Super League 2025 – Round 16 preview, predictions and tips
I hate to start off with a moan, but I can’t get my head around the fact there’s no Thursday night game again this weekend.
With the football season well and truly over (aside from that Club World Cup nonsense in the USA), now’s the perfect time to capture some more casual viewers. It also makes the decision to have two games kicking off at 5.30 on Saturday even stranger, particularly as they’re both likely to be behind the red button on the hit-and-miss channel that is Sky Sports +.
Still, that’s enough of the complaining. We have six games, all live on TV, and it’s all kicking off with what looks to be the match of the round at Headingley…
- Friday 27th June 2025 – Leeds Rhinos vs Leigh Leopards – AMT Headingley Stadium
- Friday 27th June 2025 – Hull KR vs Wakefield Trinity – Sewell Group Craven Park
- Saturday 28th June 2025 – Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC – Halliwell Jones Stadium
- Saturday 28th June 2025 – Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants – Stade Gilbert Brutus
- Saturday 28th June 2025 – Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors – Mend-A-Hose Jungle
- Sunday 29th June 2025 – St. Helens vs Salford Red Devils – Totally Wicked Stadium
*All odds taken from Paddy Power and correct at time of writing on 25th June 2025.
Friday 27th June 2025 – Leeds Rhinos vs Leigh Leopards – AMT Headingley Stadium
Form guide
Leeds’ five-game winning run came to an abrupt halt last weekend, as they were beaten 18-4 at St. Helens. The defeat meant the Rhinos dropped a place to 4th, as 3rd spot was taken over by…
Leigh Leopards, whose 12-26 win at Catalans Dragons made it three wins on the spin. The Leopards have a five-point cushion on 7th place too, as they close in on a play-off spot for a third-straight year since returning to Super League.
Team news
Two changes to the 21-man-squad for the Rhinos this week. Morgan Gannon and Ethan Clark-Wood drop out, with Alfie Edgell and Presley Cassell coming in.
For Leigh Leopards, Alec Tuitavake drops out from last week’s squad due to suspension as coach Adrian Lam names just a 20-man-squad.
My prediction – Leeds Rhinos 18-16 Leigh Leopards
This could be the match of the round, and I’m backing the Rhinos to bounce back from last week’s loss and edge it, but only just.
Betting tips
Leeds have been given a -10 handicap which looks huge to me, so I’m backing the Leopards with a +10 handicap, at 10/11. For a bit of a long shot, it’s 13/1 on a draw/Leeds Rhinos in the half-time/full-time market. If this game’s as close as I think it’ll be, those are huge odds.
Friday 27th June 2025 – Hull KR vs Wakefield Trinity – Sewell Group Craven Park
Form guide
It’s almost getting boring at this stage with Hull KR – unless you’re a Robins fan of course. Their 0-48 win at Castleford was the fifth time they’ve nilled the opposition this year, which is a new Super League record. We’ve only just crossed the halfway point of the season too, so they could completely obliterate that record by the end of the year. The win was their eighth in a row in Super League, while any talk of a cup final hangover for opposition fans was fanciful too. They’ve scored 116 points in the two games since Wembley, and conceded just six.
Wakefield had their own impressive victory in Round 15 as they saw off Wigan, 16-10, at home. The victory briefly lifted them back into the top six before Hull FC’s victory later in the weekend, but Trinity are right in the thick of the play-off battle.
Team news
Danny Richardson and James Batchelor drop out of last week’s 21 for Hull KR. Harvey Horne comes in, and there’s the chance of a long-awaited return for Rhyse Martin too.
Wakefield make three changes from last time out. Thomas Doyle, Noah High and Ellis Lingard come in to replace Mike McMeeken, Mathieu Cozza and Matty Russell.
My prediction – Hull KR 28-6 Wakefield Trinity
Trinity picked up an impressive win over Wigan last week, but this Rovers side look unstoppable right now, and they’ll be disappointed if they don’t pick up the two points here.
Betting tips
Hull KR have been given a -20 handicap, which should be ok based on their current form. Bear in mind that five of their past six wins have been by 30 points or more. There are no try scorer markets open yet, but I’d be backing Tom Davies for an anytime score when it opens – if the price is right.
Saturday 28th June 2025 – Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC – Halliwell Jones Stadium
Form guide
Warrington have fallen off a cliff in recent weeks, and it makes their inspired performance at Wembley even more baffling (even though they ultimately lost the cup final). Their 16-24 loss at home to Huddersfield last weekend was just the Giants’ second victory of the season, while for the Wire it’s back-to-back defeats since Wembley. Even before that, things weren’t going too rosy though. It’s just one win in six in Super League for Warrington, who are now five points off the play-offs.
Hull FC continue to tick along without doing anything too spectacular. They became the latest side to boost their points difference at Salford last weekend in a 6-38 victory, which made it three wins from their last four. That win also lifted the Black and Whites back up into the top six.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced for this one yet, but Warrington coach Sam Burgess has confirmed that Matt Dufty will be back in the squad, although he’ll be given until the last minute to decide if he’s ready to play. James Harrison will also return from a concussion and Sam Stone is good to go after making his debut last week, with Adam Holroyd ruled out for at least the next six weeks.
Hull FC are expected to go with the same squad who beat Salford last week. That would mean just a second appearance of the year for young halfback Jack Charles, who impressed last week. Zak Hardaker was taken off in that win over Salford, but coach John Cartwright confirmed in the week that it was to give him a rest, and not because of injury.
My prediction – Warrington Wolves 14-20 Hull FC
I can see the Black and Whites continuing to pile on the misery for the Wire this week. Warrington are better than their form suggests, but confidence must be low given their form, and Hull FC need to be looking at this game as a chance to cement their top six spot and pull away even further from their opponents.
