A LOOK AT THE 12 TEAMS WHO WILL FEATURE IN THE ENGLISH SUPER LEAGUE IN 2020.
* CASTLEFORD TIGERS
Coach: Daryl Powell Captain: Michael Shenton
Key men: Sosaia Feki, Peter Mata’utia
Last season: 5th – lost in qualifying final
The unfashionable Tigers rarely get the headlines reserved for big guns St Helens, Wigan and Leeds but have been one of the most entertaining sides in Super League in recent seasons. Although Cas have struggled to reach the heights of 2017 when their freewheeling style took them to the grand final, the signing of prolific former Cronulla winger Feki will bolster an already strong attack.
* CATALANS DRAGONS
Coach: Steve McNamara Captain: Remi Casty
Key men: James Maloney, Israel Folau
Last season: 7th
The high-profile arrival of two-time NRL premiership winner and former NSW five-eighth Maloney was eclipsed by the seismic signing of former Wallabies fullback Folau this week. The French outfit have largely underachieved but with the likes of Sam Tomkins and former Gold Coast flyer David Mead in their ranks, they have the weapons to contend for a premiership.
* HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS
Coach: Simon Woolford Captain: Aidan Sezer
Key men: Jermaine McGillvary, Aidan Sezer
Last season: 10th
Former Canberra hooker Woolford has worked wonders to keep the Giants in the division given the team’s small squad. But what they lack in numbers they do not lack in talent. McGilvary is one of the outstanding wingers in the world and the signing of Sezer, who guided the Raiders to the NRL grand final last year, is a huge coup. Ex-Parramatta back-rower Kenny Edwards could be a smart signing if he can keep himself out of trouble off the field.
* HULL FC
Coach Lee Radford Captain Danny Houghton
Key men: Manu Ma’u, Mahe Fonua
Last season 6th
Hull have splashed the cash this season, signing Tongan enforcer Ma’u from the Eels and luring fans’ favourite Fonua back to the club following two injury-hit years with Wests Tigers. Former Manly and Warriors utility forward Ligi Sao has also been recruited. Consistency cost the Airlie Birds a finals spot last year and the pressure is on coach Radford for a top-five finish.
* HULL KR
Coach: Tony Smith Captain: Weller Hauraki
Key men: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Kane Linnett
Last season 11th
The career-ending injury to popular forward Mose Masoe during a trial match has cast a shadow over a club who avoided relegation last year by the skin of their teeth. The signing of Kenny-Dowall from Newcastle sees him reunite with former Sydney Roosters teammate Linnett in the centres, but a season of struggle awaits Rovers despite the presence of the experienced Tony Smith in the coaching box.
* LEEDS RHINOS
Coach: Richard Agar Captain: Stevie Ward
Key men: Matt Prior, Luke Gale
Last season 8th
The last two years have been nothing short of disastrous for one of the true heavyweights of English rugby league. Poor recruitment and a lack of stability in the coaching position, led to the club flirting with a first ever relegation. However, the Rhinos are confident of a much-improved campaign. Prior may not be a headline-grabbing signing, but the two-time NRL premiership-winning forward is exactly the kind of player the team need after losing Trent Merrin.
* SALFORD RED DEVILS
Coach: Ian Watson Captain: Lee Mossop
Key men: Joey Lussick, Kevin Brown
Last season: Grand finalists
Tipped to be relegated last year, the perennial battlers silenced the critics by reaching the grand final. Talismanic former Roosters and Manly playmaker Jackson Hastings has left the club for Wigan so any hopes of a repeat season are reliant on vastly experienced former England halfback Brown. Former Manly youngster Lussick was outstanding at hooker and will be a big player for the Red Devils in 2020.
* ST HELENS
Coach: Kristian Woolf
Captain: James Roby
Key men: Lachlan Coote, Kevin Naiqama
Last season: Premiers
Tonga coach Woolf has a brief taste of being a head coach at club level with Newcastle last year when he temporarily replaced Nathan Brown. He arrives at St Helens with the unenviable task of replicating the achievements of new Gold Coast chief Justin Holbrook. Such is the strength of a Saints squad than ran in 150 tries last season and conceded just 395 points that no reinforcements were needed to the 2020 roster. Very much the team to beat.
* TORONTO WOLFPACK
Coach: Brian McDermott
Captain: Josh McCrone
Key men: Sonny Bill Williams, Josh McCrone
Last season: Promoted from the Championship
The signing of cross-code superstar Williams put North America’s only professional rugby league franchise on the map. But while the former All Blacks pockets a reported $5million, a small squad of just 23 players could hinder the Wolfpack in their first season in the top flight. Ex-Raiders half McCrone and former Kiwi back-rower Bodene Thompson are good players, but doubts remain about the overall quality of the roster.
* WAKEFIELD TRINITY
Coach Chris Chester
Captain Jacob Miller
Key men: David Fifita, Bill Tupou
Last season: 9th
Survival is very much the aim for one of the least resourced clubs in the competition. Former Wests Tigers junior Jacob Miller has carved out a good career in England but along with mercurial Scotland playmaker Danny Brough he will need to step up if Wakefield are to keep out of the relegation dogfight.
* WARRINGTON WOLVES
Coach Steve Price
Captain Chris Hill
Key men: Gareth Widdop, Ben Murdoch-Masila
Last season 4th and Challenge Cup winners
Warrington ended their Wembley hoodoo and a 35-year wait for silverware with victory in the Challenge Cup final over Wigan. But it was to the detriment of their league campaign which fell apart in the second half of the season. Never afraid to spend, the arrival of Widdop will form a high-quality halves pairing with Blake Austin as the Wolves look to win a first premiership since 1955.
* WIGAN WARRIORS
Coach Adrian Lam
Captain Sean O’Loughlin
Key men: Jackson Hastings, Bevan French
Last season 2nd – preliminary finalists.
With last year’s Man of Steel Hastings and former South Sydney forward George Burgess arriving for 2020, confidence is high in Wigan. After watching bitter rivals St Helens win the premiership last year the club are desperate to get back on top of the tree. The roster is filled with top-class talent and the Warriors should go close.
