his groove

Connor made the surprise move to Leeds Rhinos over the off-season and he’ll be determined to rediscover his best form and show what he’s capable of on weekly basis. At one point in time Connor was regarded as one of the brightest talents Super League had to offer and his form saw him earn a spot in the England squad.

He hasn’t been near the international picture for some time now though and justifiably so, with the versatile back struggling for consistency and solid form. As such, he makes the move to Leeds knowing that he needs to perform.

The signs are good, too, with Connor coming in for praise from Brad Arthur and scoring two tries in the Boxing Day win over Wakefield Trinity. He has what it takes to be a key man for Leeds in a number of positions this season and under Arthur’s guidance he might just realise that potential.

Leigh Leopards to come good late

The sheer amount of turnover in personnel at Leigh over the off-season makes it hard to see how the Leopards hit the ground running in the new year. Adrian Lam’s side lost a plethora of senior names and leaders at the end of the 2024 season with the likes of John Asiata, Tom Amone, Matt Moylan, Zak Hardaker and Kai O’Donnell moving on.

On paper it seems like Leigh have done a good job replacing them with signings from the UK and abroad being made. However, how quickly Lam can get them gelling remains to be seen and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the club stutter in the early rounds of the campaign.

They can absolutely compete for a spot in play-offs, though, and last season’s charge over the second half the Super League campaign will give them plenty of confidence.

Hull KR to end the drought

You have to lose a final before you can win one, as the old adage goes. Well, Hull KR have lost two in successive seasons and they’ll be doing all they can to make 2025 their year.

Rovers supporters have been starved of silverware since 1985 and having fallen agonisingly short at Old Trafford in October, the fire will burning in the bellies of Willie Peters’ side. Motivation and desire shouldn’t be an issue and with the club making a number of high profile recruits over the off-season, they’ll be confident that are now better placed to finally get their hands on a major trophy.

Whether that win comes at Wembley or Old Trafford is irrelevant really and given the squad they have assembled, taking that next step should be their only objective.