Super League 2025 – Round 21 preview, predictions and tips
After the split round the past two weekends, it’s back to normal this week in Super League. There are some very juicy looking fixtures heading into the weekend, starting at the LSV on Thursday…
- Thursday 7th August – Leigh Leopards vs Leeds Rhinos – Leigh Sports Village
- Friday 8th August – Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors – Halliwell Jones Stadium
- Friday 8th August- Wakefield Trinity vs St. Helens – DIY Kitchens Stadium
- Saturday 9th August – Hull KR vs Castleford Tigers – Sewell Group Craven Park
- Saturday 9th August – Huddersfield Giants vs Catalans Dragons – Accu Stadium
- Sunday 10th August – Hull FC vs Salford Red Devils- MKM Stadium
- Team news
Thursday 7th August – Leigh Leopards vs Leeds Rhinos – Leigh Sports Village
Form guide
Leigh have been in sensational form recently, winning four straight games since they last met the Rhinos at the end of June. Last week they squeezed past Warrington in a thriller, 20-16. A win this week will take them up into 2nd – for 24 hours at least.
The Rhinos have dropped off a little in recent weeks with two defeats in three, including a 15-14 loss at Wakefield in their last game. They remain in 5th though, and are still looking good for a play-off spot.
Team news
Darnell McIntosh returns for Leigh this week in place of Brad Dwyer. Robbie Mulhern and Ethan O’Neill were named in the 21 last week, but didn’t play. They should be good to go for this one though.
Leeds make just two changes to their squad from their last outing. New arrival from Salford – Chris Hankinson – comes straight in, while Morgan Gannon is a welcome return from injury. Jake Connor benefits from the Rhinos having last week off more than most. He would’ve missed out through concussion protocols, but as Leeds’ last game was two weeks ago, he’s good to go. Youngster George Brown drops out of the squad along with Alfie Edgell, who suffered a foot injury at Wakefield.
My prediction – Leigh Leopards 24-16 Leeds Rhinos
With the form they’re in and home advantage, I’m tipping the Leopards to keep up their impressive recent run. It won’t be easy though against a Rhinos side who still have a bit to do to cement their top six spot.
Betting tips
I like the look of the handicap here with Leigh at -2, which is priced at 10/11. There’s also some great value to be had in the anytime try market with no one priced worse than 11/8. I’m going for Umyla Hanley though, at 12/5.
Friday 8th August – Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors – Halliwell Jones Stadium
Form guide
Warrington’s disappointing season looks just about over following last week’s agonising 20-16 loss at Leigh. That defeat leaves them down in 8th – four points off the top six.
Wigan have been stuttering recently, but their 28-18 win over Catalans Dragons in their last match kept them in 2nd – four points behind leaders Hull KR. They could start this match in 3rd though if Leigh beat Leeds in the opening game of the round.
Team news
Warrington welcome Cai Taylor-Wray back from a long-term injury, while Zack Gardner is also recalled to the squad. Connor Wrench is out through concussion, while Matt Dufty has been named, despite reports earlier this week that he would be dropped due to disciplinary reasons.
Three huge returns this week for Wigan, with Jai Field, Bevan French and Sam Walters all returning. Harvey Makin, Noah Hodkinson and Christian Wade drop out.
My prediction – Warrington Wolves 12-22 Wigan Warriors
After a weekend off and with French and Field back, I’m expecting the Warriors to go on a run between now and the end of the year, starting in this one. Warrington have been a shadow of the team that nearly reached Old Trafford in 2024, and I can’t see them pulling anything out of the hat here.
Betting tips
It’s 4/1 for Wigan to win by 8-14 points, which looks very tempting. When the tryscoring markets open, I’ll also be getting behind Bevan French for an anytime score in his comeback match.
Friday 8th August- Wakefield Trinity vs St. Helens – DIY Kitchens Stadium
Form guide
Wakefield’s narrow 15-14 win over Leeds in their last match made it three wins from four games – enough to keep them just inside the top six.
St. Helens, meanwhile, made light work of Castleford Tigers in their last game, winning 40-0. That made it six wins from their past seven games, which leaves them fairly comfortable in 4th.
Team news
Isaiah Vagana and Mathieu Cozza are back this week for Trinity. Noah High and Ellis Lingard drop out.
Saints make just one change to their squad this week. Jake Davies comes in for Leon Cowen.
