Super Four and Shield: Round 4 Preview

Wigan Warriors will have the League Leaders' Shield within grasp when they take on Leeds Rhinos this weekend in the Betfred Women’s Super League Super Four competition (KO 2pm).

A win against the Rhinos will see the Warriors collect their second trophy of the season and a second consecutive League Leaders’ Shield after they completed the treble in 2025.

Also featuring in the Super Four are St Helens and York Valkyrie who face one another for the first time since the season split, live on Sky Sports (KO 5:15pm).

The Valkyrie earned an unlikely win against the Rhinos last weekend and will be pushing for another strong performance when they take on the Red V away from home on Saturday.

Can York go two points clear of Saints in third and take a step further to securing a semi-final place?

In the Shield Competition, Barrow Raiders return after securing their first win of the season against Leigh Leopards last weekend.

Raiders’ Co-Captain, Jodie Morley, shared her delight with her team’s efforts in the home crowd fixture:

“It felt really good to get that win. It's obviously been a hard season.

“It's been tough, we've had quite a lot of injuries and we’ve not been able to have a consistent team every week.

“It's my first year being Co-Captain with Stirz [Emily Stirzaker], I'm just really proud of the girls for sticking to it and not giving up."

The weekend has given the team a much-needed confidence boost as they head into their battle against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday:

“I think it's what we've needed, we came close against Featherstone the week before and we probably could have got that win but Featherstone were just that bit smarter and again we just didn't get the result.

“It's not easy, it’s also mentally tough on the girls and myself, we have been finding it hard, we've had to dig deep.

“It’s paid off in the end, but it'll be good for the last few games to go with this first win and hopefully get a few more.”

New for the 2026 season, the league has split into the Super Four and Shield competitions after the opening seven rounds:

“We found the draw quite hard, we played all of the teams in the bottom four away so it was good on the weekend having that home game. It means a lot having a home fixture and having your supporters there,” said Morley.

“So the games we did need to win at the start of the season, unfortunately were away fixtures, so it makes it that bit tougher.

“But I think it's good that the league has split the way it has because the second-half of the season has been a lot more competitive.”

This weekend, the Raiders face the Giants (KO 2pm), the competition’s leading side, as the bottom-of-the-table battle to avoid the promotion/relegation Play-Off intensifies:

“I feel confident, I always have belief in the girls and the team.

“I think the team we played against Leigh are going into this next week, it might be one of the first times we’re keeping the same team.

“So that bit of consistency I think will do the girls the world of good as well. I do believe we can go and get a win over any team if we perform well.

“It is close, but we'll be playing these last few games, like each one's a Grand Final.

“We've been speaking about it and how there is pressure there, but I know all the girls can thrive under pressure and that's what we need to do.

The final game of the week sees Featherstone Rovers welcome Leigh Leopards (KO 2pm).

The pair last met just two weeks ago when Rovers got the edge at 4-16.

The side led 0-6 at the break after Brogan Churm headed over before the 15-minute mark.

Katie Evans and Tilly Churm extended the visitors’ advantage to 16-0, which proved enough despite a late consolation from the Leopards.

This weekend, Featherstone will be determined to bring that same intensity and composure to Post Office Road as they look to overcome Leigh once again.

Super Four

Friday 28 August

St Helens v York Valkyrie – The Brewdog Stadium, KO 5:15pm

Saturday 29 August

Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos – Robin Park Arena, KO 2pm

Shield Competition

Sunday 30 August

Barrow Raiders v Huddersfield Giants – Speed Competitions Stadium, KO 2pm

Featherstone Rovers v Leigh Leopards – Post Office Road, KO 2pm