Super League 2024: Club-by-club guide including all ins and outs ahead of big kick-off

The Betfred Super League season is about to get up and running with plenty of fascinating sub-plots running through the competition.

Will the return of superstar Sam Burgess, as a head coach for the first time, turn Warrington into champions at last? Can champions Wigan start their own dynasty by securing back-to-back glories? The recruitment of Luke Thompson, Kruise Leeming and Adam Keighran does suggest Matt Peet’s side are only going to get stronger.

But will Leeds rally on the back of signing ex-Man of Steel Brodie Croft and England hooker Andy Ackers and can St Helens, after seeing their four-year reign ended, immediately regain their crown. Or is this the year we have a new name on the Super League trophy? A Catalans Dragons or Hull KR perhaps. There’s plenty to take on board and here’s an in-depth look at all 12 clubs who are at the start line of this Super League campaign.

Castleford Tigers

Coach: Craig Lingard

Co-captains: Paul McShane/Joe Westerman

Title odds: 66/1

Predicted finish: 11th

New signing to watch: Sylvester Namo (North Queensland Cowboys) - the Papua New Guinea prop can pack a punch and is ready to make the most of his first-grade shot.

Ins: Nixon Putt (Central Queensland Capras), Elie El-Zakhem (North Sydney Bears), Sylvester Namo (North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Hodson (Batley), Josh Simm (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Sam Wood (Hull KR), Luke Hooley (Leeds), Rowan Milnes (Hull KR), Innes Senior (Huddersfield), Samy Kibula (Batley), Luis Johnson (Hull KR), Dan Hindmarsh (Northern Pride)

Outs: Niall Evalds (Hull KR), Jordan Turner (Oldham), Nathan Massey (Featherstone), Greg Eden (Halifax), Jacob Hookem (Dewsbury), Bailey Dawson (Dewsbury), Kieran Hudson (Leeds), Alex Sutcliffe, Ilikaya Mafi, Suaia Matagi (all Doncaster), Blake Austin, Billy Tsikrikas, Jordan Johnstone, Alex Foster (all loans expired), Kenny Edwards (Mackay Cutters), Elliot Wallis (Huddersfield), Gareth Widdop (Halifax), Aaron Willis, Courage Mkuhlani (both Midlands)

Verdict: Came so close to relegation last year and fear it will be another long, hard slog. Lots of low-key recruits still with plenty to prove.

Catalans Dragons

Coach: Steve McNamara

Captain: Ben Garcia

Title odds: 10/1

Predicted finish: 3rd

New signing to watch: Tariq Sims (Melbourne Storm) - one of the NRL’s top forwards, a New South Wales State of Origin rep’ and now ready to become third Sims brother, after Ashton and Korbin, to hit Super League.

Ins: Chris Satae (Hull), Theo Fages (Huddersfield), Tariq Sims (Melbourne Storm), Jayden Nikorima (Melbourne Storm), Bayley Sironen (New Zealand Warriors), Jordan Abdull (Hull KR – Season-long loan)

Outs: Sam Tomkins (retirement), Adam Keighran, Tiaki Chan (both Wigan), Mickael Goudemand (Leeds), Tyrone May (Hull KR), Mitchell Pearce (retirement), Matt Whitley (St Helens)

Verdict: Big changes with Sam Tomkins and Mitchell Pearce retired but should be up there challenging on both fronts again. Ex-St Helens and Huddersfield scrum-half Theo Fages should flourish being back in France.

Huddersfield Giants

Coach: Ian Watson

Captain: Luke Yates

Title odds: 18/1

Predicted finish: Eighth

New signing to watch: Adam Clune - having arrived from Newcastle Knights, the Aussie playmaker needs to get bossing this Huddersfield side. Needs to quickly settle in.

Ins: Thomas Deakin (Sydney Roosters), Adam Swift (Hull), Andre Savelio (Hull), Elliot Wallis (Castleford), Hugo Salabio (Wakefield), Jack Murchie (Parramatta Eels), Adam Clune (Newcastle Knights)

Outs: Jack Ashworth (Hull), Theo Fages (Catalans), Will Pryce (Newcastle Knights), Josh Jones (retired), Adam O’Brien (Halifax), Jermaine McGillvary (Wakefield), Chris McQueen (retirement), Nathan Peats (retirement), George Roby (Swinton), Nathan Mason (Corrimal Cougars), Owen Trout (Leigh), Innes Senior (Castleford), Aidan McGowan (Bradford – Season-long loan)

Verdict: Need a big season but still so many question marks about whether they can fire under Watson. Maverick Jake Connor has to shine but where does he fit in?

Hull FC
Coach: Tony Smith

Captain: Danny Houghton

Title odds: 25/1

Predicted finish: Ninth

New signing to watch: Nu Brown - made his Kiwis Test debut at hooker last year but he’s been tasked with solving Hull’s half-back issue and has the game to do it.

