Super League 2025 – Round 7 preview and predictions
After a thrilling weekend of Challenge Cup action last week, Super League returns this weekend. It’s been another week of big headlines in RL, with the NRL poised to come in and take over the game in Europe.
So, I for one am grateful we can get back to what’s happening on the pitch, starting with an intriguing clash tonight…
Thursday 10th April – Salford Red Devils vs Leeds Rhinos – Salford Community Stadium
Form guide
I won’t go into Salford’s struggles again, but suffice to say they’ve not had an easy ride of it this year. Still, they put up a spirited display in a 20-12 loss at Catalans Dragons last week to bow out of the Challenge Cup, and their squad at least has a few familiar faces again this week now the players have actually been paid.
As for Leeds, they had the weekend off having bowed out of the Challenge Cup in the previous round. They’re 3-3 in Super League so far, after losing last time out in a narrow 16-14 loss at Warrington.
Team news
Since last week, Salford have lost Kallum Watkins to tonight’s opponents, while Joe Bullock has gone to Barrow Raiders on dual registration. Deon Cross is named in the squad despite being heavily linked with a move to St. Helens, while there’s no place for new arrival Toby Warren this week.
Out of respect to his now former club, Kallum Watkins has been left out for Leeds this week, so he’ll have to wait a week for his second debut for the club. Jack Smith and Presley Cassell could both make their Rhinos debuts, while Brodie Croft is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
My prediction – Salford Red Devils 12-24 Leeds Rhinos
Salford have been spirited this year without the results to match their efforts, and I can see it being a similar story this week. They’ll put up a fight, but anything other than a Rhinos win would be a surprise.
Betting tips
Leeds are 6/4 to be leading by 1-10 points at half-time, which looks a good shout. I also fancy Jake Connor to pick up Man of the Match at 4/1.
Friday 11th April – Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors – Sewell Group Craven Park
Form guide
Apologies to the other 10 teams, but this is the game of the round by a mile to me. The Robins have been breezing through the year so far, winning every game. That includes knocking their biggest rivals, Hull FC, out of the Challenge Cup last weekend.
Wigan, meanwhile, have shown signs of vulnerability, but they’re champions for a reason. They had a weekend off last week too, having already been knocked out of the cup, but their previous league game was a routine 54-0 win over an under-strength Salford. Don’t read too much into that result though.
Team news
The big news for Hull KR is the loss of star man Mikey Lewis to a groin injury. Bill Leyland and Lee Kershaw also drop out, having completed loan moves to Huddersfield and Castleford respectively this week. James Batchelor and Arthur Mourge return, while Noah Booth is named in the squad for the first time this year.
Wigan have made just one change to the squad that saw off Salford two weeks ago. Abbas Miski is back from injury, with Luke Thompson dropping out.
My prediction – Hull KR 8-14 Wigan Warriors
This should be an absolute belter and I’m really struggling to separate these two. The main reason I’m backing KR to finally lose is the absence of Mikey Lewis. Even though they coped well without him for most of the derby last week in the cup, Wigan are a different proposition altogether.
Betting tips
I’m expecting a tight game whoever wins, so if you bet on a winning margin of 1-10 for both sides, you’ll still make a reasonable profit, as they’re both priced at 5/2. In the try scoring market, get on Jake Wardle to score anytime. He got a hat-trick in Wigan’s last match, so 9/4 seems fairly generous.
Friday 11th April – St. Helens vs Wakefield Trinity – Totally Wicked Stadium
Form guide
With all eyes on East Hull on Friday night, this game could easily go under the radar, but it should be a cracker in its own right.
Saints have been very hit-and-miss this year and they bowed out of the Challenge Cup to Warrington last weekend at the Quarter-Final stage. They’re 4-2 in Super League so far, but still haven’t been entirely convincing.
As for Wakefield, their bizarre form continued in the Challenge Cup last week, when they lost to Leigh Leopards. Trinity have yet to win a home game this year, but they’ve won all of their away matches, including a huge 14-40 win at Leigh in their last league game.
Team news
Mark Percival, Jake Wingfield, Daryl Clark and Ben Davies are all missing this week for St. Helens. In positive news for Saints though, Lewis Murphy returns ahead of schedule after suffering a hamstring injury in round one, while Harry Robertson is back from a concussion and Jake Burns comes into the squad, too.
Max Jowitt, Seth Nikotemo and Jayden Myers are back for Wakefield this week, in place of Josh Griffin, Oliver Russell and Matty Russell.
