Super League Round 3 preview: Key matchups could paint relegation picture

The wheels are fully on motion in the 2024 Super League season and round three throws up some interesting contests.

Those teams towards the top of the table will be looking to continue their fine starts, whilst those without a win will be hoping to kick their campaigns into gear.

We preview three key fixtures below.

St Helens v Leigh Leopards – Friday 20:00

It has been a far from surprising start to the 2024 Super League season for St Helens, who are two from two so far. Last year’s champions have faced two of the league’s weaker sides in Huddersfield Giants and London Broncos, winning both games by a cumulative scoreline of 68-4.

Currently sitting top of the league, something which they are all too used to, the Saints are 2/13 favourites to defeat Leigh Leopards on Friday night and make it a hat-trick of wins to kick off their title defence.

Leigh were last season’s surprise package as they went against all the odds to reach the final six, despite it being their first season back in the top flight. They haven’t gotten off to the same kind of start this season, however, falling to a home defeat at the hands of Huddersfield.

At 9/2, it would be no surprise to see Leigh 0-2 for the season come the late hours of Friday evening, but you can be sure that the atmosphere around the club will remain positive and it won’t be long before the Leopards begin to purr this season.

Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers – Friday 20:00

Whilst on the face of it this game doesn’t appear to be on a knife edge, or even a particularly telling matchup, it could be crucial to the Castleford Tigers’ survival chances this season. Craig Lingard’s side head into this game as the 11/2 underdogs, a status which they will be eager to overturn.

Having been embroiled in a relegation scrap for as good as the entirety of last season, an influx of exciting new players and the removal of some deadwood brought much-needed excitement to the Jungle.

The Tigers can count themselves unlucky to have been trounced by Wigan in round 1, a game which they were well and truly in until Liam Watt’s controversial sending off. Round 2 was less excusable as, up against one of their potential relegation rivals in Salford, they fell to a four-point defeat. One highlight from the Tigers’ new recruits has been Nixon Putt, with the Papua New Guinean proving a strong ball-carrier, whilst his technical ability is shown in the fact he leads the league in successful offloads.

The suspension to Watts and somewhat surprise omission of Jason Qareqare from the Castleford squad will give 1/9 favourites Warrington Wolves the upmost confidence in continuing their lively start to the season, having beaten Hull FC by a convincing 36-10 margin last week.

Hull FC v London Broncos – Sunday 15:00

London Broncos were not expected to be back in Super League this season having finished just fifth in the Championship last year. Playoff victories against Sheffield and Featherstone, before a Grand Final triumph over Toulouse saw the capital make its return to the big time.

Expectations were low but Broncos fans will still be disappointed with their lacklustre start, having scored just four points in their opening two games, and conceding a whopping 74. However, they have had to face two formidable opponents in Catalan and St Helens, whilst Sunday’s game against Hull will give a much better idea of what we can expect from the Broncos this season.

Hull certainly haven’t pulled up any trees yet and their opening day defeat to bitter rivals Hull KR won’t have sat well with the Black and White half of the city. At 1/5 they will be hoping to put up their first Super League points of the season against the weakest team in the division, but the Broncos at 7/2 certainly can’t be discounted, especially with tackling machine Dean Parata in fine form, averaging a whopping 55 tackles per game so far this season and no doubt ready to disrupt proceedings again.

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