The 2026 Super League season gets underway on Thursday when reigning champions Hull Kingston Rovers travel to newcomers York Knights and Tom Hill expects the Robins to have another successful campaign.
Hull KR won the treble last year in a sublime season under head coach Willie Peters, but plenty of their rivals will be out to peg them back in what promises to be a thrilling campaign.
Bradford Bulls, Toulouse Olympique and York Knights have joined Super League to make the top flight a 14-team division and there should be battles occurring at both ends of the table.
Super League Tips and Predictions
Outright Prediction: Hull KR to win the Grand Final (21/10)
Dark Horse Tip: Leeds Rhinos to win the Grand Final (6/1)
Top Tryscorer Pick: Lewis Martin (8/1)
New Super League Format
Last year, the RFL decided to expand Super League to a 14-team competition and those sides will compete across 27 rounds of the regular season.
The top six make it through to the play-offs, with the top two clubs getting a rest week. Third will play sixth and fourth faces fifth. The lowest-ranked team to have won their play-off match then face the League Leaders' Shield winners, with the second-placed team then taking on the other high-ranked team.
Each winner of those matches will then compete in the Super League Grand Final.
Key Fixture Dates
The opening night of the season sees York Knights take on Hull Kingston Rovers on Thursday 12th February. A week later, Hull KR face the Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge.
On 28th February, the Robins are due to face Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas. Rivals Round is scheduled to take place between 3rd-5th April, while Super League returns to Paris on Saturday 6th June.
Magic Weekend is scheduled for 4th-5th July, while the play-offs commence from 19th September.
This season's Grand Final will take place at Old Trafford on Saturday 3rd October.
Super League Favourites
Odds will display when the market is available.
After failing to win any trophy in 2025, Wigan Warriors are out for revenge over the next eight months and they are the 15/8 favourites to win the Grand Final once again.
Matty Peet's team finished second in the regular season last year, but they were outclassed 24-6 by Hull KR at Old Trafford in the Grand Final.
Peters' side head into 2026 eager to defend their domestic treble and are 21/10 to win the Grand Final for a second successive season.
Leeds Rhinos and St Helens are joint third-favourites at 6/1.
Top Tryscorer Favourites
It's a four-way tie at the top of the betting for the top tryscorer award, with Jai Field, Liam Marshall, Alfie Edgell and Lewis Martin all available at 8/1.
Martin won the award last year with 25 tries to his name, only one ahead of Field.
Robins pair Mikey Lewis and Joe Burgess ended the 2025 campaign with 19 and 18 and they are 12/1 and 9/1 to win this year's award.
Data-Led Super League Predictions & Analytics
Here's what the data tells us about the leading contenders:
Hull KR built their success in 2025 on a resolute defence, conceding only 292 points across the season, giving them a points difference score of +494
Leeds Rhinos focused their play on energy and fitness in 2025. Full-back Lachlan Miller was Super League's top metre maker with 4115, while hooker Jarrod O'Connor registered the most tackles with 1044
Leigh Leopards' Lachlan Lam was the best playmaker in the division in 2025, providing 41 assists, 11 more than his nearest rival
Catalans Dragons really struggled when travelling to England, conceding 348 points away from home
Hull FC fared better when playing on the road, scoring 273 points away, compared to 256 at MKM Stadium
Super League Outright Prediction
Wigan might be the marginal favourites to win the Grand Final, but it is hard to overlook Hull KR. They outclassed everyone in 2025 and although they may make a slow start due to their congested fixture list in February, they will come good.
They will miss the experience of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Micky McIllorum, with the pair now retired, but they have added some real quality and improved their depth.
They were ruthless under Peters and while another treble is a tough ask, they should be able to reach a third successive Grand Final and get their hands on the trophy once again.
Dark Horses to Watch
Brad Arthur transformed Leeds last season and they were contenders again after a rough few years.
The Rhinos have now had a year to get used to his methods, and more importantly, they have had another pre-season to get even fitter. Danny Levi's arrival should strengthen their play in the ruck and they have some serious firepower out wide.
A few of Leeds' players have already confirmed their planned departures for 2027, so expect them to go out with a bang.
St Helens are good value like Leeds at 6/1, and new coach Paul Rowley will hope to get them back to their best after a flat year in attack under Paul Wellens.
Catalans look a huge price at 28/1 after some shrewd signings and if they can gel under young coach Joel Tomkins, they could go close, but for now, it is a case of wait and see how they start after their squad overhaul.
Expert Tip - Lewis Martin to win top tryscorer
Lewis Martin finished last year as Super League's top tryscorer and the Black and Whites have only strengthened their squad. The arrival of Sam Lisone and Joe Batchelor should add some power and class to Hull FC's ranks, which will only benefit Martin out wide.
He averaged 0.93 tries per game last season, and he is the man to beat.
Who Lifts the Grand Final?
The best thing about the 2026 Super League campaign is five teams will feel they can get their hands on the Grand Final trophy.
Wigan, Hull KR, Leeds, St Helens and Leigh Leopards will all have aspirations of going all the way.
After their total dominance last year, Hull KR are the team to beat and should be considered the favourites for the crown.
Peters' team will only believe in themselves more after such a successful campaign last time out, and that spells danger for everyone else.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
