Super League 2026 – Round 21 preview, predictions and tips
I’m going to start with a mini moan this week, although it’s a bit double edged.
First, the positive. I love the fact that games are scheduled well in advance now, as it allows fans to plan and doesn’t leave us at the whims of the TV companies like we see so often with the Premier League.
However, it does mean we’re left with the absurd situation we have this week where three games are taking place at the same time on Friday night and the whole round will be over by Saturday night.
I’m not naive enough to think we can compete with football and steal the Super Sunday slot, but surely when it’s their off-season we could stick Leigh vs Wigan on Sunday afternoon and grab a few casual viewers for what’s practically a top-of-the-table clash. As a sport, we don’t help ourselves at times.
Anyway, mini rant over. Here’s a look ahead to that match, and the six others this weekend…
- Thursday 30th July – Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC
- Friday 31st July – Leigh Leopards vs Wigan Warriors
- Friday 31st July – Hull KR vs Bradford Bulls
- Friday 31st July – Leeds Rhinos vs Toulouse Olympique
- Saturday 1st August – Castleford Tigers vs Warrington Wolves
- Saturday 1st August – York Knights vs St Helens
- Saturday 1st August – Catalans Dragons vs Wakefield Trinity
*All odds are taken from Paddy Power and correct at time of writing on 30th July 2026.
Thursday 30th July – Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC
Form guide
The Giants finally ended their 12-match losing run with a 24-22 win over York. They remain rock bottom, but a win this week will bring them within two points of their opponents.
Hull FC were spirited in their 34-20 loss to local rivals Hull KR, but ultimately fell to a sixth straight defeat. They’re 13th, but could climb to 11th with a win.
Team news
My prediction – Huddersfield Giants 12-14 Hull FC
My expectations for this game are so low that it could be one of those which surprises me with how entertaining it is. I won’t be holding my breath though. As for the result, I can’t call it as both sides are having horrible seasons. If I had to though, I’d just be edging towards the Black and Whites.
Betting tips
I can see why Huddersfield are slight favourites here, but it means a great opportunity to get on Hull FC at 1/1. Harvey Barron is 7/5 for an anytime try, which also looks way too good to pass up.
Friday 31st July – Leigh Leopards vs Wigan Warriors
Form guide
Leigh comfortably saw off Warrington last weekend to make it eight wins from their last nine games. That run has seen them surge into 5th.
Wigan are on their own impressive run of form with eight straight wins. The latest was a 38-16 demolition of St Helens, which has them sitting in 3rd – just two points behind Leeds.
Team news
My prediction – Leigh Leopards 18-20 Wigan Warriors
This is quite comfortably the game of the weekend and it’s impossible to separate these two. Nothing’s off the table here, but I’m leaning towards the Warriors.
Betting tips
Zach Eckersley is huge at 11/10 for an aytime try, so I’m straight on that. I think this will be extremely close, so I’m backing Wigan to win by 1-7 points as well, which is 4/1.
Friday 31st July – Hull KR vs Bradford Bulls
Form guide
Hull KR have been out of sorts recently, but their 34-20 win at rivals Hull FC last week has tlifted them back into the top six. They’re level on points with 7th-placed St Helens, but with a game in hand and a significantly better points difference.
Meanwhile, Bradford were beaten 42-12 by Leeds to suffer a sixth loss in their last seven. They remain 12th.
Team news
My prediction – Hull KR 30-12 Bradford Bulls
This should be a routine home win for the Robins. Bradford are out of form and injury-hit, so I’d expect the reigning champions to sniff blood at home.
Betting tips
Hull KR are 1/200 and have a -38 handicap, so I’m ignoring the win and handicap markets in this one completely. Granted, they should win this, but they’ve not exactly been in great form recently, so a 38-point headstart looks wild to me. The anytime tryscorer market isn’t great for the backs either, so I’ll go for a couple of outsiders. Jez Litten is 21/10 and Tom Amone is 7/2. If the Robins do rack up a big score, they could both easily cross the whitewash.