Ins: Herman Ese’ese (Dolphins), Jayden Okunbor (Canterbury Bulldogs), Franklin Pele (Canterbury Bulldogs), Jack Walker (Hull KR), Liam Tindall (Leeds), Jack Ashworth (Huddersfield), Morgan Smith (Wakefield), Damel Diakhate (signed permanently following successful trial), Fa’amanu Brown (Newcastle Knights)

Outs: Chris Satae (Catalans), Jake Clifford (North Queensland Cowboys), Scott Taylor (retirement), Jamie Shaul (retirement), Adam Swift (Huddersfield), Andre Savelio (Huddersfield), Brad Dwyer (Warrington), Joe Lovodua (Doncaster), Ben McNamara (Leigh), Connor Wynne (Featherstone), Jude Ferreira (Hunslet), Manoa Wacokecoke (Featherstone), Charlie Severs (York – loan – length unconfirmed)

Verdict: Hard to see too much improvement on last year’s poor showing. Big responsibility on NRL signings Brown and Herman Ese’ese to instantly hit it off but will struggle to make play-offs.

Hull KR

Coach: Willie Peters

Captain: Elliot Minchella

Title odds: 12/1

Predicted finish: Fourth

New signing to watch: Peta Hiku - big shoes to fill after Lachlan Coote’s forced retirement but the Kiwi international, who joins from North Queensland, has bags of experience ready to slot in at full-back.

Ins: Oliver Gildart (Leigh), Peta Hiku (North Queensland Cowboys), AJ Wallace (Bradford), Tyrone May (Catalans), Niall Evalds (Castleford), Neil Tchamambe (Leeds) Jai Whitbread (Wakefield), Reiss Butterworth (Dewsbury), Kelepi Tanginoa (Wakefield), Joe Burgess (Salford)

Outs: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (retirement), Ethan Ryan (Salford), Sam Wood (Castleford), Jimmy Keinhorst (York), Brad Schneider (Penrith Panthers), Jack Walker (Hull), Greg Richards (Toulouse), Rowan Milnes (Castleford), Rhys Kennedy (London), Luis Johnson (Castleford), Connor Moore (Saint-Gaudens Bears), Kane Linnett (Sarina Crocodiles), Jordan Abdull (Catalans – Season-long loan)

Verdict: With signings like Tyrone May, Hiku and Kelepi Tanginoa, every chance Rovers can kick-on again after their excellent 2023. Will be up there.

Leeds Rhinos

Coach: Rohan Smith

Captain: Cameron Smith

Title odds: 15/2

Predicted finish: Fifth

New signing to watch: Brodie Croft - who else? Can the ex-Man of Steel fire up Rhinos? A brilliant stand-off, he is the best in Super League on his day: there’s good reason Leeds stumped up such a big fee to Salford.

Ins: Mickael Goudemand (Catalans), Lachie Miller (Newcastle Knights), Matt Frawley (Canberra Raiders), Paul Momirovski (Sydney Roosters), Brodie Croft, Andy Ackers (both Salford), Kieran Hudson (Castleford)

Outs: Sam Walters (Wigan), Liam Tindall (Hull), Aidan Sezer (Wests Tigers), Zane Tetevano (released), Blake Austin (The Entrance Tigers), Nene Macdonald (Salford), Luke Hooley (Castleford), Kai Morgan (Salford), Richie Myler (York), Joe Gibbons (Batley), Neil Tchamambe (Hull KR), Ben Hursey-Hord (Halifax)

Verdict: The big-money buys of Aussie ace Croft and England hooker Andy Ackers should give Leeds the direction and zip they’ve so badly lacked. Expect them to be back in those play-off spots.

Leigh Leopards

Coach: Adrian Lam

Captain: John Asiata

Title odds: 16/1

Predicted finish: Sixth

New signing to watch: Matt Moylan - a big-name addition, the New South Wales State of Origin stand-off has lit up the NRL with Penrith and Cronulla. Now for Super League. And what a pairing with Lachlan Lam.

Ins: Dan Norman (St Helens), Owen Trout (Huddersfield), Louis Brogan (Swinton), Lewis Baxter (St Helens), Jack Darbyshire (Warrington), Kavan Rothwell (Wigan), Ben McNamara (Hull), Matt Moylan (Cronulla Sharks)

Outs: Oliver Gildart (Hull KR), Joe Wardle (Oldham), Ben Reynolds (Featherstone), Ava Seumanufagai (Campbelltown City Kangaroos), Joe Mellor (Salford)

Verdict: Many will fear ‘second season syndrome’ for Challenge Cup holders but the addition of ex-Australia stand-off Moylan means they could get even better. Pressure on them but good enough for another top-six slot.

London Broncos

Coach: Mike Eccles

Captain: Will Lovell

Key man: Dean Parata

Title odds: 150/1

Predicted finish: 12th

New signing to watch: Lee Kershaw - only just signed up having needed to show his worth on a month-long trial but expect the ex-Wakefield winger to get plenty of tries even if London struggle as expected.

