I suggested to Nathan that I would write a breakdown of each Super League team, their strengths and their weaknesses, plus their one to watch out for in the new season, so as promised, here goes.

Castleford Tigers:

Strengths:- The main strength for the Tigers is an obvious one, their pitch. There is no other pitch like it in the top flight and the Tigers are well known for using that to their advantage, especially against teams with new personnel, who are unfamiliar with it.

They also have great experience in their ranks, the likes of Joe Westerman, Liam Watts and a few others have been there and done it and they know exactly what is expected of them, especially their local contingent, such as the above named.

Weaknesses:- They have a rookie coach in Danny McGuire and that usually brings its own problems, not always, but quite often it does. Their failings were shown in obvious cases in pre-season against Wakefield Trinity and a youthful Hull FC, plus the Challenge Cup when they were knocked out of the tournament by Championship side Bradford Bulls.

For many years they were known as ‘Classy Cas’ because of their serious cutting edge in attack, however, that would certainly look to be in some doubt when, for instance, they were kept scoreless against a mainly Hull FC reserves team in the 2^nd half of the Joe Westerman testimonial game, although the caveat here is that they were trying to bed in a new half back partnership and, as I said in a match report, the passes that didn’t stick in that game, maybe do stick and create some tries further into the season.

What their extensive experience also brings is age, which inevitably brings more injuries and can create more disciplinary problems as well as older players can sometimes struggle with new rules in particular.

One To Watch: Judah Rimbu

Catalans Dragons:

Strengths:- They have a very big pack and, of course, as everyone knows they use the heat and humidity in the South of France to their advantage and deny clubs any chance of training there, so clubs have to make other arrangements.

They have the sort of resources that some clubs can only dream of and they use them very wisely, while bringing in some of the very best imports in particular. They have experience of the big games having featured at Old Trafford and Wembley in recent years.

Their ground is also very hostile, the French public are massively passionate about their Super League team and their hostility can help the home side win a game without any question. Some might even argue that, such is the atmosphere, some sides are beaten there before they even take to the pitch.

Weaknesses:- If things don’t go all their own way, the Dragons can be like any other side and get frustrated, but in their case, it happens far too easily, which can then put them in a downward spiral and they lose the will to fight for a win.

In this season, their age could particularly go against them, as good as they can be, with age comes frustration when certain things don’t work and yellow and red cards are certainly no strangers to the Dragons squad, which can and certainly have cost them games previously.

There are also a lot of egos in play in Perpignan and, as well as Steve McNamara seems to manage them, we have certainly seen plenty of evidence of the problems they can, and do cause.

One To Watch: Luke Keary

Huddersfield Giants:

Strengths:- They have the resources required, thanks mainly to the ownership of Ken Davy, they can go out and bring in whatever quality is required, as evidenced particularly with the capture of Thomas Burgess for the new season.

The Giants are known as a spoiler team, they stop teams playing the way they want and impose themselves on a match, sometimes they do this very effectively and if allowed to do so, they can be a handful for any team.

Once again, they have great experience in their squad, with players who have won the Grand Final either here or down under and in Leroy Cudjoe they have a captain that will lead by his actions, who could get the best out of the players around him.

Weaknesses:- Another rookie coach, Luke Robinson only took over towards the end of last season, so his first full pre-season and full season will be a whole new experience for him.

Unfortunately, the Giants have one of the worst followings in the league, crowds of about 3-4,000 just don’t cut it in the massive stadium they share with the football team, so an intimidating atmosphere is not something that any visiting team has to worry about there.

I’m trying not to read too much into it, but what I saw dished up from them in a pre-season game at Featherstone Rovers was certainly not Super League standard, however improvements will have to be made quickly and a lot could depend on what resources they have to replace players when injuries and suspensions start to bite, although that’s not to say that they don’t have young talent to step up to the plate, although having to enter the loan market to replace Adam Clune before the season starts does suggest otherwise.

One To Watch: Tui Lolohea

Hull FC:

Strengths:- The obvious strength for the Black & Whites is the impressive amount of young talent they have to call on should it be necessary, with the likes of Davy Litten, Logan Moy, Jack Charles, Denive Balmforth, Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron having gained much Super League experience in recent times, and now a new breed also coming to join them with players like Ryan Westerman, Joe Ward and twin brothers Callum and Lloyd Kemp having made their first team bows in recent times, varying from the end of last season, to Challenge Cup action last weekend, albeit against amateur opposition.

