Super League 2025 – Round 18 preview, predictions and tips
I’m not sure if we can call Round 17 a turning point, but with the top two losing to the sides sitting in 3rd and 4th, suddenly we have a much healthier looking competition.
Even Salford only lost by 12, which was arguably just as big a result as any last weekend. The competition’s definitely hotting up – a bit like the weather – and there are some tasty looking fxtures again this week…
- Thursday 10th July 2025 – Hull FC vs Wakefield Trinity – MKM Stadium
- Friday 11th July 2025 – Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants – Brick Community Stadium
- Friday 11th July 2025 – Leeds Rhinos vs St. Helens – AMT Headingley Stadium
- Saturday 12th July 2025 – Leigh Leopards vs Hull KR – Leigh Sports Village
- Saturday 12th July 2025 – Catalans Dragons vs Warrington Wolves – Stade Gilbert Brutus
- Sunday 13th July 2025 – Salford Red Devils vs Castleford Tigers- Salford Stadium
*All odds taken from Paddy Power, and correct at time of writing on 8th July 2025.
Thursday 10th July 2025 – Hull FC vs Wakefield Trinity – MKM Stadium
Form guide
Hull’s horrific home form continued last weekend against St.Helens, as their 6-13 loss made it 12 games without a win at the MKM – a run which has lasted an entire year. On the plus side for the Black and Whites, their away form has kept them competitive, and they remain just one place and one point outside the top six.
Meanwhile, Wakefield’s play-off push continued to gather pace as they saw off struggling Catalans Dragons, 44-6. That win has them sitting in 6th, a point clear of this week’s opponents.
Team news
Will Hutchinson replaces Will Gardiner this week for Hull FC, who are otherwise unchanged from last week’s 21-man-squad.
Wakefield Trinity make two changes to last week’s squad. Oliver Russell and Ellis Lingard come in for Oliver Pratt and Jack Croft.
My prediction – Hull FC 12-16 Wakefield Trinity
This should be a close game between the sides sitting 7th and 6th in the table, and it’s a close one to call. However, Hull’s abysmal home form has me leaning towards the visitors in this one.
Betting tips
Hull FC are slight favourites, so I’m jumping straight on Wakefield to win, at 13/10. There aren’t any try scoring markets open yet, but I almost always back Lewis Martin to cross for Hull FC, and he rarely lets me down. The young winger has 12 tries in Super League this year, and I’d expect his odds for an anytime try to be somewhere around 1/1 based on previous weeks.
Friday 11th July 2025 – Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants – Brick Community Stadium
Form guide
Wigan have been stuttering in recent weeks, and last Friday’s 18-8 loss at Leigh was their second in their past three games. They also just edged past Huddersfield in the dying seconds, four weeks ago when these sides last met. Still, they remain 2nd, four points behind league leaders, Hull KR.
As for Huddersfield, they’ve won two of their last three since that narrow loss to Wigan in mid-June. A 12-30 win at Castleford last weekend moved them to within two points of the Tigers as they look to climb up from 11th.
Team news
Wigan make just one change to the squad that lost to Leigh last weekend. Jacob Douglas comes in for Jack Farrimond.
Sam Hewitt returns to the Huddersfield squad this week, but Oliver Wilson misses out through injury.
My prediction – Wigan Warriors 28-16 Huddersfield Giants
This will be Wigan’s first home game for two months and I’m expecting them to perform better than they have in recent weeks. They won’t have ot all their own way against a much-improved Giants side though, but they should still have enough to get the job done.
Betting tips
Wigan have been given a -22 handicap, which based on both teams’ recent form looks very generous. On that basis, I’m backing Huddersfield with a +22 handicap at 10/11.
Friday 11th July 2025 – Leeds Rhinos vs St. Helens – AMT Headingley Stadium
Before I get into the form guide, it’s ridiculous that these two are facing each other again just three weeks after their last meeting. They played each other at Magic Weekend too, which was as recent as Round 10. Anyway, moan over, and onto the form guide…
Form guide
It’s seven wins from their last eight for the Rhinos following last weekend’s 8-14 win at Hull KR, which was their best yet. That victory kept Leeds in 3rd, and more crucially they narrowed the gap on 2nd-placed Wigan to two points.
For all the criticism St. Helens have been getting, their form has actually been pretty good, especially with some key players missing. Last weekend’s 6-13 win at Hull FC made it six wins from their past seven games, as they tightened their grip on 5th place with a five-point cushion to 7th-placed Hull FC.
Team news
Leeds have made two changes to their squad from last weekend. Tom Holroyd is suspended and Jack Sinfield’s injured, with Ben Littlewood and Ethan Clark-Wood coming in for them.
Just one change for St. Helens this week. Deon Cross drops out due to injury, but Mark Percival is back to replace him in a timely boost.
My prediction – Leeds Rhinos 20-18 St. Helens
This should be a cracking contest between two sides in form. Saints got the better of the Rhinos three weeks ago when they were at home, but with the Headingley crowd behind them I’m backing Leeds to take revenge in a tight encounter.
Betting tips
Leeds have been given a -8 handicap, which again looks a bit unfair on the visitors to me, so I’m tipping the Saints with a +8 advantage, at 10/11. I like the look of a Leeds win by 1-7 points as well, which is 4/1.
