The final run-in
14 Sep 2023
As we head into the penultimate round of the 2023 Betfred Super League season, the battle for the League Leaders' Shield and race for the Play-Offs is wide open.
The next two rounds of fixtures have serious Play-Off permutations, starting with several crunch ties in Round 26. On Friday Night, the Wolves host the Saints knowing that a defeat could see them move outside the top six for the first time this season, whilst a loss for the Saints may end any hope of retaining the League Leaders' Shield and prevent the reigning Champions from finishing in the top two.
Round 26 coming up & it's MASSIVE ?
3 games live on @SkySportsRL ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/vmRmOWOnoy
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 13, 2023
On Saturday Night, the seventh place Red Devils travel to Hull to face a Robins side sitting pretty in fifth place. After their golden point victory against Warrington last weekend, Salford are back in the mix for a top six spot. But a loss to Hull KR this weekend would leave them with a mountain to climb ahead of their final league fixture against the high-flying Dragons in Round 27.
Wigan Warriors are in pole position to finish top of the league and could lift the league Leaders' Shield next Friday at the home of their neighbours and fierce rivals, Leigh Leopards. But with the Dragons and Saints hot on their heels, nothing is guaranteed.
We've taken a closer look at the final run in of each team still in top six contention ahead of the final two rounds of the regular season.
Wigan Warriors
Current position: 1st (36 points, +316 points difference)
Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 3rd
Remaining fixtures: Castleford Tigers (h), Leigh Leopards (a)
The Warriors are in control of their own destiny heading into the final two rounds of the season thanks to seven wins on the spin. Their superior points difference means if they win their last two games, they should all but cement their place at the top of the table and secure the League Leaders' Shield.
A home tie against eleventh placed Castleford on Friday is followed by the third instalment of the Battle of the Borough away at Leigh. The Warriors could lift the League Leaders' Shield at the home of their rivals in Round 27 if they get the job done in the final two rounds.
However, defeat in either, or both, of those fixtures could see Wigan drop out of the top two into third, meaning they would be thrown straight into the Play-Offs and miss out on the chance of having a weeks rest.
Catalans Dragons
Current position: 2nd (36 points, +230 points difference)
Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 3rd
Remaining fixtures: Leeds Rhinos (h), Salford Red Devils (a)
Back-to-back defeats in rounds 23 & 24 saw the Dragons relinquish top spot. They now sit in second place - still with a chance of securing the League Leaders' Shield - but will rely on other results going their way.
Conversely, with St Helens hot on their heels, the Dragons could still drop out of the two - something that would've been unthinkable to most just three weeks ago.
St Helens
Current position: 3rd (36 points, +217 points difference)
Best finish: 1st
Worst finish: 3rd
Remaining fixtures: Warrington Wolves (a), Hull FC (h)
The reigning Champions and last year's League Leaders still have a shot at retaining the Shield in 2023. Given their points difference compared to first placed Wigan, the Saints would need the Warriors to slip up in their final two fixtures, whilst winning their own remaining two games against Warrington and Hull FC.
Outside of that, a second placed finish is still within reach, with just 13 points difference between themselves and second placed Catalans. The Saints will need to rack up the points in their final two league fixtures to have any chance of catching the Dragons.
Just two rounds to go ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/pn7w4u9bXU
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 13, 2023
Leigh Leopards
Current position: 4th (30 points, +80 points difference)
Best finish: 4th
Worst finish: 7th
Remaining fixtures: Wakefield Trinity (h), Wigan Warriors (h)
A fourth-place finish for Leigh would mark another huge milestone in an already memorable 2023 season. However, they have recorded just one win since their Challenge Cup Final heroics, meaning there's still work to do to ensure Adrian Lam's side finish with a home tie in the Play-Off eliminators.
And although unlikely, if results over the next two weeks went severely against the Leopards, they could still find themselves outside the six, but a win against Wakefield in Round 26 would put any chance of that happening firmly to bed.
Hull KR
Current position: 5th (28 points, +35 points difference)
Best finish: 4th
Worst finish: 7th
Remaining fixtures: Salford Red Devils (h), Wakefield Trinity (a)
Hull KR's recent run of form means a win against fellow Play-Off hopefuls Salford on Saturday would secure their place in the top six. As things stand, that would see them travel to Leigh in the first week of the Play-Offs, reigniting a rivalry stemming from their pulsating Challenge Cup Final clash last month.
A home Play-Off eliminator isn't out of the question for the Robins either - although results elsewhere would need to go their way. Could the Robins be dark horses to make a surge to Old Trafford from outside the top four?
Warrington Wolves
Current position: 6th (26 points, +85 points difference)
Best finish: 4th
Worst finish: 8th
Remaining fixtures: St Helens (h), Huddersfield Giants (a)
Warrington have occupied a Play-Off spot since Round 1, but could fall out of the top six this weekend. After a golden point defeat to the Red Devils in Round 25, they now sit level on points with seventh placed Salford.
Thankfully for the Wolves, they have a superior points difference to the Red Devils, meaning as long as they match Salford's results over the next two weeks, their Play-Off position should be cemented.
One to remember for @SalfordDevils fans ? https://t.co/5jBXgMb2wu pic.twitter.com/8HzcvsPdVg
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 12, 2023
Salford Red Devils
Current position: 7th (26 points, +5 points difference)
Best finish: 4th
Worst finish: 8th
Remaining fixtures: Hull KR (a), Catalans Dragons (h)
Salford kept their Play-Off hopes alive thanks to last weekend's win against Warrington. They now face another huge clash in Round 26 against the in-form Hull KR, before taking on second placed Catalans in the final round of the season. The Red Devils cannot afford any slip ups if they are to make the Play-Offs for the second year in succession, but face a difficult journey to get there.
Leeds Rhinos
Current position: 8th (22 points, +16 points difference)
Best finish: 6th
Worst finish: 10th
Remaining fixtures: Catalans Dragons (a), Castleford Tigers (h)
Although still mathematically possible for the Rhinos to clinch a top six spot, it's highly unlikely. They would need plenty of results to go in their favour, as well as winning their last two games, which includes a tough trip to the South of France on Saturday. It would be a huge story if the Rhinos were to defy the odds, but one that's unlikely to come to fruition.