A host of new arrivals, including big names such as John Asiata, Zak Hardaker and NRL superstar Jordan Rapana have given this team a new feel and more direction to help the plentiful amount of young talent and in John Cartwright they have a new, very experienced coach who is very familiar with plenty of the new arrivals in the playing squad.

Another strength, if used correctly by the team from the MKM Stadium, is the famous Old Faithful support, who can intimidate any team, even on their own ground at times such are the masses that travel to watch their team away from home.

The positivity from the recent takeover by Andrew Thirkill and David Hood OBE, along with the rapidly improving facilities for the players and coaches also provide better resources, as well as a more professional approach, as viewed by myself and other members of the press during the long off-season.

Weaknesses:- Their number one problem in recent years has been a serious lack of a ruthless cutting edge, many a time the Airlie Birds have failed to pile on the points, particularly last year when they didn’t even reach the 30-point mark in any game.

Defence has also been a major issue that desperately needs addressing, with teams racking up 50+ scorelines against them far too often, at times it has been like watching a bunch of individuals just giving in, rolling over and letting their opponents tickle their belly.

Yet again I’m going to mention age as a problem, Hull have gone out and signed several players on the wrong side of 30, although the caveat here is that they certainly do have the young talent to draft into the first team when required, despite their horrendous experiences last year. However, when taking on some of the bigger, stronger, fitter teams, either/or can create problems, with either a dwindling energy in the older players, or the mistakes that were prevalent in the younger players last season, although that should be less of an issue now, there is still a way for them to go yet to get to exactly where they want to be.

One To Watch: Herman Ese’Ese

Hull KR:

Strengths:- They have a side full of quality, including current Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Mikey Lewis and new NRL superstar signing Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, plus Coach of the Year Willie Peters.

In recent years they have made their home ground Craven Park that much sought after fortress, with a home support to rival the very best and most intimidating, while making great strides off the pitch as well and regularly play to full houses now, rather than just when their near neighbours come to visit.

They also play an exciting brand of rugby, which many teams find difficult to deal with at the best of times, they have it in them to finish a match early by piling on the points and defending resolutely, which is why they have been competing in the higher echelons for the last few years.

Weaknesses:- They haven’t been a problem in recent years, but if they suffer many injuries/suspensions, it does leave you wondering where the replacements will come from, due to a very poor youth development, although this is seemingly on the mend now, if their youngsters were to be called on this season, you would still be concerned for them.

Another easy target about them is their inability to get over the line and close out the big, trophy deciding games having lost the Challenge Cup Final in 2023, as well as the LLS decider at Wigan and the Grand Final, also against the Warriors last season, yes it’s an achievement to be involved in them, but the title of ‘Big Game Bottlers’ has already been playfully banded around about them and another failure this year would only see that increase.

It also has to be said that they are an ageing team and, in my own humble opinion, without the likes of Ryan Hall and Matt Parcell, they are definitely weaker in areas than they were in 2024, with Tom Davies and Michael McIlorum being effective recruits, but not being of the same quality, also being further evidence with, for instance, the release of young hooker Reiss Butterworth showing the lack of confidence in the reserve grade and academy graduates, although that is still hard to judge at the moment.

One To Watch: Jez Litten

Leeds Rhinos:

Strengths:- They have some great creativity and have certainly added to their options in that department with the capture of former England international Jake Connor, although that is one signing that could go either way.

In Brad Arthur they have a very shrewd, experienced coach whose CV tells its own story and at Headingley, they have a vociferous and passionate home support which always turns out in big numbers and they can create an intimidating atmosphere if the team are playing well.

Bringing back Ryan Hall could prove to be a masterstroke, he is hero worshipped by the blue and amber fans and his professionalism and love for the club is one hell of a combination, especially if the Rhinos are struggling.

Weaknesses:- The former champions have flattered to deceive a lot in recent years, with some excellent talent coming through the door, but never reaching the heights expected, although in the cases of Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers they do still have time to succeed where others like Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin failed.

Their defence can be very suspect at times and their attitude can leave a lot to be desired, one minute they can have the fans crowing about their undoubted talent, and the next minute they can infuriate those same fans by trying things that just aren’t on and costing them points and ultimately more matches than not.