My prediction – Wakefield Trinity 14-18 St. Helens
This should be an absolute cracker and it’s too tight to call. I’m just about tipping Saints to edge it though.
Betting tips
I’m expecting a close game, so the 4/1 on St. Helens to win by 1-7 looks very tempting. I like the look of the 1st half to be the highest scoring half too. That’s priced at 5/4.
Saturday 9th August – Hull KR vs Castleford Tigers – Sewell Group Craven Park
Form guide
Hull KR’s recent wobbles appear to be over, although we shouldn’t read too much into their record 12-74 win at Salford last week. That win keeps them top – four points clear of Wigan ahead of next weekend’s blockbuster clash.
Cas looked to have turned a corner in their Round 19 win over Warrington, but they were soundly beaten 40-0 at St. Helens last week. The loss means they remain in 10th.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced yet, but Hull KR will be without Tyrone May, who’s suspended for the next two games. Rowan Milnes has arrived on a two-week loan from this weekend’s opponents, but he’s ineligible to play in this one.
As mentioned, Castleford will be without Rowan Milnes after he left on loan earlier this week. Zac Cini is a doubt after going off injured last weekend.
My prediction – Hull KR 48-10 Castleford Tigers
This should be a routine home win for the Robins ahead of next week’s much tougher test in Wigan. I’d expect KR to get the job done here with minimum fuss before they look ahead to that one.
Betting tips
There aren’t many markets open yet, and even a Hull KR win by 15+ is priced at 1/40. I’ll be going with anytime try scorers when the market opens, and Tom Davies and Joe Burgess will be my picks again this week, although the odds might not be great.
Saturday 9th August – Huddersfield Giants vs Catalans Dragons – Accu Stadium
Form guide
The Giants picked up a magnificent 14-30 win at Hull FC in their last match to give themselves more than a fighting chance of climbing at least one place before the end of the year. They remain 11th, but are just two points behind Castleford following a run of three wins in six games.
Catalans, meanwhile, were beaten 28-18 by Wigan in their last outing. That made it four straight losses, and they only have six wins from 20 games all year.
Team news
Again, squads haven’t been announced yet, but Huddersfield have confirmed Tui Lolohea will be out for the rest of the year after suffering a quad injury in the win at Hull. Niall Evalds is also confirmed to be out for the rest of the year, while Adam Swift is a doubt this week.
Catalans Dragons suffered no major injuries in their last match, so should pick from a similar squad to the one which lost at Wigan in Round 20.
My prediction – Huddersfield Giants 10-16 Catalans Dragons
I was happy to get behind the Giants in this one, but the loss of Tui Lolohea means they’re without both of their first choice halves. This one really could go either way though, and with both teams’ seasons long since over, anything could happen here.
Betting tips
I might be mad, but I’m going for a Catalans win, which is 6/5. As I can see it being close, I’ll get behind them to win by 1-7 as well, which is 9/2.
Sunday 10th August – Hull FC vs Salford Red Devils- MKM Stadium
Form guide
Hull FC suffered a shock home loss to Huddersfield in their last game, having comfortably beaten Wigan the previous week. The Black and Whites remain firmly in the hunt for a play-off spot though – just one point and one place outside the top six.
Salford were beaten 12-74 by Hull KR in Round 20, and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table. The best they can hope for now is to just fulfil their remaining fixtures.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced for this one yet, but Hull FC could welcome back John Asiata and Will Pryce, which would be a huge boost heading into the final few weeks of the season. Both players have been missing since May, and if they don’t make it this week, they should definitely be available next week.
It’s unclear whether Salford will even be able to field a team this week, so if they do, expect lots of academy players to fill it. Chris Hill and Chris Hankinson both left the club earlier this week, and there are strong rumours that Ryan Brierley, Jack Ormondroyd and Matty Foster will be on their way too. The club have been given special dispensation to bring in loan signings though, so we’ll wait and see if they get any of them over the line in time for this game.
My prediction – Hull FC 76-0 Salford Red Devils
Pluck any even number out of the air between 50 and 90, and you’ll have a good chance of getting the home side’s score here. That’s if the game goes ahead of course. What a sorry state of affairs, and from a Hull perspective I just hope they get a decnt crowd in for what will effectively be an opposed training session.
Betting tips
Unsurprisingly there aren’t any markets open for this one yet. I’d expect the Black and Whites to have at least a -50 handicap and there should be anytime tries for Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron on the wings, but you probably won’t get much of a profit.