Friday 31st July – Leeds Rhinos vs Toulouse Olympique
Form guide
Leeds bounced back from a surprise loss at Castleford to beat Bradford 42-12 last week. That win kept them top with a two point cushion to Wakefield and Wigan.
Toulouse saw their three-game winning run come to an end in an 18-16 loss to Catalans Dragons. They remain in 9th after that defeat.
Team news
My prediction – Leeds Rhinos 28-10 Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse have put some impressive wins together recently, but I’d expect them to fall short here against a Rhinos side with realistic hopes of a League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final double.
Betting tips
Jack Bird looks well-priced at 7/5 for an anytime try. I can’t see Toulouse being held to nil, which makes Paul Ulberg’s 21/10 look very tempting as well. He;s the favourite for the away side, so this is a huge price.
Saturday 1st August – Castleford Tigers vs Warrington Wolves
Form guide
Castleford’s inconsistency haunted them again last week as they were beaten 52-14 by Wakefield. Just a week earlier they’d seen off Leeds in a magnificent two-point victory. They remain 10th in the table.
Warrington also followed up an impressive win with a heavy loss, as they went down 28-12 to Leigh. The Wire remain 4th, but they’re just two points clear inside the top six.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced yet, but Castleford coach Ryan Carr has confirmed that Semi Valemei and Ashton Golding are likely to miss the rest of the season through injury. In better news, George Lawler could return this week.
Warrington will definitely be without James Bentley, who failed his HIA in last week’s loss at Leigh. Leon Hayes escaped with a fine at the disciplinary this week, while Cai Taylor-Wray could come back after returning as 18th man last week.
My prediction – Castleford Tigers 6-24 Warrington Wolves
The Tigers have the ability to pull a result out of the bag as they showed against Leeds a couple of weeks ago, but I can;t see Warrington letting this slip. This is a game they’ll expect to win and they should see it through.
Betting tips
I’m expecting Warrington to bounce back this week, so the -10 handicap at 10/11 looks ok to me. It’s 7/5 for them to win by 15+ as well, which I’m happy to take.
Saturday 1st August – York Knights vs St Helens
Form guide
York have lost their last two following three straight wins. Their 24-22 defeat to Huddersfield last week has seen them remain in 11th.
St Helens dropped out of the top six with a 38-16 loss to Wigan last weekend. A win here could see them climb back in though, and if results really go their way, they could even go as high as 4th.
Team news
York will definitely be without David Nofoaluma, after the winger failed his HIA last week. Paul McShane escaped with a fine at the disciplinary though, so he’s available.
St Helens lost three players in last week’s defeat at Wigan, and interim coach Eamonn O’Carroll has confirmed that George Delaney, Jed Cartwright and Matty Evans will all be missing this week.
My prediction – York Knights 12-20 St Helens
This has banana skin written all over it, but I still fancy the Saints here. If they do lose, they might as well pack up and go home for the rest of the year, as there’ll be tougher tests than this to come.
Betting tips
I’m not overly convinced by the -8 handicap in this one, so instead I’ll back Lewis Murphy and Jacob DouglasI for an anytime try when the market opens.
Saturday 1st August – Catalans Dragons vs Wakefield Trinity
Form guide
The Dragons picked up just their third win in their last eight games with their 18-16 victory over Toulouse last week. They remain 8th, and have given themselves some breathing room over the sides below them.
Wakefield made it six wins in a row with their 52-14 thrashing of Castleford last week. The huge increase in points difference has lifted them above Wigan into 2nd as well.
Team news
Catalans Dragons will have Edenn Rogers-Smith available after he escaped a ban at the disciplinary.
Wakefield are in the same position with Matty Storton, who escaped with a fine despite being sent off against Castleford.
My prediction – Catalans Dragons 16-36 Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield are in excellent form and shouldn’t have too much trouble seeing off a Catalans side who are just coasting towards the end of the season.
Betting tips
I’m happy to back Wakefield with a -8 handicap at 10/11. Lachlan Walmsley has been in good form recently, so I’ll get on him for an anytime try when the market opens as well.