It remains to be seen, but Jake Connor, while absolutely brilliant on his day, can be a very disruptive influence on a team, something which has seen him jettisoned by both Hull FC and the club he originally returned to, Huddersfield Giants. If Brad Arthur can get the very best out of him, the Rhinos have an absolute magician in their ranks, but if his off-field antics and imperialist attitude continue, they have a major problem on their hands, there are no shortage of warnings about him in his career history.

One To Watch:- Ash Handley

Leigh Leopards:

Strengths:- They play an attractive game and when it works, it really works, as has been evidenced in recent years with the Challenge Cup won in 2023 and back-to-back playoffs reached, and with a particularly stirring run towards the end of last season.

Derek Beaumont has obviously put his hand in his pocket and provided resources like the Leythers fans had never seen before and it is more than just about the product on the pitch, with the club now in a very sound financial position and making money for themselves.

Having said all that, what they can put on the pitch obviously has played, and continues to play a big part in their recent successes, to the point that losing players such as John Asiata and Zak Hardaker has seen just as much quality welcomed at the club to replace them, boding well for another very competitive season.

Like Rovers they have also made great strides into turning the Leigh Sports Village into a fortress where certain teams definitely fear to tread, and significant developments to their matchday experience continue to make the LSV the place to be for their hungry for success home support.

Weaknesses:- Leigh are at the start of another journey, to create their own elite academy, rather than having the likes of Wigan just nicking the best young talent and turning them into superstars, however that will take time to develop.

What really showed up as a weakness for Leigh last year was their miserable start to the season, which saw them almost cut adrift as injuries took their toll and replacements were hard to manufacture without stepping into the market.

The other possible weakness for the Leopards is that, having seen their best forwards, Asiata, Kai O’Donnell and Tom Amone leave, along with several other players who will mostly be plying their trade at the MKM Stadium this season, they have had to bring in a lot of new players and getting so many to gel together could, like at Hull FC, be very difficult at first and it depends how long it takes Adrian Lam to do just that.

One To Watch:- Lachlan Lam

St. Helens:

Strengths:- They have been there, done it and invariably won it, although those successful times are maybe seeming a bit distant now by Saints standards.

They have the resources required for sustained success, as has been proved before and it will only be a matter of time before success and trophies are again resident at the Totally Wicked Stadium, especially if they stick with their coaching setup as it is now, faith in coaches has long been proved as important in any success at whichever club.

They have secured the services of the hugely talented Tristan Sailor, who is probably now on the brink of stepping out of the mighty shadow cast by his father Wendell, along with NRL superstar Kyle Feldt, to go along with a host of stars already at the club and the appointment of Lee Briers as assistant coach should get a misfiring attack hitting its targets again.

Weaknesses:- Saints do have a tendency to go into their shell if you can knock them off their stride and that has become somewhat easier for teams to do in recent years.

It remains to be seen if Jack Welsby, who has been handed the number 1 jersey again, continues with the experiment of playing at fullback, as the current England number 1 you would expect him to, but with Sailor in the Red V now, a more customary role in the halves could beckon for the Wigan-born lad, however if he continues at fullback, that is a definite weakness as any half decent kicking game has been shown to bamboozle him far too easily.

A decent attack will also cause problems for their defence, as shown in recent years even by struggling teams at times, however, if arguably the best fullback in Super League history can properly get to grips with that, while Briers sorts out the attack, they could be better, but again this will take time.

One To Watch:- Tristan Sailor

Salford Red Devils:

Strengths:- They have the best attack in Super League when they are on form and have a very astute, attack-minded coach, who regularly gets the very best out of them.

They are written-off time after time after time, this year being no different, and still come up with the goods and make the playoffs with almost monotonous regularity.

They have a great ‘Us Vs The World’ mentality and they play to it very effectively and they have the players to do exactly that, although it remains to be seen just how much their recent takeover effects that.

Many fans of other clubs say they are the easiest on the eye of all Super League teams and it is very easy to see why when they stick to what they know.

Weaknesses:- They don’t have a massive home support, the team can make a visit to the Salford Community Stadium rather hostile, but the home support deserves to be much better and bigger, certainly their crowds are not one that opposition players fear to play in front of.

They’ve has a very disrupted off-season while legal wrangles and the eventual takeover were the main feature of life for the players, who were at times apparently wondering if they would be getting paid.

On the pitch, if you get at Salford and keep them on the back foot, they will collapse and it maybe won’t take as long to happen as it inevitably does with other teams, get them in an arm wrestle and physically dominate their pack and you will probably get over the top of them.

