Love Rugby League’s predictions for Super League 2023
Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The Love Rugby League team have made their predictions for Super League 2023, including Grand Final, Challenge Cup and Man of Steel winners.
It’s the dreaded time of the year for us journos because we get battered in the comments for our predictions! Anyway, our tin hats are on and it’s time to get into our predictions (I wish we didn’t have to do this).
Our 2023 Super League predictions:
James Gordon (editor)
1. St Helens
2. Wigan
3. Huddersfield
4. Leeds
5. Catalans
6. Warrington
7. Salford
8. Hull
9. Castleford
10. Hull KR
11. Leigh
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: St Helens
League Leaders’ Shield: St Helens
Challenge Cup: Huddersfield
Man of Steel: Brodie Croft
After winning four in a row, St Helens should rightly start the season as favourites even after a change in coach. Huddersfield look to have recruited a very strong squad with plenty of depth, while Wigan should be there or thereabouts.
Despite their Grand Final appearance last season, Leeds are still in that clutch of teams who are looking to bridge the gap between the top and the rest. Warrington will do a lot better than last year (not hard), and there’s not much to choose between teams 4-10.
Leigh have a far better chance of staying up in previous years and Wakefield are the ones at risk – it would be sad for them to go down in the year they finally get their stadium sorted.
Drew Darbyshire (deputy editor)
1. St Helens
2. Wigan
3. Warrington
4. Catalans
5. Huddersfield
6. Salford
7. Leeds
8. Hull FC
9. Hull KR
10. Castleford
11. Leigh
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: Wigan
League Leaders’ Shield: St Helens
Challenge Cup: St Helens
Man of Steel: George Williams
I reckon it’s going to be another season of St Helens dominance, but there’ll be a twist. I think Saints will win the League Leaders’ Shield and the Challenge Cup but will be denied of their fifth successive Grand Final by rivals Wigan.
But I don’t think a St Helens or Wigan player will win Man of Steel. Warrington have made some huge signings in the forward pack, so I think George Williams will produce his best rugby playing behind them. Williams is a class act, a box-office type player. He’s my tip for Man of Steel.
Josh McAllister (journalist)
1. St Helens
2. Wigan
3. Leeds
4. Huddersfield
5. Hull FC
6. Warrington
7. Catalans
8. Hull KR
9. Salford
10. Castleford
11. Leigh
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: St Helens
League Leaders’ Shield: St Helens
Challenge Cup: Wigan
Man of Steel: Jai Field
It’s hard to look past Super League history-makers St Helens once again in 2023. Even with a new head coach in charge with Paul Wellens, it’s a champion squad who have winning in their DNA.
Huddersfield have a strong squad on paper, but I worry it could take a few rounds for them to click properly and reach their full potential.
I don’t think anyone else has tipped Hull for a play-off place, but under Tony Smith’s guidance, that team on paper with the likes of Jake Clifford and Tex Hoy should really be winning more than they’re losing this year.
James Messenger (journalist)
1. St Helens
2. Warrington
3. Wigan
4. Huddersfield
5. Castleford
6. Leeds
7. Catalans
8. Hull FC
9. Leigh
10. Salford
11. Hull KR
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: St Helens
League Leaders’ Shield: St Helens
Challenge Cup: Warrington
Man of Steel: George Williams
Despite many clubs strengthening over the off-season, it’s hard to look past St Helens recording a fifth successive Grand Final win.
Following a high player turnover, the pressure will also be on for Warrington and head coach Daryl Powell as they look to make drastic improvements following an underwhelming 2022 campaign.
I expect Castleford to be one to watch this season after some handy recruitment which included the arrival of Jacob Miller and Gareth Widdop, who will be hoping for an injury-free season.
Steven Hughes (journalist)
1. Wigan
2. St Helens
3. Leeds
4. Huddersfield
5. Salford
6. Catalans
7. Warrington
8. Hull FC
9. Castleford
10. Hull KR
11. Leigh
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: St Helens
League Leaders’ Shield: Wigan
Challenge Cup: Huddersfield
Man of Steel: Bevan French
I still believe St Helens will be the benchmark this year. There may be a small adjustment period with Paul Wellens as head coach, but its a squad that’s still got plenty of world class talent.
I think it’ll be an open field, with Wigan, Leeds and Huddersfield all in the mix, and I think Wigan may just pip Saints to the League Leaders’ Shield, they will still win at Old Trafford.
As for the play-offs, I think it’ll be another close call, with plenty of teams thinking they’ll be in there. Catalans will get the final spot at the expense of Warrington for me. Salford should be comfortable if the likes of Brodie Croft stay fit.
The two Hull clubs and Castleford I think will be comfortably mid-table. I can’t see any of them getting into relegation trouble, but don’t think they’ll be able to maintain a play-off push.
Meanwhile, at the bottom, I think it will be a straight fight between Leigh and Wakefield. But while I think Leigh are on a bounce after their record-breaking season, last season was a close shave for Wakefield, and I think the strain of that will ultimately prove too much.
George Riley (podcast host)
1. St Helens
2. Wigan
3. Salford
4. Warrington
5. Leeds
6. Catalans
7. Huddersfield
8. Hull FC
9. Castleford
10. Hull KR
11. Leigh
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: St Helens
League Leaders’ Shield: St Helens
Challenge Cup: Salford
Man of Steel: Jack Welsby
I don’t see any side breaking past the big two, but expect Salford to go well again if they can steer clear of injuries, and Warrington to be much-improved. Leeds will be dangerous in the play-offs but I don’t yet see them as a top four side. I don’t like predicting another tough season for Wakefield, but I can’t see how it won’t be.
Ben Roberts (graphic designer)
1. St Helens
2. Wigan
3. Salford
4. Leeds
5. Castleford
6. Catalans
7. Huddersfield
8. Warrington
9. Hull FC
10. Leigh
11. Hull KR
12. Wakefield
Grand Final: St Helens
League Leaders’ Shield: St Helens
Challenge Cup: Wigan
Man of Steel: Jack Welsby
I see Saints and Wigan running away as the top two in Super League this season, with Saints just coming out on top.
Salford will build on a strong 2022 and finish well, with Leeds and Castleford having strong seasons, if they can avoid injuries to key personnel.
I reckon Leigh will have enough to avoid the drop and will silence a few critics. Finally, I see Wakefield struggling and will ultimately be unable to avoid finishing bottom.
How do you think the season will pan out? Let us know your predictions in the comments below.
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