The Rules:

• Each person predicts the results of every Super League match.
• Predicting the correct winner will get you 1 point.
• If the predictor’s scoreline has the same winning margin, then 4 points will be awarded (only if the predicted winning team is correct).
• Correctly predicting the exact score will win you an additional 5 points.
• Two bonus points will be awarded if the first try scorer is predicted correctly, whereas 1 point will be awarded if the selected player scores during the match.

Last Week’s Results:

• York Knights 19 – Hull KR 18 (Nathan – 0, Ian – 0)
• Catalans Dragons 26 – Huddersfield Giants 10 (Nathan – 2, Ian – 0)
• Leigh Leopards 26 – Leeds Rhinos 14 (Nathan – 0, Ian – 0)
• Warrington Wolves 24 – St Helens 14 (Nathan – 0, Ian – 0)
• Hull FC 27 – Bradford Bulls 20 (Nathan – 1, Ian – 2)
• Wakefield Trinity 16 – Toulouse Olympique XIII 18 (Nathan – 0, Ian – 0)
• Castleford Tigers 16 – Wigan Warriors 26 (Nathan – 1, Ian – 2)

Current Score: Nathan 4 – Ian 4

It was a weekend of shocks and near-misses in Round 1 of the 2026 Betfred Super League. It was also a week of shocking inaccuracy as far as our predictions went, with four out of the eight matches scoring zero points for both of us (which I’m willing to bet is some kind of record). So, with the scores level at four points apiece, will this just be a case of first-round rust for certain teams, or a worrying sign of things to come?

The round got off to a blockbuster start with the biggest shock of the round (and probably the biggest Super League shock in years), when newly-promoted York Knights beat the reigning champions Hull KR 19-18. The treble winners were off the pace all game and were lucky to get their noses in front just after half-time. The champions looked to have more control at around the sixty-minute mark as they held an 18-6 lead over the gallant Knights, but a turning point came when Mikey Lewis was sin-binned for a cynical trip. York took advantage of having an extra man, scoring two tries in quick succession, both converted by club captain Liam Harris, to bring them level with six minutes remaining. Soon after this, Ata Hingano slotted over a drop goal to score York’s most famous victory of the modern era.

There were three Super League games on Friday night, the first of which took place in a mudpit in the South of France, as Catalans overcame the torrential rain to score a routine 26-10 victory over the Huddersfield Giants. The Giants were without key man Adam Clune again, and despite a few moments of promise, failed to trouble their opponents from Catalonia. Catalans, for their park, looked much brighter than they did for most of last season, with some of their new recruits shining in their first taste of Super League rugby. New half back pairing of Toby Sexton and Lewis Dodd, in particular, look like they could cause teams a lot of problems this season.

Next up was a clash of two teams that a lot of people have tipped to be fighting it out at the top of Super League this year, as the Leigh Leopards hosted the Leeds Rhinos. It was the Leopards who came out on top of an occasionally ill-tempered affair, running out 26-14 winners. Leythers favourites Lachlan Lam and Edwin Ipape were on top form on the night, as Leeds faltered without star man Jake Connor.

Staying in Lancashire for the third and final game on Friday night, we witnessed another, admittedly lower-key, shock result, as the Warrington Wolves defeated St Helens 24-14 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. It was a star-making evening for young full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, as the nineteen-year-old scored a scintillating solo try, leaving his opposite number Jack Welsby for dead in the process. The Wire faithful will no doubt hope for many more performances like that this season if they hope to better their 2025 season, where they finished a disappointing eighth.

Saturday saw the other two promoted teams in action as Bradford travelled to Hull to face the Black and White half of the city, and Toulouse made the trip to Wakefield. Despite being the only newly-promoted side not to win in Round One, no one can say that Bradford didn’t give it their all, fighting Hull FC all the way in a very entertaining 27-20 FC victory. Bradford led several times throughout the game, but ran out of steam somewhat in the last 5-10 minutes as Hull sealed the win via a Will Pryce drop goal, and a late Cade Cust try.

Meanwhile, in West Yorkshire, Toulouse made it two for two for the French teams and two from three for the new boys of Super League by beating Wakefield Trinity in their own backyard. A star display from Olly Ashall-Bott helped Olympique to an opening day victory, their first match in the top-flight since their single-season jaunt in Super League back in 2022. They will be hoping to continue their good start when they face Wakefield’s bitter rivals Castleford this coming weekend.

Last, but by no means least, Sunday saw the Wigan Warriors travel to Castleford to take on a new-look Castleford side, boosted by several signings from Down Under, and new coach Ryan Carr. Unfortunately, those new faces were not enough to defeat the Warriors, who ran out 26-16 winners.

Nathan’s Picks:

• Bradford Bulls 12 – Catalans Dragons 24. First try scorer: Charlie Staines
• Leeds Rhinos 30 – York Knights 18. First try scorer: Harry Newman
• St Helens 18 – Leigh Leopards 12. First try scorer: Tristan Sailor
• Toulouse Olympique XIII 20 – Castleford Tigers 12. First try scorer: Darnell McIntosh
• Wigan Warriors 24 – Hull FC 18. First try scorer: Zack Eckersley
• Huddersfield Giants 10 – Wakefield Trinity 28. First try scorer: Max Jowitt

Ian’s Picks:

• Bradford Bulls 18 – Catalans Dragons 24. First try scorer: Caleb Aekins
• Leeds Rhinos 28 – York Knights 12. First try scorer: Brodie Croft
• St Helens 20 – Leigh Leopards 24. First try scorer: Lachlan Lam
• Toulouse Olympique XIII 22 – Castleford Tigers 18. First try scorer: Olly Ashall-Bott
• Wigan Warriors 16 – Hull FC 28. First try scorer: Lewis Martin
• Huddersfield Giants 16 – Wakefield Trinity 22. First try scorer: Cameron Scott

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Hull KR fan)