The final day of the Super League regular season sprung a late shock when Salford sneaked into fourth place despite winning only one of their last seven games. A heavy home defeat by St Helens sent Wakefield out of the top four and opened the door to the Red Devils.
There have been surprising results throughout Super League’s 20th season and, after a roller-coaster 23 rounds, nobody is sure what the Super 8s will deliver in these final seven weeks.
Castleford lead their nearest challengers, Leeds, by 10 points and, such is their advantage, the Tigers could win their first League Leaders’ Shield before the Challenge Cup final. Castleford are assured of a place in the play-offs before the Super 8s begin, owing to their 14-point lead over fifth-placed Wakefield and the fact that all their challengers play each other in the coming weeks.
However, it is the way Castleford have gone about establishing themselves as favourites for Old Trafford which has been most impressive. At times they have looked almost untouchable with ball in hand, and with only three defeats it is clear it will take something special to deny Daryl Powell’s side a first appearance in the Grand Final in October.
However, everything below the irrepressible Tigers is far less clear-cut. Leeds, with a four-point cushion over Wakefield in fifth, now have the added incentive of sending out the long-serving Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow on a high, and few would fancy facing the Rhinos in a do-or-die game at Headingley.
Hull FC, in third, and Salford occupy the final two play-off places before the Super 8s. Wakefield, who were within touching distance of relegation and going part-time two seasons ago, will feel they still have a big say in the race for Old Trafford, despite failing to secure third place on Sunday when losing 41-16 to St Helens.
Chris Chester, Wakefield’s coach, said: “It hurts that we’ve thrown away third spot and thrown away fourth spot but I’m also proud of this group of players because we’ve achieved what people thought we couldn’t, the top six.”
Huddersfield, in eighth, are the furthest adrift of the play-offs but, with only a five-point gap to claw back, they could yet force their way into contention. The perennial powerhouses of St Helens (sixth) and Wigan (seventh), despite being poor for most of the regular season, remain in contention. The Saints in particular look dangerous, lying a point adrift of fourth after their win at Belle Vue on Sunday.
Justin Holbrook, the St Helens coach, is delighted with his side’s position. “We’re showing we’re right in the mix, which is exciting,” he said. “We’re heading in the right direction for sure.”
Perhaps the biggest positive of the Super 8s structure has been the Qualifiers and this year’s “middle eight” competition to determine the final four places in Super League for 2018 looks like being a thrilling contest once again.
It is no shock to see Widnes and Leigh finish in the bottom two and be regarded as the most likely relegation candidates. They are the sides the Championship quartet of Hull Kingston Rovers – relegated last season – London, Halifax and Featherstone will be eyeing as vulnerable.
Hull KR have sauntered through the Championship season and arrive at the Qualifiers as the most likely second-tier side to return to Super League in 2018.
Whether they do so via a top-three finish, and automatic promotion, as Leigh did last year, or through the drama of the Million Pound Game – the match in which they were relegated 12 months ago – remains to be seen. But if it is as unpredictable as the regular season we are in for a treat.