One To Watch:- Nene Macdonald

Wakefield Trinity:

Strengths:- Their home ground is one of the most ‘unpleasant’ to visit, even with their new stand, in so much that the facilities are quite behind the times, but like near neighbours Castleford, they use the unpleasantness to their advantage, although recent developments promise much and it remains to be seen what standard they are at now after their year out of the top flight.

Trin also now have a new investor who has helped build the team back up to sweep all before them in the Championship last season and has given coach Daryl Powell the necessary to bring in some shrewd signing for this year and beyond.

The positivity at the club is obvious for all to see and there is a vibrancy that this famous old club were lacking in their campaign in 2023 and for some years before they finally succumbed to a relegation that many thought inevitable even before then.

Weaknesses:- They are, once again, the new-boys in the top flight and that inevitably has its own issues, along with a very new squad as well, which will take time to gel together and be singing off the same hymn sheet as it were.

They have a promising squad, but one which also has its injury problems, certainly in new faces such as Jake Trueman and Cam Scott, although if they can keep them fit, especially with the resources available to them, they have got some serious talent as well.

If they make a difficult start, they could be easily cut adrift as they try to adapt back to life in Super League, a lot will depend on how long they can keep the feel-good factor going and keep attracting a loyal fan-base, plus a few extra through the turnstiles, and their away form could mean the difference between a battle for the playoffs, or against the wooden spoon.

One To Watch:- Olly Russell

Warrington Wolves:

Strenghts:- They were at Wembley and should have been at Old Trafford in 2024, despite having a rookie coach who will have learnt a lot about his team in his first season as a head coach.

Wire obviously have the resources required and they are starting to produce more local talent, rather than relying on Simon Moran’s considerable bank balance to sign the very best in, as evidenced by talent like Leon Hayes and Josh Thewlis to name just two.

They attract five figure gates to pretty much every home game and their training facilities are 2^nd to none, they also have people behind the scenes who are very well versed in what they are doing and they leave no stone unturned.

They have a very talented squad who are always there (certainly as far as the Challenge Cup goes) or thereabouts and looking to make that last big leap to secure a Grand Final victory, having been close on occasion.

Weaknesses:- In previous years you would say they are a bunch of 13 individuals on the pitch, and that singularity with certain players does still exist, although not as much now.

As nice as the Halliwell Jones Stadium is, there is definitely not the fear factor there that you would expect for a top, competitive team, certainly as a Hull FC supporter, yes I’ve seen us take some beatings there, including a club record 80-10 defeat, however I have left there, smiling happily on several occasions, more often than I would have expected and I daresay that fans of most teams can say much the same and too often for the locals liking.

The Wolves certainly do seem to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders at times, they are everyone’s perennial contenders, but never quite get over the line at Old Trafford and, while it being their year is obviously a standing joke with every other clubs fans, it does seem like something of a shackle for them which they seem incapable of shaking off, which could in-turn effect their mentality as they approach each season.

One To Watch:- Matt Dufty

Wigan Warriors:

Strengths:- They are the best in the business and they will remain so in 2025 and probably for a few years yet.

They have the best squad, the best coach and the best youth development so they can call on their kids and make them almost instant stars.

They have every trophy in the cabinet now and I expect them to keep hold of all of them, not just because they are the best team, but because of their mentality and their ability to keep creating history, which is exactly why I’m tipping them to do what no team has ever done before in the Super League era, by winning the LLS, the Challenge Cup and the Grand Final in back-to-back seasons.

They are also very well supported at home and on the road, although their fans are maybe not the loudest, they certainly make enough noise when the team gives them reason, which they usually do.

Weaknesses:- Obviously there are not many, their professionalism doesn’t allow for it, but it does have to be said that, whenever they enter the city of Kingston Upon Hull, particularly on the black and white side, they have struggled more often than not, with Matty Peet unable to secure a single competitive win at the MKM Stadium since he took the reigns, and just two wins at Craven Park, one of those being a golden point win thanks to a Liam Farrell try, it has to be said generally when they leave Hull, it is with their tails firmly between their legs.

It is rare, but if a team can get ahead against the Warriors, they can find it difficult to chase a game at times, they are usually more confident if they are leading a game, rather than trying to make a comeback (although they have been known to make them inevitably) it is certainly a job they would rather not have to do.

One To Watch:- Junior Nsemba

Written by Ian Judson (site contributor & Hull FC fan)