Saturday 12th July 2025 – Leigh Leopards vs Hull KR – Leigh Sports Village
Form guide
The Leopards picked up a very impressive 18-8 win over neighbours Wigan last weekend to hold their place in the top four. They just need to find some consistency as their last seven games have seen them win four and lose three. They’re six points clear of Hull FC in 7th though, so a play-off spot looks very likely.
A for Hull KR, they were finally beaten last weekend after nine straight wins in Super League. Their 8-14 loss at home to Leeds was their first defeat in any competition since 11th April, but thanks to Wigan’s loss at Leigh last week, the Robins remain four points clear at the top of the table.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced yet, but Leigh’s worst fears have been realised with the news that fullback David Armstrong will be ruled out for nine months with a knee injury. Robbie Mulhern is also ruled out for the next six weeks with a torn pectoral, while Darnell McIntosh is out for three weeks with a torn MCL.
Hull KR, meanwhile, will definitely be without reigning Man of Steel, Mikey Lewis, this weekend after he failed a HIA last weekend against Leeds. Danny Richardson is back from a loan spell with Salford, and could come straight into the squad as cover.
My prediction – Leigh Leopards 12-20 Hull KR
I’m fully expecting a response from Rovers this week, who’ll be smarting after a home defeat last time out. Leigh will give them a tough game, but the Robins are top for a reason and I think they’ll come through this test.
Betting tips
Hull KR are 10/11 with a -6 handicap, which should be safe, although I can see Leigh pushing them close. The best value in this game looks to be the half-time/full-time market, where I’m backing it to be Hull KR/Hull KR, at 5/6. Leigh have trailed at the interval in five of their past eight games, whereas Rovers haven’t been behind at the break since Round One, way back in February.
Saturday 12th July 2025 – Catalans Dragons vs Warrington Wolves – Stade Gilbert Brutus
Form guide
After their impressive win over Huddersfield a couple of weeks ago, the Dragons were back to their worst in last week’s 44-6 loss at Wakefield. That defeat made it seven out of their last eight, and their season appears to be petering out to a disappointing finish. They sit in 9th coming into this game – six points off the play-offs.
Warrington, on the other hand, have had a bit of a revival. Their back-to-back wins over Hull FC and Salford in the past two weeks have them just two points outside the play-off spots. Last weekend’s 12-24 win against the rock-bottom Red Devils wasn’t entirely convincing though.
Team news
Again, the squads haven’t been announced yet, but Catalans Dragons were missing Arthur Romano, Matthieu Laguerre, Reimis Smith, Elliot Whitehead, Tariq Sims and Theo Fages against Wakefield last weekend. None of them are likely to return in time for this one.
Rodrick Tai is highly unlikely to feature for Warrington after going off with a suspected torn pectoral against Salford. If that diagnosis is confirmed, he could miss the rest of the season. Sam Powell is expected to be back this weekend after missing the Salford game.
My prediction – Catalans Dragons 12-20 Warrington Wolves
I’m tipping Warrington to make it three wins from four this weekend and drive what will probably be the final nail into the coffin for the Dragons’ play-off hopes. The Wire’s display against Salford doesn’t give me huge confidence in backing them, but Catalans have been so bad over the past couple of months that any sort of performance from Warrington should be enough to get the job done.
Betting tips
I’m getting straight on Warrington with a -4 handicap, at 10/11. The half-time/full-time market looks to be good value again. Warrington/Warrington is 11/10, and the Wire have had the half-time lead in their last two victories. Catalans, on the other hand, have only been ahead at the break six times in their 17 games this year, and only once in the past seven games.
Sunday 13th July 2025 – Salford Red Devils vs Castleford Tigers- Salford Stadium
Form guide
Salford still have just a single win this year, but their 12-24 loss at home to Warrington last weekend was their closest losing margin since Round Four.
As for Castleford, their 12-30 loss against Huddersfield last weekend proved to be one defeat too nay for coach Danny McGuire, who was sacked earlier this week. They remain in 10th, although the Giants are closing in on them.
Team news
The squads haven’t been announced yet, but Dan Russell came off early for Salford last weekend, so he could be a doubt for this one. Danny Richardson, meanwhile, has returned to Hull KR after his loan deal finished following the Warrington game. Oliver Russell has arrived on loan from Wakefield, and should come straight into the squad in his place.
Castleford will again be without Liam Horne after his appeal against a six-game ban was rejected earlier this week. Jeremiah Simbiken and Fletcher Rooney both played for the reserves last weekend, so could be named in the squad for this one.
My prediction – Salford Red Devils 10-18 Castleford Tigers
There are some suggestions that Salford could come into this game as favourites, but I can still see the Tigers edging this one. Usually when a coach has just been sacked, it’s hard to tip that team, but I don’t think Cas have been that far away in most of their recent defeats, and they should fancy themselves against a side with one win all year.
Betting tips
As is always the case with Salford, there aren’t any markets open yet and I wouldn’t like to guess how the bookies will price this one up, given that the Red Devils should get closer in this game than most of their others. When the markets do open though, I’m tipping Castleford’s Innes Senior for an anytime try. He’s their top scorer this year with seven, and having gone three games without one, he’s overdue.
