Who is the most successful team on Super League’s opening day?

James Gordon

Leeds are the most successful opening day team in Super League, having won an impressive 18 of their first round fixtures.

Only four clubs are ever presents – the Rhinos, St Helens, Warrington and Wigan – and enter their 23rd seasons in the top flight.

Of the 22 different teams to have played in Super League, only Paris St Germain have a better record than the Rhinos, having won 100% of their first round games – albeit only taking part in two.

Leeds’ 18 wins from 22 gives them a points average of 1.64 on opening day, greater than St Helens who have managed 15 wins and one draw (1.41 average).

Warrington have won 13, drawn one and lost eight, while Wigan have won 12, drawn two and lost eight.
That means Wigan are the least successful of the ever present four on picking up a win on the opening weekend.

Of the remaining Super League teams, Hull boast a record of 11 wins and two draws from 20 games (1.20 average), while Hull KR have four wins and two draws from 10 games (1.00 average).

The least successful team are Wakefield, with just six wins from 19.

Five teams have played in Super League and never won in the first round – Gateshead (one attempt), Leigh (two), Oldham (two), Sheffield (four) and Workington (one).

NB: For the avoidance of doubt, the only fixtures used were the designated Round 1 games – and not any games that may have been brought forward to accommodate World Club Challenge matches.

Played Wins Draws Losses Points PPG
Paris 2 2 0 4 2.00
Leeds 22 18 4 36 1.64
St Helens 22 15 1 6 31 1.41
Warrington 22 13 1 8 27 1.23
Bradford 19 11 1 7 23 1.21
Hull 20 11 2 7 24 1.20
Wigan 22 12 2 8 26 1.18
Halifax 8 4 4 8 1.00
Hull KR 10 4 2 4 10 1.00
Castleford 20 9 1 10 19 0.95
Huddersfield 19 9 10 18 0.95
Catalans 12 5 1 6 11 0.92
Salford 19 7 12 14 0.74
Widnes 10 3 1 6 7 0.70
Crusaders 3 1 2 2 0.67
London 19 6 13 12 0.63
Wakefield 19 6 13 12 0.63
Gateshead 1 0 1 0 0.00
Leigh 2 0 2 0 0.00
Oldham 2 0 2 0 0.00
Sheffield 4 0 4 0 0.00
Workington 1 0 1 0 0.00