2023 is here, meaning the 28th season of Betfred Super League is just around the corner. But what are we thinking about most for each club as the new campaign approaches?
Here's part one of your handy guide...
CASTLEFORD TIGERS
Stealing your neighbours’ half-back of eight years standing is a lark, isn’t it? Cas have nicked Jacob Miller from Wakefield Trinity for 2023 but his new partner is arguably the bigger talking point.
Not long ago, Gareth Widdop was England’s first-choice full-back and an NRL superstar. Now he’s got a few jibes to answer having spent three years at Warrington which saw them finish third twice then almost slip into the Championship. He couldn’t get anything going with Blake Austin, then he and George Williams failed to inspire between them.
A former Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year, the 33-year-old’s reputation is in need of a great 2023.
*Betfred odds: Top Six: 11/10, Finish Bottom 33/1
HULL KINGSTON ROVERS
It might have been the year in which Tony Smith dropped a press conference departure bombshell which ruined Rovers’ promising season but 2022 was also the latest showcase of Mikey Lewis’ magnificent talent.
The four-year contract he signed in late 2021 still has three seasons to run, and that can only be good news for KR as long as he stays fit. In the periods of 2022 during which the young half-back was injured, Rovers generally looked far less able to provide that extra edge of flair.
If Willie Peters has him for 27 rounds, anything is possible. But if Rovers don’t start showing consistency in their bid to be a regular top-six concern, any suitor is possible for Lewis and his immense ability.
*Betfred odds: Top Six: 7/2, Finish Bottom 5/2
HULL FC
Not since Paul Cooke went from west to east has there been such a buzz about a move across the River Hull. Tony Smith is Hull FC coach in 2023 having taken Rovers to a first Super League semi-final as recently as 2021 and followed that with a run to the Challenge Cup last four last May.
Smith has some serious work on his hands after Brett Hodgson’s struggles at the KC/KCOM/MKM/LMFAO Stadium, but SHOULD have the troops to get them back on something of an even keel. Known as one of the gun coaches in the modern game – even at 55 – we’re about to see how much magic Smith still has in his locker after things went sour on the other side of the city. Good Friday can’t come soon enough for some.
*Betfred odds: Top Six: 11/10, Finish Bottom 25/1
WAKEFIELD TRINITY
Belle Vue. It feels like Trinity have been trying to either improve it or leave it for about 100 years. There have been small redevelopments, with the hospitality stand at the south end, then the north stand roof being added, but much of the Super League era has been a story of people pointing at Belle Vue and talking down the progress made in selling the game.
But finally the decrepit old main stand has been demolished, with a new facility set to be built in its place. And if it feels like we’re going on about the ground a bit too much and the team a bit too little, then you’ve never seen a Wakefield home game. It’s been a bone of contention since Wakey’s promotion in late 1998, and those clubs who forever point at Trinity’s ground as a distraction tactic will have to think of something else to present to IMG ahead of 2024.
*Betfred odds: Top Six: 9/1, Finish Bottom 7/4
WARRINGTON WOLVES
Yes, yes. ‘Just like the last one.’ After their pitiful 2022 which saw them finish second-bottom of the league in Daryl Powell’s first campaign in charge, a great improvement is expected of the Wolves this time around.
With additions like Josh McGuire, Paul Vaughan and Sam Kasiano, a big leap on the ladder will be needed for Powell to ward off the doubters. He was a runaway success for much of his long spell in charge of Castleford, but that will hold no weight with Wire fans if he can’t get a tune out of a vastly-changed side in 2023.
All eyes are on Powell.
*Betfred odds: Top Six: 4/9, Finish Bottom 66/1
LEIGH LEOPARDS
The Leopards. Oh, the leopards! The biggest talking point about them going into 2023? Leopards.
When the Washington Football Team were looking for a new name they polled fans, coming up with Commanders. The Cleveland Indians? They became the Guardians in honour of the Guardians of Traffic statues on the city’s famous Hope Memorial Bridge. Two honourable methods for rebranding storied sports teams.
So the Leigh Centurions have gone ahead and renamed themselves as the Leigh Leopards because… well, their owner Derek Beaumont is a fan of leopard print! The initial news of the new moniker led Featherstone Rovers to joke that they were becoming the Flamingos, while Barrow Raiders took to Twitter to float the idea of Barrow Budgies.
The desire to separate themselves from the Wigan Warriors in colour and identity is one thing, but sticking players in a shirt with a big cat on as they battle to stay up in Super League for the first time is quite another!
*Betfred odds: Top Six: 9/2, Finish Bottom 9/4
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
