The defining rounds in 2023

29 Nov 2022

The defining rounds in 2023

As the 2023 Betfred Super League season draws closer, the stage is set for another year of unrivalled drama and action. 

With the full fixture list now released, we have assessed each club's defining fixtures in 2023. Whether it's about building early season momentum or peaking at the right time, each club will be fighting for every point during another pulsating season of Super League action.

Castleford Tigers

The Tigers came agonisingly close to reaching the 2022 Play-Offs. They were beaten in dying minutes against eventual Grand Finalists, Leeds, in a 'winner takes all' contest in Round 27. Lee Radford's side were in the ascendancy to make the top six in the weeks leading up to the end of the regular season, but inconsistency proved to be the clubs downfall. Five losses from their last seven games resulted in a disappointing end to the Tigers year.

Their away form also had much room for improvement - of their 14 regular season losses, 10 were away from home. In 2023, the Tigers finish the season with three away games from their last four fixtures. It could be make or break for Lee Radford's side and if they have any chance of making the top six, they will need to win games away from home. The Tigers travel to Warrington in Round 24 before their final home game in Round 25, followed by two huge away games against the Warriors and Rhinos to determine the outcome of their 2023 campaign.

R24 Warrington Wolves (a)

R25 Hull FC (h)

R26 Wigan Warriors (a)

R27 Leeds Rhinos (a)

Catalans Dragons

A lack of consistency proved to be the Dragons undoing in 2022. Steve McNamara's side started brightly, winning seven of their first nine games. But the final two thirds of their campaign saw the Dragons lose nine of their last 18 regular season games - more than half of what they lost throughout the whole of 2021.

After Round 13, the Dragons managed to win back-to-back games just once - something they will need to rectify if they want to emulate their 2021 heroics next year. 

And the Dragons face a tough three-week period during the second half of 2023 which begins in Round 18. They host Huddersfield Giants - a side which downed the Dragons in 2022 - before a trip to the Champions in Round 19. Catalans have failed to beat Saints at the Totally Wicked Stadium over the past three seasons, presenting another huge challenge for Steve McNamara's side. The final game in that trifecta is a clash with Salford - a side that beat the Dragons both home and away during the final third of the 2022 season.

R18 Huddersfield Giants (h)

R19 St Helens (a)

R20 Salford Red Devils (h)

Huddersfield Giants

The Giants made huge progress in 2022 - a top three finish and Challenge Cup Final appearance has laid the foundations for Ian Watson's side to excel in 2023. With more fire power added to an already formidable playing squad, a lot will be expected from the Giants next season. 

One area they will need to drastically improve is their away form. The Giants lost nine games in the 2022 regular season and eight of those were away from home. They made the John Smith's Stadium a fortress but struggled to emulate that form on the road. 

Next season, they face a run of away games that could define their season. Following a break for the Challenge Cup after their Round 15 trip to Warrington, the Giants face beaten 2022 Grand Finalists Leeds Rhinos away from home, backed up by a huge clash against Wigan Warriors before a trip to the South of France to take on the Dragons. It could be make or break for the Giants if they are unable to fix up their form on the road.

R15 Warrington Wolves (a)

R16 Leeds Rhinos (a)

R17 Wigan Warriors (a)

R18 Catalans Dragons (a)

Hull FC

It was an all too familiar ending to Hull FC's 2022 season. A year that began with promise soon faded into a ninth-place finish and a second consecutive season without Play-Off rugby. The Black & Whites ended the first half of the year in fifth place and four points clear of the chasing pack. But just three wins from their last 14 games - including two against bottom placed Toulouse - saw Hull FC quickly fall down the league table. 

Their home form in the second half of the year was questionable - losing five of their final six games at the MKM Stadium. And it's something new head coach, Tony Smith, will need to improve in 2023. They host back-to-back home fixtures in Round 23 & 24 against the Rhinos and Wolves - games that could prove pivotal in Hull FC's pursuit of a top six spot. And before that, they also face a trip to Wigan in Round 22 in search of a first win at the DW Stadium since February 2019.

R22 Wigan Warriors (a)

R23 Warrington Wolves (h)

R24 Leeds Rhinos (h)

Hull KR

The Robins squad depth was stretched immensely in the final third of the 2022 season. Injuries, suspensions and everything in between left them with just 16 players for the final game of the regular season. Despite their unrelenting efforts, Hull KR's season was derailed during the back end of the 2022 campaign. And if they are to break back into the top six next year, their end of season performances will be vital. 

Their pursuit of a play-off spot could well come down to the final few rounds with the Robins set for several decisive match ups. They first host a Catalans side that beat them twice in 2022, before a trip to the John Smith's Stadium the following week. The Giants lost just once at home during the 2022 regular season and will be a challenging prospect for the Robins late on in the year. They then host Salford in Round 26 - the same round which saw the Red Devils secure their Play-Off spot in 2022. 

R24 Catalans Dragons (h)

R25 Huddersfield Giants (a)

R26 Salford Red Devils (h)

Leeds Rhinos

After the Rhinos end of year resurgence, it's imperative they start 2023 with a bang. Rohan Smith will be keen to keep the ball rolling into the new season as he looks to go one better during his first full year in charge. 

Moreover, the Rhinos began 2022 in disappointing fashion. They won just one of their opening nine games before Rohan Smith's appointment instigated a monumental revival at Headingley. From there, the Rhinos fought their way into the top six, culminating in their first Old Trafford appearance since 2017.

