Thursday 3 May 2018 12:06, UK
Who's top of the class? Who could do better? Sky Sports' Barrie McDermott and Jon Wells deliver their Super League half-term report card.
St Helens: A
Ben Barba has been the star pupil of the competition. Coach Justin Holbrook has given youth a chance in the shape of Danny Richardson - who has Sean Long as his private tutor. They lost Alex Walmsley but have coped well with Kyle Amor and Luke Thompson really stepping up in 2018.
Wigan: B+
Sam Tomkins' return to form has spearheaded the Warriors when some were expecting them to miss out on the top four this year. They have a fantastic triumvirate of wingers competing for places and scoring from anywhere. There is some concern at a lack of attention early in games and having to run down big leads and they may struggle to reel in big deficits in the tough tests to come later in the year.
Warrington: B+
They made a slow start but the addition of Josh Charnley has taken them to another level. He is a lethal finisher who has helped turn Warrington into a genuine top-four threat. They have won seven Super League games in a row but face a real examination in their next two games against Leeds and Wigan (both on Sky).
Castleford: B-
The Tigers are still getting used to a key loss in the form of the banned Zak Hardaker. They have still to find a working formula for their attack and we're not sure they know their best 'spine' just yet. If they do find the right balance, the senior players in the team have the opportunity to turn their current mark into a B+.
Hull FC: B
They get distracted easily and some days it's like their minds are elsewhere (losses to Salford & Catalans) - but when they click they can be a real force capable of beating anyone. Bureta Faraimo has been a good acquisition to offset the hefty loss of Mahe Fonua and on the opposite flank Fetuli Talanoa is third in the try-scoring charts.
Leeds: C+
Lots of conjecture over how Leeds would cope without Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow. Richie Myler has been excellent but three one-point losses sees Leeds off the pace in the league table. A win at Saints showed they can challenge but they need more from Joel Moon to start climbing that table and to make the minimum pre-season target of the play-offs.
Wakefield: D
Looked promising at the start with four wins from four but only one win from eight since (against the best side St Helens!). There are high expectations of a top-four place but need to find ways of involving their outside backs more to reach that potential.
Salford: B
Many expected them to be rooted to the foot of the table with key losses and lack of recruitment early in the season - but they have exceeded expectations and look likely to avoid the dreaded bottom four. They are a hard-working side but need Rob Lui fit to hold the team together and spark their flamboyant attack.
Widnes: C+
Pre-season expectations would have had them as a bottom two side so the fact they are currently ninth is cause for optimism. Too much distance between their best and worst performances which can happen when having to roll with so much inexperience in the team. They are riddled with injuries (again) but we really like their attitude to youth development and willingness to give their kids a chance.
Hull KR: C
Their only wins have come against other clubs in the bottom four which will not be enough to see them avoid the Qualifiers but it is the type of form that will see them avoid relegation which would have been their target grade pre-season.
Huddersfield: D
A disappointing season to date saw coach Rick Stone axed. We have not seen a great deal in the last 18 months to suggest they would be anything other than bottom of the class. Their defence is by far the worst in Super League and that needs addressing urgently. Worryingly, interim coach Chris Thorman said the players didn't have any "fight" in their recent defeat at St Helens which is a worry for any side facing a relegation scrap.
Catalans: E
The biggest disappointment so far. They had a truncated pre-season due to the fact that so many French players were at the World Cup and they have been nilled on more than one occasion already. They must do better and fast; especially in attack which has looked aimless at times this year. Recent signing Josh Drinkwater was top of the class in their victory over Hull FC but he is a half who has been relegated from Super League twice already (with London and Leigh). Major question marks remain over their recruitment.
