Ready to go for 2020: Season Preview

Twelve months ago the Betfred Super League narrative was dominated by #newbeginnings – a fresh start, a new outlook and an ambitious vision for the future of the competition.

The campaign lived up to expectations and provided fans with arguably the best season yet in Super League’s 25-year history.

A final day, four-team relegation battle provided immense drama at the bottom, while St Helens’ brilliance at the top proved compelling in its own way.

The 2020 campaign promises to go even further.

It seems a long time since that dominant Saints class of 2019 were fittingly crowned champions at Old Trafford.

And whether they can repeat that unbelievable form is one of the many questions that will be answered between now and October.

The off-season script has been dominated by the arrival of some big-name signings.

Sonny Bill Williams to Toronto Wolfpack and the controversial signing of Israel Folau to Catalans Dragons have grabbed the headlines – but with the likes of Gareth Widdop, George Burgess, James Maloney and Aiden Sezer arriving from the NRL to grace Super League for the first time, there is no shortage of quality across the competition. 

Add to that some eye-catching transfers, such as Luke Gale to Leeds Rhinos or Man of Steel Jackson Hastings to Wigan Warriors, and it promises to be a stellar and competitive season.

But Super League hasn’t only been investing in playing talent.

Sweeping changes are being made to its digital presence. A smarter, sophisticated brand will help content stand out across social media platforms. And also in 2020, a new television show called Inside Super League will be shown on Sky Sports and Amazon Prime, while an access-all-areas documentary about the memorable 2019 season will also be on available on those platforms. 

With so much to look forward to superleague.co.uk has drilled down on the key things to focus on in 2020, from the biggest storylines on the field to some of the exciting work going on behind the scenes.

Sonny Bill Williams and Toronto Wolfpack

The signings secured by Super League clubs in the off-season are arguably greater than ever, and the arrival of one player, in particular, has added an undeniable sense of anticipation and star quality. 

Sonny Bill Williams is a global superstar and his impact on and off the pitch is likely to be one of the storylines of the 25^th Super League season.

The Wolfpack will grab plenty of headlines in 2020, not just because of the signing of the 34-year-old, but also because of their coach, Brian McDermott, the mastermind behind the great Leeds Rhinos team of the mid-2010’s. 

McDermott told superleague.co.uk about the challenges to come ahead of the Wolfpack’s maiden season in Super League.

He said: “This is a group capable of achieving something really special this year - but we are aware of the challenges we face as well.

“We have set some ourselves some objectives to build on throughout the season to try and keep ourselves away from the bottom.??

The Wolfpack’s first game is against Castleford Tigers, as part of a double header at Emerald Headingley, where Leeds Rhinos also take on Hull FC.

Masterful Maloney

The signing of James Maloney has flown under the radar a little bit, largely because of what’s been happening at Toronto Wolfpack.

But make no mistake, Catalans Dragons have signed one of the best players in the world in the Kangaroos’ half-back. 

Just last year the 33-year-old helped New South Wales to win the State of Origin, one of the biggest series in sport.

If he stays fit, Maloney will almost certainly be in contention to win Man of Steel. 

Big Move for Man of Steel

Wigan Warriors have made some significant statements in the past few months and the arrival of last year’s Man of Steel, Jackson Hastings, could prove to be the hugely influential.

The 2019 season saw Hastings drive Salford Red Devils to the Grand Final and he will be hoping to get back to Old Trafford with his new side.

One of the criticisms of Warriors’ last season was the lack of a power game.

Enter George Burgess, another big-name signing from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, to add some real dynamism to a young, energetic and hard-working forward pack.

Throw it all together and, all of a sudden, Wigan look like proper contenders.

With Hastings on the ball more than anyone else, and the likes of Oliver Gildart, Zak Hardaker, Bevan French and Liam Farrell outside him…watch out.

Super Saints

Their dominance last season was impressive – but how Saints handle the departure of head coach Justin Holbrook will be interesting, and potentially defining.

That said, in Kristian Woolf they have replaced him with one of the best coaching minds in the game.  

Woolf has led Tonga to becoming one of the best sides in the world.

In 2019, they defeated Australia for the first time, and also humbled the Great Britain Lions 

Woolf is held in such high regard on the island that Salford Red Devils’ Tui Lolohea, the Tonga halfback, said: “People there bow to him like a king.??