In 2023, the Rhinos begin with a repeat of their 2022 opener against Warrington Wolves - and they'll be looking for revenge after an agonising defeat last time round. That's followed by a home clash against Hull FC - a side that have started brightly in recent seasons and handed the Rhinos a defeat during the opening rounds of 2022. In Round 3, they face a trip to the Saints in a repeat of the 2022 Grand Final, with the added caveat of failing to beat Saints at the Totally Wicked Stadium since 2018.

R1 Warrington Wolves (a)

R2 Hull FC (h)

R3 St Helens (a)

Leigh Leopards

If Leigh can take anything from Toulouse's maiden season in Betfred Super League, it's the importance of playing well at home. Of Toulouse's five wins in 2022, four were on home soil. If the Leopards are to buck the trend of promoted sides lasting just one season in the top flight, they need to turn the Leigh Sports Village into a fortress.

Three of the Leopards last four games in 2023 are at home. And those games could be crucial in defining Leigh's first season back in Super League. They meet a Giants side that could be battling for honours before a trip to the reigning Champions the week after in Round 25. The final two rounds of the regular season see the Leopards face off against Trinity - a game that could hold huge significance late on in the season - before ending the regular season at home against their neighbours, Wigan.

R24 Huddersfield Giants (h)

R25 St Helens (a)

R26 Wakefield Trinity (h)

R27 Wigan Warriors (h)

Salford Red Devils

From Round 3, the Red Devils won just one of their next nine games. Paul Rowley's side relied heavily on their end of season form to make a late surge into the top six and they did so brilliantly. If history is to repeat itself in 2023, the Red Devils will need to be in red hot form during the back end of the year. They face three of 2022's top four in consecutive weeks from Round 20 - a period which could prove crucial in the race for a Play-Off spot. 

A trip to the South of France is first on the list followed by a home tie against the Champions in Round 21. A break for the Challenge Cup Final could provide Salford with some time off unless they enjoy a cup run to Wembley. The Red Devils return to Super League action in Round 22 to face a Giants side at the John Smith's Stadium - a match that could hold similar significance to their 2022 Play-Off eliminator show down against a Giants side that lost just once at home during the 2022 regular season.

R20 Catalans Dragons (a)

R21 St Helens (h)

R22 Huddersfield Giants (a)

St Helens

Saints will fly the flag for Betfred Super League when they travel to Australia for two weeks in a bid to be crowned World Champions. They are set to face NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons before a huge clash against 2022 NRL Champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge.

Because of this, their eventual start in Super League could prove tricky for the Fourmidable Champions. They begin the 2023 campaign in Round 2 away at the Jungle. A tough place to go at the best of times, Saints will likely be battered, bruised and fatigued after returning from their Southern Hemisphere travels.

That's followed by a huge Grand Final rematch against the Rhinos in Round 3. Rohan Smith's side will be out for revenge and will provide another big test during Paul Wellens' first season in charge. They then travel to the Leigh Sports Village against the newly promoted Leopards - a potential banana skin fixture during a pivotal period in Saints' season. 

R2 Castleford Tigers (a)

R3 Leeds Rhinos (h)

R4 Leigh Leopards (a)

Wakefield Trinity

With newly promoted Leigh recruiting well ahead of 2023, and the Wolves on a mission to ensure their eleventh placed finish was nothing more than a blip, Trinity have work to do next season. The Super League competition will be wide open as every side battles for a place beyond 2023.

The new season will likely go down to the wire and Trinity finish the year with three huge match ups. In Round 25, they host Catalans Dragons at the Be Well Support Stadium. That's followed by an away clash against Leigh during the penultimate round of the season, which could have huge permutations for 2023 league positions, before Trinity host the Robins in the final round of 2023. 

R25 Catalans Dragons (h)

R26 Leigh Leopards (a)

R27 Hull KR (h)

Warrington Wolves

The Wolves simply cannot afford to have a repeat of 2022. They suffered their worst placed finish in Super League history and found themselves letting winning positions slip time and time again. 

All eyes will again be on Daryl Powell's side at the start of 2023. There's been significant changes to their playing squad and fans will be expecting an immediate response. It's important they start the season well and build momentum early on, with no less than a top six finish being the mark of a successful year. 

The Wolves' season gets underway against the Rhinos and Daryl Powell will be hoping to emulate his sides 2022 Round 1 win against the same opposition. That?s followed by a trip to the John Smith's Stadium to face the Giants - the Wolves failed to beat Huddersfield twice away from home in 2022. They then welcome 2022 Play-Off Semi-Finalists Salford Red Devils to the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Round 3 - a game that always delivers an absorbing contest.

R1 Leeds Rhinos (h)

R2 Huddersfield Giants (a)

R3 Salford Red Devils (h)

Wigan Warriors

The Warriors were undefeated at home during the 2022 regular season. Their unblemished record was eventually tainted after a disappointing Play-Off Semi-Final loss to the Rhinos - but, overall, it was their away form that required improvement.

Their eight losses were all on the road and proved to be the decisive factor in finishing below rivals St Helens in second place. Ahead of 2023, the Warriors will undoubtedly be targeting top spot as Matt Peet looks to build on an impressive first season in charge.

A trip to Hull to face the Robins in Round 13 is the start of a tricky run of fixtures on the road in 2023. After that, they face the Dragons at Magic Weekend in Newcastle - Wigan have failed to win at Magic Weekend in their last three attempts. Their next game before the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals is arguably the toughest - a huge Round 15 visit to St Helens to take on the Champions before a return to Super League action a fortnight later sees Matt Peet's side travel to the Red Devils for their fourth consecutive league fixture on the road.

R13 Hull KR (a)

R14 Catalans Dragons (Magic Weekend)

R15 St Helens (a)

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