With the start of the 2021 Betfred Super League campaign just days away, we take a look at each individual team and some of their key players..
Castleford Tigers
Rocked by the news that head coach Daryl Powell will leave his post at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle when the 2021 campaign comes to a close, this season will be his ninth and final shot at silverware for the Tigers.
Having come within touching distance of claiming the big prize in 2017 when they lost to Leeds Rhinos in the Grand Final, Castleford have dropped off since lifting the League Leaders Shield that year.
Much of the squad that reached Old Trafford have now departed Castleford, particularly standout players Luke Gale and Zak Hardaker, and more recently Mike McMeeken and Junior Moors.
But in Powell’s bid to bring silverware to the club in his farewell year, the Tigers have recruited smartly, bringing in lively fullback Niall Evalds.
Star Man: Paul McShane
Like a fine wine, Paul McShane seems to get better with age. So much so, the 31-year-old won the 2020 Steve Prescott Man of Steel award. The hooker is steely in defence and is dangerous in attack.
One To Watch: Jacques O’Neill
Perhaps the man in Castleford’s grand masterplan to replace McShane in future years is Jacques O’Neill, who has demonstrated his capability at Super League level in the last 12 months. After benefitting from loan spells at Leigh and Halifax, the no-nonsense young hooker looks a real livewire.
Catalans Dragons
Last season’s Betfred Super League semi-finalists are looking to have another crack at making history in 2021.
Striving to build on their 2018 Challenge Cup triumph, Steve McNamara’s men have made steps in the right direction recently as they look to add to their trophy cabinet, but this year the French outfit will have to do it with a much thinner squad.
Star Man: Sam Tomkins
Without a doubt, the English fullback makes things happen when he’s in the Catalans side. But in and out of the squad in the last couple of years through injury, Sam Tomkins has struggled to build any real consistency. Nonetheless, the 31-year-old is a threat anywhere on the field.
One To Watch: Alrix Da Costa
Michael McIlorum may be the Dragons’ first choice hooker, but their back up option Alrix Da Costa has proved to be a real handful on the numerous occasions he has stepped up to the mark. Whilst he may not feature in every game this season, keep an eye out for their homegrown number nine, always looking to burrow over the try line from close range.
Huddersfield Giants
The side Hull FC will be looking most closely at is Huddersfield at the moment. Their Round One opponents will be tough to predict ahead of Sunday’s season opener, given that the Giants have a new head coach and nine new recruits.
The highly regarded Ian Watson has taken over the coaching hot seat at the John Smith’s Stadium, and his tenure got off to a good start when Huddersfield saw off Leeds in a pre-season friendly just under a fortnight ago.
Watson guided his old club Salford to both the Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final in the last two years, so the Huddersfield fans are waiting with bated breath to see if their team can reach one of the big stages later in the year.
Star Man: Aidan Sezer
One of the favourites for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award last season, Aidan Sezer proved to be a very smart bit of business by the Giants in 2020. The former Canberra pivot was instrumental in the Giants’ late push for a play-off spot.
One To Watch: Oliver Ashall-Bott
Brought to the John Smith’s Stadium by former coach Ian Watson, there’s no doubt that the 23-year-old is held in high regard. Ashall-Bott is a fullback but he can also operate as an outside back, utilising his quick feet and lightening pace.
Hull Kingston Rovers
After finishing bottom of the pile in 2020, Tony Smith’s men will be on the prowl for better fortunes this year, and their big recruitment drive indicates that they may have a few more moments to savour in the coming months.
NRL imports Brad Takairangi, Albert Vete, Ryan Hall and Korbin Sims have all added a much-needed wealth of quality to the Robins’ squad, with only three wins mustered in total all season last term.
Star Man: Brad Takairangi
Perhaps the most recognisable of their 2021 recruits, Takairangi arrives in East Yorkshire with both international and representative experience, having featured for the Cook Islands and the Maori All Stars. For the last five years, Takairangi was a staple of the Parramatta squad that qualified for finals footy in the NRL, so the second-rower will bring some extra ambition to this new-look Hull KR outfit.