Can Woolf be the King of Saints?

The club have been quiet in the transfer market – but they were so far ahead of the competition last year they are unquestionably the team to beat again this season. 

Consistency and class were the hallmark of the Holbrook years.

Their rivals in 2020 will do very well to keep up.

The Tongan Terminator

Meet Manu Ma’u, the ‘Tongan Terminator’ and, in the words of international teammate Andrew Fifita, the scariest bloke in the sport.

Who can argue with him? Ma’u has three plates inserted the right side of his face after he mangled it in a tackle.

He joins Hull FC from Paramatta Eels and is one of many recruits to join the Black and Whites as they look to return to the playoff picture.

Ma’u said: “I’m at a stage now where I want to challenge myself overseas and move out of my comfort zone. Hull have given me that chance.

“I’ve spoken to a few players I know well about the club.

“I keep up with Mahe Fonua from my time playing for Tonga, as well as Bureta Faraimo.

“They couldn’t speak highly enough about the club. That made me only more eager to join.??

Fans’ favourite Fonua also returns to the club from the NRL.

He is a player who has the X-Factor to put the club back in contention this season.

Consistency was the big issue for Hull FC last season. At times they looked top class; at others they looked poor.

If they find their form and rhythm, they could be real contenders in 2020.

Gale Force

Last season was one to forget for Leeds Rhinos – but the rebuilding process is taking shape under Richard Agar.

He has appointed homegrown talent Stevie Ward as captain and, among some other quality players, signed former Man of Steel Luke Gale from Castleford Tigers.

Gale has missed most of the last two seasons through injury – but Rhinos are confident that he can be the catalyst to return the club to where it belongs.

There is no lack of motivation around Headingley this season, as evidenced in pre-season by the way the club and community has responded to the MND diagnosis of former player Rob Burrow.

Burrow, synonymous with the great Leeds Rhinos team which included Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire, will be in the minds of the players and fans all season.

Leeds Rhinos may not be favourites heading into 2020 - but one thing is for sure: Headingley will be a much tougher place to go than in 2019.

New logo, new look

One of the significant changes since October’s Grand Final has been the unveiling of a new logo.

It features a re-modelled version of the famous ‘S’ that has become so synonymous with Super League branding. It forms part of a wider re-branding process which you will see all over our social channels, podcast and website.

The brains behind the design are from Nomad Creative Studio, the same company that led the Premier League’s rebrand.

They feel as if have created a logo that epitomises Super League in 2020.

Stuart Watson, founder and creative director at Nomad, said: “The Super League rebrand is built around the new ’S’ shield icon, a powerful, digital-first symbol of change.

“The shield is made up of an ’S’ for Super League, and the ball flying through the air.

“There’s also a bulging bicep in there if you choose to see it.

“But mainly it’s a super modern brand symbol that, over time, will become a shortcut to the fast paced, unstoppable action that is rugby league. 

“We’re working hard with Super League partners to bring the new brand to life across broadcast, digital, social and experiential — and have built a brand designed to rip out busy feeds and complex channels.??

We Play League and Inside Super League

Dramatic, gritty, behind-the-scenes documentaries have made their mark on Netflix and Amazon Prime in recent years.

Sunderland ‘Til I Die, All or Nothing: Manchester City and Take Us Home: Leeds United certainly got tongues wagging.

Super League will get in on the action in 2020.

The City Talking, the Leeds-based production company behind the Take Us Home: Leeds United, has created a four-part series called We Play League. Super League fans will be able to watch it on Sky Sports Arena.

But that’s not all. A new weekly television show - Inside Super League - will give fans an insight into the personalities and characters of the biggest names in the game.

Both programmes will be shown on Sky Sports in the UK, with Amazon Prime broadcasting them to an international audience.

Super League’s creative director Lee Hicken, also CEO of the City Talking, plays a leading role in Super League’s digital strategy and he gave us an insight into what rugby league fans can expect this season.

He said: “We tried to tell as many stories as possible. We filmed with every team, coach and player and have used the best of it to form this documentary.

“Super League has never been shown in this way before.

“The point of the series is to not only give rugby league fans an insight into the sport but also to reach new audiences.

“We wanted to tell stories from a human point of view and show the personalities of the players in Super League.??