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 Round’s Results:

• Wigan Warriors 46 – Hull KR 0 (Nathan – 3, Ian – 2)
• Castleford Tigers 6 – Catalans Dragons 34 (Nathan – 0, Ian – 1)
• Huddersfield Giants 30 – Leigh Leopards 18 (Nathan – 1, Ian – 0)
• St Helens 6 – Leeds Rhinos 34 (Nathan – 2, Ian – 2)
• Hull FC 14 – Warrington Wolves 16 (Nathan – 1, Ian – 0)
• Wakefield Trinity 28 – York Knights 12 (Nathan – 1, Ian – 2)
• Toulouse Olympique XIII 28 – Bradford Bulls 18 (Nathan – 3, Ian – 1)

Current Score: Nathan 220 – Ian 205

With just two rounds remaining, the top four look like they’re starting to become set, and it looks like the task for Ian is too great to wrench away the predictions contest from my grasp. Betting against my team was heartbreaking, but it worked gangbusters in the end as I got the first try scorer correct, which has undoubtedly helped me to pull further away.

The tie to kick off round twenty-six is a bit of a damp squib, truth be told. The only team with anything to play for is Bradford, in their attempt to avoid the wooden spoon, which would be easier if their team weren’t held together by masking tape and blind hope. Castleford will be keen to put this season behind them pretty sharpish, but I think they’ll have enough to get by the battered Bulls.

As the Bulls continue to lurch from one defeat to another, I can only really see a win for the Tigers, although I don’t think it will be easy for them in a West Yorkshire derby match. Part of my reasoning has got to be the fact that, after a defeat, Cas have come up with a few memorable performances not long after (remember Leeds?) Bradford have also just had a tough trip to France, which always presents its own issues, so I’m saying Castleford, but knowing the fragility and inconsistency of them, I also wouldn’t be surprised with a home victory for the Bulls; it is anybody’s guess!

Toulouse have shown themselves to be somewhat of a surprise package in 2026. True, they’ve never properly threatened the top six, but for a side with half the central funding, made up of mostly players that played for them in the Championship, they have done an extraordinary job in not only not being bottom like many pundits, myself included, expected of them, but to be breathing down the necks of their French rivals in 8th place! That being said, Hull have shown a lot more fight in recent weeks, and will no doubt be a tough challenge for the Olympians, but I think TO will make the most of home advantage on Friday evening.

Undoubtedly the French side go into this game as favourites and they will be happy to be at home for a 2nd game on the trot, but there is quite a stark warning facing them, and that is the fact that Hull FC are on the hunt of back-to-back wins in France having humbled Toulouse’s more illustrious near neighbours, before just being controversially squeezed out by the narrowest of margins against top 4 dwellers Warrington. Toulouse are a very attractive rugby team, and they can certainly rattle up points if you underestimate them, but the recent form of the Airlie Birds, while not being spectacular, should have some warning signs flashing, and if Sylvain Houles’ side are a bit overconfident, the Black & Whites have already proved they are capable of taking advantage.

Just like Hull will be a tough challenge for Toulouse, I expect Huddersfield to be an equally tough challenge for Hull’s nearest rivals, Hull KR, when the two sides meet on Friday night. You would have been forgiven not that long ago for writing this off as a cakewalk for the World Champions, but oh how times change. Rovers are on a three-game losing streak, and Huddersfield have their tails well and truly up after a run of great form. Ultimately, I went with my heart in calling a Robins victory, but I do think that the majority of the first team being rested will end up paying dividends here. Hopefully a refreshed side go out and re-capture their 2025 form? A man can dream.

I do believe Rovers will make it into the playoffs, but I expect it to be more because of the games Saints have lost/will lose in the process, as opposed to their own results. Jim Lenihan has got the Giants dancing to a particular tune and, after taking Nathan to see these two teams do combat earlier this season, I am now expecting a role reversal with Huddersfield now playing with more freedom and not feeling the oppressive pressure their opponents are currently facing.

The Leigh v Saints game is one to watch with particular interest, in my opinion, especially if Hull KR beat Huddersfield on the Friday. A Leigh win spells the end of Saints’ run of making the playoffs that stretches back decades, and a Saints win pushes them right back into the conversation, while putting the Leopards in jeopardy. However, of the two teams, Leigh are the one with their act together more (not to mention home field advantage), and I think the disjointed nature of Saints will be their downfall, and a Leigh win rules the Saints out of the playoffs.