One To Watch: Jez Litten
Former Hull FC youngster Jez Litten impressed many Rovers fans in his maiden year at KCOM Craven Park, with his trademark darts from dummy half and tenacious defending. The 23-year-old is still likely to play second fiddle to Australian hooker Matt Parcell this year, but Litten’s impact off the bench can expose tired defenders.
Leeds Rhinos
Despite winning their first Challenge Cup title in five years last season, Leeds fans couldn’t help but feel deflated after their side were dumped out of the Grand Final running by Catalans Dragons in the play-off eliminator.
Ex Hull FC coach Richard Agar will be all too aware of the expectations of his side, having brought powerful forwards Zane Tetevano and King Vuniyayawa to Emerald Headingley in the off-season.
The return of Kyle Eastmond to rugby league has raised eyebrows, too. The 31-year-old has spent a decade playing rugby union, including a brief spell in the England side. How will the former Saints halfback adjust back into the sport in which his career began?
Star Man: Konrad Hurrell
Weighing in at over 110kg, the Tongan international is without doubt one of the heaviest outside backs in the competition, and he will certainly make his presence felt. The 29-year-old may not be renowned for his pace, but there aren’t many tougher players to stop on their way to the try line from close range.
One To Watch: Luke Briscoe
A pre-season injury to Ash Handley could give Luke Briscoe the opportunity to show what he’s made of in the early rounds of Super League. The winger scored four tries last season, despite a run of inconsistent game time. His flashy pace and finishing qualities could help him get more points on the board this year. Leeds fans got a glimpse of that quality when he crossed the whitewash in a pre-season friendly against Huddersfield.
Leigh Centurions
After three years in the Betfred Championship, Leigh are back in Super League after a bid to return following Toronto Wolfpack’s departure from the top flight.
They have made big steps in developing their squad to be prepared for Super League, signing a total of 14 players.
Although they were seen off in a friendly by Warrington, the Centurions did manage to defeat last year’s Grand Final winners, St Helens, in a friendly the week prior.
Star Man: Ryan Brierley
Ryan Brierley is back at the club where his professional career got underway, making over a century of appearances and scoring almost 150 tries in his first spell at Leigh Sports Village. After a challenging year with Hull Kingston Rovers in 2020, the halfback will be pivotal in helping John Duffy’s side steer clear of the danger zone.
One To Watch: Keanan Brand
The 2019 Championship Young Player of the Year could play a big role in helping Leigh gain points this season. The 22-year-old centre/wing is a highly regarded youngster who is on loan at Leigh Sports Village from neighbouring side Warrington.
Salford Red Devils
Salford fans could be forgiven for feeling as though they are in uncharted territory in 2021, as they prepare to start a season under a new head coach for the first time since 2015.
Ian Watson became somewhat of a cult hero at the AJ Bell Stadium after guiding the Red Devils to a Grand Final and Challenge Cup final just a few years after avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth in 2016.
Former Saints assistant coach Richard Marshall is the new man in the hot seat at Salford. He’s managed to make a handful of smart signings that could keep the Red Devils in the running for the play-offs.
Star Man: Krisnan Inu
The former Widnes and Catalans outside back finished the 2020 campaign as one of the league’s top scorers. Not only that, but his deadly precision from the kicking tee landed him with Super League’s Top Gun award, finishing the year with an outstanding 91% success ratio from conversions. In those tight games, Inu could be a key player for Salford.
One To Watch: Matty Costello
As a young centre at Saints, playing under Kevin Naiqama and Mark Percival wasn’t giving Matty Costello too much game time, but maybe he will have the opportunity to show the competition what he’s all about this season after completing a transfer to Salford, joining up with his former assistant coach Richard Marshall. Still, the 22-year-old did manage six tries during his time at the Totally Wicked Stadium, as well as scoring 14 tries whilst on loan at Sheffield and Leigh in the Championship.
St Helens
Back-to-back Grand Final winners St Helens will still be buzzing from their dramatic win over Wigan Warriors to close out last season.
