Super League Week 1 Power Ranks

The Northern Hemisphere Rugby League season has gotten under way with the first week of the Super League having taken place this weekend past. There was a couple of surprises with defending champions Leeds Rhinos beaten at home and Hull FC dismantling the Salford Red Devils.

Leon Pryce in action for Hull FC

1. Hull FC — A dominant win against Salford sees the Black and Whites sit atop the power rankings and certainly at the front of a few pundits minds as a potential dark horse to rattle the cages of the usual top tier teams. The big question is how they back up from Super League Week 1 in their next encounter with Catalans in France.
2. St Helens — One of the perennial favourites did enough to overcome last years mid table finishers Huddersfield at home, will certainly need to do more than last week’s display to hold themselves in the top 2.
3. Widnes Vikings — Got the chocolates on the road against Wakefield thanks to a double from new recruit and former Sydney Rooster Setimata Sa. The Vikings looked in control for the majority of the match and if they can carry that form into their next match up against the defending champions Leeds they will be in the mix.
4. Wigan Warriors — The bookies favourite to take out the Super League title, scraped home in a dour grinding affair against Catalans. The Warriors started looking like they were going to blow the Dragons off the park in the early encounters, but slowed after two quick tries to hooker Michael McIlorum. Will certainly need to focus on completion rates and ball handling going forward if they want to be the contender many expect.
5. Warrington Wolves — Snuck home by a narrow two points against defending champions Leeds, may consider themselves to be unlucky to sit this low, but need to show consistency to climb these ranks. Plenty of positives out of the game aside from taking two valuable competition points on the road at Headingley, none more so than what appears to be a promising combination between halves Kurt Gidley & Chris Sandow.
6. Castleford Tigers — Had a disappointing draw with Hull KR as Hull struck in the dying moments. Looked the stronger team for the majority of the match and as such stay just in front of the Rovers. Need to focus on closing out games
7. Hull KR — As mentioned above thanks to the skills of winger Josh Mantellato, both with ball in hand (scoring a late try) and off the tee, converting said try, managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat and pick up an unlikely and what is best described as fortunate competition point.
8. Leeds Rhinos — Lost to a reasonably impressive Warrington side in the opening match of Super League Week 1. had plenty of opportunities including full back Zak Hardaker’s relatively simple penalty attempt to level the game late in proceedings which he skewed wide. Were well off the pace that won them the title last year, and need to return to that sort of form if they are to contend again.
9. Catalans Dragons — A much improved performance from their corresponding performance last year where they were licked 34–0 by Wigan. Do however need to focus on starting the game better, as they looked a tad sluggish out of the gates, hopefully something they can shake off before they host Hull FC next week.
10. Wakefield Wildcats — Showed glimpses of promise but couldn’t string them together long enough against a Widnes side who controlled the tempo and flow of the game, kept within striking distance but didn’t particularly look like they would chalk up a win at any stage.
11. Huddersfield Giants — Were beaten comfortably by a strong St Helens display however notably a side that played a major part of the match without James Roby. The Giants however are without plenty of cattle of their own and as players begin to return will improve, they will be hoping talisman five-eight Danny Brough’s injury that forced him from the field is not too serious.
12. Salford Red Devils — The Super League Week 1 cellar dwellers, were soundly beaten by Hull FC and will need to head back to the drawing board before taking on St Helens at home on Thursday (UK Time).