How the 2020 Super League Table will end?
26 Nov 2019
I am expecting 2020 to be similar to 2019, with the relegation battle and play-off fight going right down to the wire, unlike last year, there will be no runaway leader and Wigan will just edge the league for the League Leaders' Shield.
1. Wigan Warriors
Adrian Lam has had a year to cement his playing philosophy into the current crop of Wigan Warriors players, towards the end of the 2019 season they looked like they could reach the Grand Final.
The club has plenty of youngsters coming through, with Morgan Smithies and Oliver Partington gaining crucial first team experience last year; and the experience of Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin and Tommy Leuluai will help guide them through the season.
Crucially, the club has arguably made the best signings with the addition of last year’s Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel winner, Jackson Hastings. Along with Hastings, Lam added George Burgess and Mitch Clark to boost the Wigan pack, and Jake Bibby following Hastings from Salford Red Devils.
2. St Helens
Kristian Woolf steps into a coaching role with a team already set in place for St Helens to challenge for another Grand Final win, the 2019 Champions are currently unchanged and at the moment there will be no additions to the 2020 squad.
Like Wigan, there’s plenty of experience to go along with the youngsters coming through the club, James Roby could share time to with Aaron Smith again this season to lighten the influential hookers workload.
They have arguably two of the best wingers in the league and a forward pack that sustains relentless pressure from the first minute to the last, it’s hard to see a fault in Saints side, but will they be able to adapt to any changes their new coach makes, if any?
3. Hull FC
Hull FC have rivalled Wigan with some of the most astute signings during the off-season, the signing of Mahe Fonua will boost the squad and their competition for places in the backs is fierce with the addition of Adam Swift to an already stacked winger position.
In addition to their current crop of forwards they’ve added Dally M Second Rower of the Year nominee, Manu Ma’u, he could go on to be the signing of the season. Alongside ‘The Tongan Terminator’, the Black and Whites have added Josh Jones who featured in the 2019 Super League Dream Team, Ligi Sao and Tevita Satae from New Zealand Warriors.
4. Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves have got two of the best halves in the competition with Blake Austin and Gareth Widdop set to join up with each other, they’ll miss the powerful running of Bryson Goodwin in the centres after he returned to South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Goodwins’ replacement is the enigmatic Anthony Gelling, and we could possibly see more of Luther Burrell in action this season; they have a strong pack which will help get them to the play-offs but nothing more.
Although their hooker, Daryl Clark, is one my contenders for the 2020 Man of Steel award, and he will be their most important player this season.
Ratu running riot 🌪??🔥
Powering all the way for @hullfcofficial against Wakefield in round 25 😲 #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/SAyybCTSRI
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) November 26, 2019
5. Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons announced the signing of one of Rugby League’s biggest stars, James Maloney from Penrith panthers. Just last year he was playing for New South Wales in the State of Origin Series.
The signing of James Maloney and re-signing of 2018 Challenge Cup winning half-back Josh Drinkwater will free Sam Tomkins up to play at full-back consistently, after contract rebel Tony Gigot opted not to sign with the club.
The Perpignan side have enough to get into the play-offs, the question surrounding the club will be whether they can consistently perform throughout the whole of the season and away from the south of France.
6. Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers will have a new half-back partnership with youngster Jake Trueman joined by former Saints player Danny Richardson.
Daryl Powell has added depth to his wing department with the signing of Sosaia Feki from Cronulla Sharks and Salford’s Derrell Olpherts.
Castleford’s biggest problem over the past two years has been the squad depth and injuries, Tyla Hepi and George Griffin are good additions to their pack, but they need a blockbuster signing to get them to Old Trafford again.
7. Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos announced the acquisition of Luke Gale from Castleford, however, questions will be asked whether the 31-year-old will be able to maintain his fitness to help Leeds challenge for the play-offs.
Harry Newman will challenge for the 2020 Young Player of the Year along with Wigan’s Smithies, whilst Trent Merrin and Konrad Hurrell will have an even bigger impact than last year.
The club are rumoured to be in talks with hooker, Kruise Leeming, and forward, Matt Prior who would be two valuable signings that could help them sneak into the final play-off position.
8. Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity will be boosted by the return of their star winger Tom Johnstone; they’ll challenge for the play-offs along with Castleford and Leeds in a closely fought competition but miss out.
Chris Chester made a double swoop for Alex Walker and Jay Pitts from London Broncos, as well as, Chris Green and Joe Westermann from Hull FC. Their key player will be Bill Tupou and his ability to take them up the pitch and gain valuable metres.
9. Salford Red Devils
2020 will be a transitional year for Salford, the loss of Jackson Hastings will be massive for the club, but with Ian Watson at the helm who knows what could happen.
He’s made some astute signings, especially in the pack with some big additions; Luke Yates of London Broncos, Sebastine Ikahihifo of Huddersfield Giants, Hull KR’s James Greenwood and the big impact of Pauli Pauli.
Keeping hold of Joey Lussick and Niall Evalds will be big for the club, and hopefully they can follow on from their miraculous 2019 campaign.
10. Toronto Wolfpack
Toronto Wolfpack will have the leadership of Brian McDermott to guide them to safety this year, and the addition of a legend in Rugby, Sonny Bill Williams, to help guide the players on the field and off the field will be huge for the club.
They are rumoured to be in the hunt to sign, Manu Tuilagi from Leicester Tigers and acquisition of him and Williams would massive for Toronto off the field as well as on the field.
McDermott has also added Brad Singleton who he worked with at Leeds Rhinos and James Cunningham who was one of London’s key performers last season.
11. Hull KR
Hull KR should have enough to guarantee safety, they have Kane Linnett and Shaun Kenny-Dowall who featured in the centres for Sydney Roosters during the 2010 NRL Grand Final loss.
Their experience should help the more inexperienced players and they will have Tony Smith at the helm to help put together a team that has signed more players than any other squad in the league.
12. Huddersfield Giants
A poor season last year, and the Huddersfield Giants have made three signings in Ashton Golding, Kenny Edwards and James Gavet.
It seems as though they are set to lose Kruise Leeming to Leeds, and are actively looking to for a half-back, Aidan Sezer, to replace Matt Frawley.
It will be a tough season and relegation battle is a tough one to call, but Giants need to add more depth to the squad to see the season through.
