Super League 2020: St Helens and Wigan fancied to lead the way
With a few weeks to go before the start of the 2020 season excitement is mounting amongst Super League fans.
St Helens swept all before them last year, finishing 16 points clear of the pack during the regular season before going on to beat Salford Red Devils in the Grand Final.
The new campaign will begin on Thursday, January 30, with Wigan Warriors hosting Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium. Read on as we preview the 2020 Super League season.
Saints the team to beat once again
Justin Holbrook built an entertaining team that was a class apart in the league last season, although they did come up short in the Challenge Cup Final against Warrington.
Kristian Woolf has replaced Holbrook as head coach after spending the past five seasons in charge of the Tongan national team.
Assuming the players adapt to Woolf’s methods, it would be a brave move to back against Saints enjoying another hugely successful campaign.
Warriors aiming to bounce back
Wigan finished second behind Saints during the regular season, although 11 defeats in 29 games highlighted their inconsistencies.
The Warriors ended the campaign in disappointing fashion, blowing two chances to reach the Grand Final against Saints and Salford.
Head coach Adrian Lam has been busy improving his squad this winter, with the signing of Jackson Hastings from Salford undoubtedly the standout addition.
Mitch Clark, George Burgess and Mitch Clark are other notable acquisitions for Wigan and they should finish much closer to Saints this time around.
Warrington and Hull in the mix
Warrington finished fourth last term and will be confident of closing the gap on the top two this time around.
Gareth Widdop and Blake Austin will be a formidable pairing for Wolves, while Anthony Gelling could be a shrewd addition if he can rediscover his best form.
Hull will also be keen to kick-on after finishing sixth last season and the return of Mahe Fonua gives them every chance of doing that.
Manu Ma’u and Josh Jones are other impressive additions, leaving Hull’s current squad looking much stronger than was the case last season.
Huddersfield set for tough campaign
Salford may struggle to repeat last season’s heroics, but it would be no surprise to see them sneak into the top five ahead of some stiff competition.
Catalans Dragons, Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity will be keen to challenge the leading teams, but filling the places in the middle of the table looks a more likely outcome.
Newly-promoted Toronto Wolfpack’s signing of Sonny Bill Williams is a big statement of intent, but they are likely to find things difficult on their step up to Super League.
Hull KR and Huddersfield Giants narrowly avoided bottom spot last season and the latter are fancied to fill that place this term.