After their unexpected defeat at Huddersfield last time out, I do expect the Leopards to return to winning ways, and effectively consign St. Helens to missing the Super League playoffs for the first time. It has to be said that Saints did stick with Leeds in an entertaining first half, before Leeds finally pulled away from them, and I think they could give Leigh some early issues, but I can only see Leigh running away with it in the second half against a Saints side that seems to resemble a patchwork quilt at the moment.

Wakefield are experiencing an almost catastrophic slide in form right now. Granted, they have just beaten York to maintain a grip on fourth, but losses in their final two games could well open the door for Rovers or Leigh (more likely Rovers, due to points difference) to sneak a home play-off from under Trin’s noses. It doesn’t help that their last two games are against fellow top four sides; this week sees Warrington arrive in shaky Wakey, and despite their narrow victory over Hull this past week, do not be mistaken, this is a galvanised team with the wind in their sails. Trin should probably start looking over their shoulders.

It’s fair to say the Trin have somewhat stuttered of late, and I think a Warrington team who are rather operating under the radar are likely to get over the top of them in this clash. Shaky Wakey may be an upwardly mobile club, with Daryl Powell providing the sort of foundations that he never did at Warrington, but the team in primrose and blue are just going through the gears at the moment and probably just have too much quality to call on for Wakey to deal with.

The goal for York in their first season in Super League would have undoubtedly been: don’t finish bottom. It’s looking ever more likely they will achieve this goal; with Bradford unlikely to pick up any more points, it’ll now be a nervy wait for the IMG rankings to be released for them. They have provided some memorable moments this season, but I don’t think they will in Catalans on Saturday. The French side are on their home turf, and just have far too much quality for a York side who are seriously flagging after their maiden Super League campaign.

Le Dracs will definitely want to draw a line under their last performance at home and give the Stade Gilbert Brutus something to cheer about, and they will be confident of that after they demolished Castleford darn’t lane. I have been impressed by the Knights in claiming a few scalps this season, but I think this could just be the proverbial game too far for them at this stage.

Now we come to the main event. The last match of the weekend is probably, in all likelihood, a straight shoot-out for the League Leaders’ Shield. Leeds have experienced a tremendous season with some great results, but this will be the game that tests their championship mettle. Unfortunately, for the Rhinos fans, I think Wigan have the edge in momentum and in their available players. It will be a battle, and it will likely be close, but I think Wigan edge it, and go one step closer to a second trophy this season.

I simply cannot see anyone stopping the Warriors juggernaut at this stage of the season. Wigan cruised past the Rhinos in their previous meeting without getting above 3rd gear and, with that element of home invincibility having now disappeared at the hands of Wigan’s nearest neighbours, as well as the occasional stuttering performance from the men in blue and amber, I can only see Wigan absolutely going for the jugular here and reclaiming their 2nd trophy back. Leeds did show some great quality to deal with a tricky opening quarter away to Saints last time out, but I can’t help but feel that, given a similar opening quarter, Wigan would be likely to have disappeared into the distance before Leeds even realise what is happening!

Nathan’s Picks:

• Bradford Bulls 10 – Castleford Tigers 24. First try scorer: Krystian Mapapalangi
• Toulouse Olympique XIII 32 – Hull FC 22. First try scorer: Thomas Lacan
• Hull KR 28 – Huddersfield Giants 20. First try scorer: Arthur Mourgue
• Leigh Leopards 38 – St Helens 12. First try scorer: David Armstrong
• Wakefield Trinity 12 – Warrington Wolves 30. First try scorer: Matty Ashton
• Catalans Dragons 26 – York Knights 12. First try scorer: Charlie Staines
• Leeds Rhinos 18 – Wigan Warriors 22. First try scorer: Adam Keighran

Ian’s Picks:

• Bradford Bulls 12 – Castleford Tigers 24. First try scorer: Jason Qareqare
• Toulouse Olympique XIII 12 – Hull FC 32. First try scorer: Davy Litten
• Hull KR 18 – Huddersfield Giants 32. First try scorer: Sam Halsall
• Leigh Leopards 36 – St Helens 18. First try scorer: Josh Charnley
• Wakefield Trinity 14 – Warrington Wolves 26. First try scorer: Albert Hopoate
• Catalans Dragons 30 – York Knights 12. First try scorer: Tommy Makinson
• Leeds Rhinos 16 – Wigan Warriors 24. First try scorer: Jake Wardle

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Hull KR fan) and Ian Judson (site contributor & Hull FC fan)