A handful of NRL imports seem to have improved Kristian Woolf’s side even more, who will be targeting a hat-trick of Grand Final triumphs.
Joel Thompson, Agnatius Paasi and Sione Mata’utia all coming in will make the Saints a very tough side to beat.
Star Man: Jonny Lomax
Although Lachlan Coote was the league’s highest point-scorer in 2020, Jonny Lomax is the epitome of why you should never write off the Saints. His excellent footwork makes him a nightmare to tackle, whilst in defence he leaves everything out on the field.
One To Watch: Jack Welsby
After his Grand Final heroics at the KCOM Stadium last season, a lot of people will be keen to see how Jack Welsby gets on in 2021. The 20-year-old homegrown outside back made his breakthrough in 2018 and has scored 12 tries in 30 appearances for St Helens. As his maturity develops, the youngster could be looking forward to another season in the Redvee.
Wakefield Trinity
Injuries desperately blighted Wakefield’s 2020 campaign, with youngsters and academy products relied on several times last year. But a new year brings new hope for Trinity fans, who have a new halfback to look forward to seeing in action.
Former New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights scrum-half Mason Lino will team up with Australian stand-off Jacob Miller this season, a halfback partnership to whet the appetite of many rugby league fans.
Of course, expect the flying winger Tom Johnstone to be on the end of some booming passes from the halves.
Star Man: Tom Johnstone
He has quite the showreel. One of rugby league’s most acrobatic talents, Johnstone is one of the deadliest finishers in the world, let alone Super League. Not only is he a great finisher, but he also has great footwork and can put his foot on the accelerator to race away from defenders.
One To Watch: Innes Senior
This is Innes Senior’s second loan spell at Wakefield, after the winger was drafted in during the 2020 campaign to help out with their injury problems. The 20-year-old scored four tries in just seven appearances, including a spectacular length-of-the-field effort as he outran Regan Grace – one of the competition’s fastest players.
Warrington Wolves
Warrington’s hopes of reaching the Grand Final in 2020 were dashed by the Black & Whites in the play-off eliminator, so the Wolves will be out to prove a point this year, especially with Steve Price entering his final year in charge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Stefan Ratchford, Blake Austin, Gareth Widdop and Daryl Clark make up one of the league’s deadliest spines, whilst there is danger on either edge.
Star Man: Greg Inglis
The high-profile signing of Greg Inglis caught the eye of every Super League fan, with the former Queensland centre joining the Wolves on a one-year deal. Considered to be one of the best outside backs of one of the modern era, Inglis will have a lot to live up to when he makes his Super League debut this year.
One To Watch: Matty Ashton
The 22-year-old was one of the brightest youngsters on show last season, scoring nine tries in just 12 appearances in his maiden year in Super League after Warrington brought him in from Championship side Swinton. The fullback has lightening pace, as well as demonstrating neat footwork.
Wigan Warriors
Their agonising defeat in last year’s Grand Final left Wigan fans reeling in despair after being beaten by bitter rivals St Helens in the last play of the game, so expect the Warriors to be out to prove a point in 2021.
With several players moving on, Wigan have spent big on bringing two quality players through the doors of the DW Stadium; Jai Field and former Warriors forward John Bateman, fresh from a quality two-year spell with Canberra Raiders in the NRL.
Now without a trophy since 2018, Adrian Lam will be desperate to guide his team back to glory this season.
Star Man: Bevan French
In terms of the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award, Bevan French was pipped to the post by Castleford’s Paul McShane. French, one of the most exciting players to watch in Super League is a constant threat to defences. The former Parramatta fullback was listed in the Super League Dream Team last term, and he’ll be one of the favourites to be included once again.
One To Watch: Harry Smith
With such a devastating forward pack willing to do the ugly work, that often gives young halfback Harry Smith the time and space to work his magic. The former England Knights man made his debut under Adrian Lam in 2019 and has since featured on a more regular basis. He won’t necessarily feature on a weekly basis in 2021, but he’ll be eager to leave his mark when he is involved.
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