The 2024 Super League season is nearly upon us and it will soon be time for the 12 teams to compete over a gruelling eight-month campaign.
Wigan Warriors are the defending champions heading into the new season, but there have been plenty of changes across the league, so it will not be easy for them to defend their crown.
London Broncos earned promotion from the Championship last season, replacing Wakefield Trinity, and they will be up against it as they try to retain their place before the new licensing system is introduced for the 2025 campaign.
- Wigan Warriors to win the Grand Final
- London Broncos to finish bottom
- Abbas Miski top try scorer
- Jack Welsby to be named Man Of Steel
Wigan Capable Of Defending Crown
Wigan Warriors timed their title run to perfection last season as they swooped to the League Leaders' Shield.
Matty Peet's side won their last nine games of the regular season to finish top of the standings, before beating Hull KR in the playoffs and then Catalans Dragons in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
While Peet has lost Sam Powell and Morgan Smithies to Warrington Wolves and the NRL, they have recruited well to replace them.
Hooker Kruise Leeming has moved to the DW Stadium, while Luke Thompson will add some extra firepower to their pack.
They also weakened Catalans by signing Adam Keighran and the centre will add some extra quality out wide.
Wigan's recruitment looks to be near-perfect in recent months and, while Warrington Wolves made the bold decision to hire Sam Burgess as their new coach, they are a long way behind Wigan and he has to prove himself at this level in the dugout.
Both St Helens and Leeds Rhinos should be competing at the right end of the table, but it is Wigan's squad that looks well-equipped for another title charge.
Broncos To Struggle
The Broncos were not expected to earn promotion to the top-flight, but they deserve their spot amongst the elite.
Nine new faces have arrived to try and replace the eight that departed over the winter, but sadly they are still lacking in quality across the park.
One of those recruits, Josh Rourke, will miss the majority of the season after breaking his leg in a pre-season friendly against Oldham at the start of February.
Team-mate Bill Leyland has already been ruled out for the season with a knee ligament injury and it looks like the Broncos are already fighting a losing battle.
Miski Will Be Hard To Beat
Wigan winger Abbas Miski enjoyed an incredible year with the club last season.
Not only did he help them win the League Leaders' Shield and Grand Final, but he also collected individual honours of his own.
Miski's 28 tries ensured he finished as the top try scorer in Super League and he has every chance of repeating that feat.
By playing for Wigan, Miski has some of the best players in Super League feeding him the ball and the arrivals of Thompson, Keighran and others will only improve Wigan's chances of scoring more tries.
Miski has been a try-scoring machine since he moved to England, scoring 18 in 21 games for the London Broncos in his only campaign in the Championship.
Since joining Wigan, he has scored 38 in 34 appearances and he should be the one to consider in this year's market.
Welsby Deserves Moment
The Super League Man Of Steel Award is given to the rugby league footballer of the year, and St Helens ace Jack Welsby is the favourite for this year's crown.
Only one player has won the trophy three times and it is Wigan's Bevan French who will try to defend his crown.
Welsby is the preference, though, as he clearly means business, having signed a new contract until 2027.
The St Helens man is one of the best full-backs in the world and he has already scored 53 tries in 117 appearances.
He has already won the Grand Final and World Club Challenge, so winning a personal award will complete the set for the England international.
At just 22 he still has so much more potential to unleash, which is a scary thought considering his performances in recent seasons.
Saints need their players to step up after they failed to reach the Grand Final and Welsby can do that and more.
JACK WELSBY TO BE NAMED MAN OF STEEL
