Topsy Turvy - Why Super League 2019 Is The Most Unpredictable Season Yet
- Ollie Tinker
- May 3, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 11, 2019
Although it's hard to believe, we are almost halfway through the 2019 Betfred Super League season. The first thirteen rounds have provided shock results, spectacular solo performances and late, late drama, ensuring that every game is worth tuning in to. Despite their heavy off-season recruitment drive, West Yorkshire giants Leeds Rhinos find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table as St Helens and Warrington Wolves lead the way at the top. In recent years, Super League has become less predictable and more entertaining, thanks in no small part to the enforcement of the salary cap. This has prevented richer clubs such as Warrington, Leeds and Wigan from leaving the likes of Wakefield and Castleford behind in their pursuit of glory, ensuring that rugby league provides a more balanced competition than other sports. The past few years in particular have been more unpredictable than ever, but 2019 is proving to be the most unpredictable season yet...
Perhaps what has been most surprising so far is the sequence of volatile results we have seen. Besides Saints and Warrington who have lost just one and three games respectively, the rest of the pack are closely locked in a fierce battle for places on the ladder, experiencing a mixed bag of erratic results. For example, whilst sixth-placed Catalans are the only side to have toppled Saints and the first to beat Warrington, they suffered a 46-0 drubbing at home to Salford, who themselves were hammered 46-14 at home by a Rhinos side that have found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table for much of the season. Similarly, whilst 2018 Champions Wigan suffered unexpected defeats to newly promoted London Broncos and struggling Huddersfield, they enjoyed a 42-0 triumph over Catalans. This volatile sequence of results has ensured that there have been very few dull, predictable games in which the outcome has seemed somewhat pre-determined, which could make 2019 the most exciting season yet, should this trend continue.
Whilst the task of predicting the course of a season is unenviable and nigh on impossible, fans and pundits alike like to share their opinions on who will succeed and who will struggle ahead of round one. However, few could have foreseen the predicament that Super League powerhouses Leeds and Wigan find themselves in. Whilst Leeds' fall from grace (excluding their successful 2017 season) has been on the cards for everyone to see over the past three years, Wigan's struggles have come as much more of a surprise. Both clubs find themselves in a period of transition. Having been the most successful sides of the past decade, they now face the challenge of replacing departed stars with new signings, whilst still developing their talented youngsters. Whilst these periods of transition are not uncommon, given the cyclical nature of sport, the likes of St Helens and Warrington have not experienced quite the same crisis that Leeds in particular have faced. Perhaps this can be explained by the improving standard of Super League's traditionally 'smaller' clubs, in particular Castleford and Wakefield. Although Leeds' problems are largely on-field, Wigan have faced the difficulties of both poor results and off-field drama. For a club with a reputation of having its affairs in order off the pitch, 2019 has been a PR nightmare so far for last year's champions. The club has faced a battle to regain the points they were deducted by the RFL for a minor salary cap breach, in a repeat of their infamous breach of 2007, leaving fans of other sides questioning their integrity - an issue worsened by the behaviour of a handful of their players. It has been a tough 12 months for the club in this department, reaching back to the infamous departure of Joel Tomkins following footage that went viral on social media. This has been compounded by two incidents of drink-driving by new recruit Zak Hardaker and Craig Mullen, as well as prop Gabe Hamlin's UK Anti Doping violation. These players have been on the receiving end of criticism from former player turned pundit Brian Carney, who accused the players of 'disgracing themselves' in a spectacular rant on Sky Sports. Added to this is the uncertainty surrounding the club's leadership next year, following the Shaun Edwards saga. Leeds meanwhile can't seem to buy a win at the moment. A slow start to the season has seen some fans begin to lose patience with new Head Coach David Furner. Marquee signings Trent Merrin and especially Konrad Hurrell have started brightly, but fellow new signing Tui Lolohea has endured a tough start to life in Super League. It was always going to be a tough ask for Furner to turn around the fortunes of the club he finished his playing career with, but so far the new era at Leeds has been largely underwhelming. There have been positive signs so far, the potency of Konrad Hurrell and Ash Handley on the left edge, as well as the spark provided by Brad Dwyer at dummy-half. Indeed, Leeds have looked strong in spells, especially going forward, having averaged just over 20 points a game. However, unless they can start putting in eighty minute performances and tighten up defensively, it's set to be a tough old season for Super League's most successful club. Such is the topsy-turvy nature of Super League this year, to see both Wigan and Leeds so far down the ladder this far into the season is almost unheard of. If we told fans five years ago that five years in the future Wigan and Leeds would be fighting relegation having both lost to a newly promoted London Broncos side, you'd have told us there was more chance of Hull winning at Wembley (oh wait... that's happened twice!).
Some things however, have been more predictable. As expected, Warrington and St Helens have both enjoyed good starts which they will hope to convert into trophies as the season progresses, having both missed out on major silverware last year. Saints in particular have looked even stronger than last year, whilst Warrington are not far behind, despite a disappointing 38-12 defeat at Saints. However, Wire have followed that disappointment up by scoring 140 points in their last three games, showing the devastating attacking prowess we all expected ahead of this season. Marquee recruit Blake Austin has predictably taken the league by storm, whilst Saints' off season imports Kevin Naiqama, Lachlan Coote and Joseph Paulo have all impressed. Unsurprisingly, Saints and Warrington are hot favourites for success at Old Trafford in October, but the season is still young and the weather is improving rapidly, which could see a turnaround in the fortunes of certain clubs. Similar things were said around this point of last season, and neither side went onto win either final, as Catalans tasted historic success at Wembley following a remarkable run of form, whilst Wigan battled hard to win one last Grand Final for departing Head Coach Shaun Wane.
The best news about Super League's unpredictable nature this season is that it's nowhere near over yet. All the signs are there to suggest that Super League will continue to be exciting for the rest of the season. The new 'Golden Point' rule which caused so much drama when Leeds faced Castleford in March will continue to ensure exciting climaxes to tense matches. In addition, as Summer approaches, styles of play will change, meaning that the Super League table could look completely different come the end of the season. Furthermore, lessons learned from last season, such as the mid season turnarounds in form enjoyed by Huddersfield and Catalans, St. Helens' disappointing end to the season, London's shock victory in the Million Pound Game and Ben Barba's fading form suggest that the current table doesn't actually give us the clearest picture of how the rest of the year will play out.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, it is guaranteed to be exciting, unpredictable and packed with drama. No matter which sides are successful come October, the unpredictable nature of Super League will do nothing but good for the sport of Rugby League as it battles to attract new audiences and expand its fanbase. Long may it continue!
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