Ins: Sadiq Adebiyi, Robbie Storey (both Keighley), Rhys Kennedy (Hull KR), Gideon Boafo (Newcastle Thunder), James Meadows (Batley), Josh Rourke (Batley Bulldogs), Hakim Miloudi (Limoux), Jack Campagnolo (South Logan Magpies), Lee Kershaw (Wakefield)

Outs: Paul Ulberg (Toulouse), Wellington Albert (Featherstone), Henry Raiwalui (released), Corey Norman (released), Max Allen (released), Euan Parke (released), Rian Horsman (released), Dean Whare (released)

Verdict: Promoted side is widely-tipped to finish 12th and easy to see why. No big-name signings, some players staying on part-time contracts and already suffered some costly injuries.

Salford Red Devils

Coach: Paul Rowley

Captain: Kallum Watkins

Key man: Cade Cust

Title odds: 66/1

Predicted finish: Tenth

New signing to watch: Cade Cust - Aussie stand-off fell down the pecking order at Wigan but ready to bounce back with Salford, even if he’ll be a different style to Croft.

Ins: Nene Macdonald (Leeds), Ethan Ryan (Hull KR), Matty Foster (St Helens), Kai Morgan (Leeds), Cade Cust, Joe Shorrocks (both Wigan), Chris Hankinson (Featherstone), Joe Mellor (Leigh)

Outs: Matty Costello (Barrow), Rhys Williams (Swinton), James Greenwood (Barrow), Brodie Croft & Andy Ackers (both Leeds), Danny Addy (Featherstone), Ken Sio (released on compassionate grounds), Jorge Cabral (North Wales Crusaders), Joe Burgess (Hull KR), Alex Gerrard (released)

Verdict: Seen their already-small squad ransacked with Croft, Ackers, Joe Burgess and Ken Sio all gone. Still have plenty of quality but lack of depth will hurt them.

St Helens

Coach: Paul Wellens

Captain: Jonny Lomax

Title odds: 3/1

Predicted finish: Second

New signing to watch: Daryl Clark - probably got the hardest job in Super League in taking over from the iconic James Roby but the ex-Warrington star has his own sizeable bag of tricks and could be the signing of the season.

Ins: Daryl Clark (Warrington), Tee Ritson (Barrow – loan made permanent), Matt Whitley (Catalans), Waqa Blake (Parramatta Eels)

Outs: James Roby (retirement), Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (retirement), Wesley Bruines (Warrington), Will Hopoate (retirement), Dan Norman (Leigh), Lewis Baxter (Leigh), Jumah Sambou (Oldham), Taylor Pemberton (York), Matty Foster (Salford), Daniel Moss (Bradford on trial), Elliot Peposhi (Bradford), Dan Hill (released)

Verdict: Life without Roby and no longer as champions will be weird. But Saints still have ‘Super’ Jack Welsby and England hooker Clark is a fine recruit for Roby’s No9 shirt so expect them to fly.

Warrington Wolves

Coach: Sam Burgess

Captain: Stefan Ratchford

Title odds: 8/1

Predicted finish: Seventh

New signing to watch: Rodrick Tai - a hard-hitting Papua New Guinea centre, his robust approach should make him an instant fans favourite at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Ins: Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Newcastle Knights), Rodrick Tai (PNG Hunters), Wesley Bruines (St Helens), Toby King (Wigan – returning to parent club from loan spell), Jordan Crowther (Wakefield), Zane Musgrove (St George Illawarra Dragons), Brad Dwyer (Hull), Sam Powell (Wigan), Max Wood (Wigan)

Outs: Daryl Clark (St Helens), Peter Mata’utia (retirement), Greg Minikin (Featherstone), Thomas Mikaele (North Queensland Cowboys), Jack Darbyshire (Leigh), Aiden Doolan (South Sydney Rabbitohs Under-21s), Riley Dean (Mackay Cutters), Sam Kasiano (released by mutual consent)

Verdict: ‘Slammin’ Sam Burgess should bring some much-needed edge to flaky Warrington. But they still face a real battle to make the top-six and will rely heavily on England captain George Williams.

Wigan Warriors

Coach: Matt Peet

Captain: Liam Farrell

Key man: Kruise Leemimg

Title odds: 2/1

Predicted finish: First

New signing to watch: Kruise Leeming - the ex-Leeds hooker has a point to prove after his controversial exit from Headingley and short stint in the NRL. But he could bring a whole new dimension to Wigan’s attack.

Ins: Kruise Leeming (Gold Coast Titans), Adam Keighran (Catalans), Tiaki Chan (Catalans), Sam Walters (Leeds), Luke Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sam Eseh (Wakefield)

Outs: Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights), Toby King (Warrington – returning to parent club from loan spell), Kavan Rothwell (Leigh), Logan Astley (Oldham), Cade Cust (Salford), Iain Thornley (Wakefield), Kieran Tyrer (Oldham), Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders), Sam Powell (Warrington), Joe Shorrocks (Salford), Ramon Silva (Barrow), Joe Baldwin & Reece Bushell (both North Wales Crusaders), Harvey Wilson (Widnes – season-long loan), Harvey Makin (Barrow – season-long loan), Max Wood (Warrington)

Verdict: The champions have only got stronger with recruitment of Leeming, England prop Luke Thompson, Catalans centre Adam Keighran and the towering Sam Walters. A good bet to retain the title.