It has never happened before. Round 18 of the Betfred Super League season came to a close on Sunday with the top nine clubs separated by just 10 points. Utterly unique in the summer era, is this.
Everything is up for grabs. Table-topping Catalans Dragons’ home defeat to crisis-ridden Huddersfield Giants was just one of the turn-ups. Wakefield Trinity also recorded a third straight win at Belle Vue with a thrilling golden-point decider against Wigan Warriors.
Meanwhile, Leeds Rhinos continued Salford Red Devils’ recent skid and are now threatening another out-of-nowhere play-off run under Rohan Smith. And Rohan’s uncle Tony has Hull FC back firing and within sight of the top six after their local derby win over his former club Hull Kingston Rovers.
Of the six games over the weekend, five of them were won by the team coming into it lower in the table. Everything you thought you knew about rugby league, chuck it out of the window.
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The one and only team who seem a dead-cert to win most weeks at the moment, especially in the light of Catalans’ stunning 22-14 loss to Huddersfield, is arguably the Leigh Leopards. A team tipped to battle it out with Wakefield for 11th spot all season is now second in the table, just two points from the summit and in the Challenge Cup semi-finals on the back of 11 wins from 12.
Champions St Helens deserve consideration, of course. They are four-time defending Super League kings, have won eight of their last nine games in all competitions and face Leigh in the Challenge Cup semis. But that one defeat against Hull FC in Round 16 helped to remind people of their fallibility, and many onlookers have still to be fully convinced of the Saints under Paul Wellens this term.
With nine games remaining in the league campaign, there are four points between the top five. Eight is four points behind third. Ninth is four from the play-offs. Even down at the bottom, where just a month ago it looked like a done deal for Wakefield, a single win could now take them above neighbouring Castleford Tigers.
Will Dagger’s late penalty equaliser and then stunning drop-goal winner against Wigan ensured that they maintained their momentum from victories over Leeds and Salford. At this rate they will be overtaking Cas before long and will even be putting pressure on Huddersfield, who they visit on Friday in an absolute humdinger.
There is something riding on every single game right now, and the Super League is utterly enthralling as a result. St Helens v Catalans on Thursday is champs v leaders. Friday brings that Giants-Wakey game as well as seventh against eighth when Leeds entertain Hull KR and fourth play fifth when Wigan hoist Warrington Wolves.
Castleford battle for their lives on Saturday against resurgent Hull FC, then on Sunday Salford look to get back into form in their top-six pursuit against a Leigh side who might be gunning for the top spot by that point.
It’s a frankly ridiculous state of affairs which makes every game feel like a play-off encounter even 12 weeks prior to the end-of-season shoot-out beginning for real.
There has never been a Super League campaign quite like this one.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