Betting tips
Surprisingly, Warrington are massive favourites for this one, so I’m jumping straight on a Hull FC win at 21/10. You can also get 10/11 on FC with a +8 handicap, which offers a bit of a safety net.
Saturday 28th June 2025 – Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants – Stade Gilbert Brutus
Form guide
It’s six straight losses now for Catalans after defeat at home to Leigh last weekend. At least the Dragons put up more of a fight though in their 12-26 beating, which kept them down in 9th.
Huddersfield, meanwhile, built off the back of a solid performance against Wigan in Round 14 to see off Warrington last weekend. Their 16-24 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium was just their second of the season, but the signs have been a lot more positive in recent weeks.
Team news
Again, squads haven’t been announced yet, but interim Dragons coach Joel Tomkins has already confirmed that Arthur Romano and Matthieu Laguerre will be missing this week. Chris Satae and Ben Garcia are out through suspension too, but Denive Balmforth has arrived on loan from Hull FC and should go straight into the squad.
Sam Hewitt and Ashton Golding both went off for Huddersfield in their win over Warrington last weekend. Hewitt failed an HIA, so he’s definitely out this week. Adam Clune came off against Wigan two weeks ago, and it’s been confirmed that he’ll miss the rest of the year.
My prediction – Catalans Dragons 12-18 Huddersfield Giants
The Dragons have been sleepwalking their way towards the end of the year in recent weeks, although they were much better against Leigh last weekend. As for the Giants, they’ve picked up massively in the last two and their win over Warrington last week will have given them a huge boost to get a result in France this weekend.
Betting tips
Catalans are favourites in this one, and whilst I understand the logic, it still seems strange to me. Therefore, I’m getting on Huddersfield at 13/8. You can also get 1/1 on the Giants with a +4 handicap for an extra safety net.
Saturday 28th June 2025 – Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors – Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Form guide
After an impressive victory at Hull FC in Round 14, Castleford were brought back down to earth with a bump last weekend, as they were stuffed 0-48 at home to Hull KR. The loss left them in 10th, and things don’t get much easier, as they go from playing 1st-placed Rovers to the 2nd-placed Warriors this week.
Wigan suffered just a third defeat of the season last time out against Wakefield, as they went down 16-10 in West Yorkshire. The warning signs were there the previous week as they only narrowly scraped past Huddersfield, but their luck ran out last week. They remain comfortably in 2nd, but the loss means they’re four points behind top-of-the-table Hull KR.
Team news
Former Melbourne Storm and Gold Coast Titans prop Joe Stimson has joined the Tigers, and he could go straight into the squad this weekend. Tex Hoy has missed the past two games, but could be back in time for this one.
Wigan coach Matt Peet has confirmed Bevan French suffered a recurrence of a calf injury last weekend, so he looks unlikely to play in this one. If he is ruled out, Jack Farrimond should come straight in. Liam Marshall also picked up a knock in the defeat at Wakefield, but should be good to go this week. New winger Christian Wade could be in the extended squad after a couple of strong performances in the reserves.
My prediction – Castleford Tigers 8-28 Wigan Warriors
Wigan have been below par in the past couple of weeks, but they should still have too much for a Tigers side with just four wins all year and a 0-48 home defeat to Hull KR fresh in their minds. If the Warriors can’t win this, they really are slipping.
Betting tips
There aren’t many markets open yet. and of the ones that are I’m not seeing loads of value. I’d be looking at the try scoring markets when they’re available, with Jai Field and Zach Eckersley my anytime picks.
Sunday 29th June 2025 – St. Helens vs Salford Red Devils – Totally Wicked Stadium
Form guide
St. Helens made it four wins out of five with an impressive 18-4 win over Leeds Rhinos last weekend. For all the criticism the Saints have been getting, they’ve only conceded 12 points across those four victories, so they must be doing something right.
That said, I need to have my second moan of the week now. It’s not Saints’ fault of course, but the fact they’re playing Salford for a second time in three weeks seems farcical at the best of times, let alone when you take the Red Devils’ current plight into consideration.
Such is the comical nature of the loop fixtures, this will be the third meeting of the teams this season, and the aggregate after the first two is 128-4 in St. Helens’ favour.
While the cream will ultimately rise to the top when it comes to play-offs and the Grand Final, Saints are being given a hell of a leg up here in terms of putting an almost-guaranteed six points on the board and a boost in their points difference of at least 150.
RANT OVER.
Salford suffered a 10th straight loss in Round 15, as Hull FC beat them 6-38 at the Salford Community Stadium. If there’s one positive to take from the defeat, it’s that the Red Devils finally cracked the century mark for points scored in 2025.
Team news
Squads haven’t been named for this one yet, but St. Helens should have a similar side to last weekend with no major injuries suffered. That could mean another appearance for youngster Owen Dagnall, who was Man of the Match against Leeds.
Salford lost one of their new arrivals to an HIA last week – Cain Robb. Danny Richardson has arrived on loan from Hull KR though, so he’s likely to go straight into the squad.
My prediction – St. Helens 54-6 Salford Red Devils
As ever, this one’s a case of how many will Salford concede. Saints were much improved last weekend, and I’m expecting them to put on a bit of a show in front of their own fans here.
Betting tips
As is always the case with Salford, there aren’t any markets open yet, but expect Saints to have at least a -30 handicap, which should be very comfortable. I’m backing Harry Robertson and Owen Dagnall for an anytime try as well, but I’m not getting too carried away about the potential odds.
