Super 8s Round 1: Has the top four picture become clearer?

The Super 8s format promises a swinging pendulum throughout the seven rounds, but has the first round of games made the play-off picture clearer?

St Helens laid down a marker for the rest of the season with a 26-12 win at Castleford, the Tigers first home defeat of the year.

That win, coupled with results elsewhere, now has them in the top four in place of Salford, who lost a tricky assignment at Hull on Friday night.

The most significant result of the weekend perhaps was Leeds’ victory over Wigan, which now gives them a six point cushion on fifth place with 12 points to play for.

In the other game, Huddersfield kept their season alive with a win over Wakefield. Trinity could have lifted themselves in to the top four with victory.

The question is – will the current top four be the four in the play-off semi-finals?

Castleford are all but guaranteed their place, and Leeds aren’t too far behind now.

Hull are in form and would have to lose two games to drop out the four.

St Helens have won four on the spin and their win at Castleford is one to take note.

Of course, Salford, Wakefield and Wigan will all have different ideas.

The Warriors will be the most disappointed of the eight this weekend, they are now four points adrift of the top four and with a points difference that is significantly inferior to St Helens.

Next week now becomes a must win for Wigan, though there promises to be more twists and turns in the early stages of the Super 8s.

Next week fixtures: Wakefield v Leeds (Thurs), Salford v Castleford, St Helens v Hull, Wigan v Huddersfield (all Fri).