My prediction – St. Helens 24-16 Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield’s away run has to come to an end at some point and I think it could happen this weekend. Saints are missing a couple of big names, but they should still have too much for Trinity, and a win would be a big boost for them ahead of a huge derby next week against Wigan.
Betting tips
I’ve got a feeling Lewis Murphy will be back with a bang against his old club this week, so the 11/10 on him to score and Saints to win looks a good shout to me.
Saturday 12th April – Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC – Halliwell Jones Stadium
Form guide
This is another fascinating encounter as 5th plays 2nd, but with just one point separating them in the table, that only tells part of the story.
Warrington eased into the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup last weekend following a narrow win over Leeds the previous week in Super League. Maybe, the Wire have turned a corner after an inconsistent start to the year.
For Hull, they’re still four unbeaten in Super League, but they suffered a rude awakening in the cup last weekend, as city rivals Hull KR took them apart 16-32. They still sit 2nd in the table going into this weekend though.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced yet, but Warrington will definitely be missing young winger Arron Lindop after he broke his jaw last weekend. Remarkably he played over an hour with a broken jaw, but he’ll now be sidelined for around six weeks. Paul Vaughan is another who played through the pain barrier last weekend, as he continued despite a compound fracture of the finger, but he’s also set for a few weeks out. Josh Thewlis is expected to come back this week though.
Jordan Lane will definitely miss out for Hull FC after breaking his arm last weekend, as will Jed Cartwright and Olover Homes. Ed Chamberlain and Brad Fash are both injury doubts, but Cade Cust should be available again after missing the cup defeat.
My prediction – Warrington Wolves 20-18 Hull FC
This one could go either way, but I’m backing the Wire to continue their good recent form against a Black and Whites side that’ll be missing some key players. I’m expecting it to be a close one though.
Betting tips
Warrington are just 1/4 for the win, so personally I’d be looking at Hull FC with a +10 handicap at 1/1. There’s no try scorer market yet, but I’d also fancy Will Pryce to back up his debut effort last week with another one for the Black and Whites.
Saturday 12th April – Castleford Tigers vs Leigh Leopards – The Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Form guide
Cas had the week off last weekend following their early exit in the Challenge Cup to Championship side, Bradford Bulls. They were beaten at home by Hull in their last Super League outing two weeks ago to leave them still with just one win from their opening six.
Leigh, on the other hand, bounced back from a big home defeat two weeks ago in Super League against Wakefield to knock the same opponents out of the Challenge Cup last weekend. They’re three without a win in the league after opening with three straight wins, but their cup quarter-final win should give them a boost ahead of this game.
Team news
Again, squads haven’t been named yet, but Liam Horne is likely to return for Castleford this week, after being left out of the last game.
Leigh, meanwhile, should welcome back Darnell McIntosh after a month out, but Umyla Hanley and Keanan Brand are both injury doubts.
My prediction – Castleford Tigers 10-22 Leigh Leopards
I can’t see anything other than a Leigh win in this one, quite frankly. Cas have struggled this year, as expected, whereas the Leopards have shown signs of what they’re capable of and bounced back from poor recent league form to record an impressive cup win last weekend.
Betting tips
I’d be comfortable backing Leigh with a -10 handicap at 10/11. In the try scoring market, I can see Bailey Hodgson returning to haunt his old club too, so back him to score at anytime when the market opens.
Sunday 13th April – Huddersfield Giants vs Catalans Dragons – John Smith’s Stadium
Form guide
The good news for Huddersfield fans is they didn’t lose last weekend. The bad news is it’s because they didn’t have a game. Six defeats out of six in Super League makes for pretty grim reading if you’re a Giants fan, and their last game ended in a 4-50 mauling at home to Hull KR.
Catalans have blown very hot and cold, but they secured a Challenge Cup Semi-Final spot with theor win over Salford last weekend. In Super League, they’re 2-4 so far, which is a long way off where they’d expect to be.
Team news
The squads haven’t been named yet, but Huddersfield are still without a host of players due to injury. Bill Leyland has arrived on a two-week loan from Hull KR though, and should come straight into the side.
Nick Cotric came off early for Catalans last week, so don’t be surprised if he misses out this weekend. Tariq Sims made his return from injury in that game and should be OK to play again this week.
My prediction – Huddersfield Giants 6-20 Catalans Dragons
I’m still not convinced by the Dragons, but they should have more than enough to get past a Giants side that’s severely depleted by injuries. Even with everyone available, Huddersfield would be a long shot for the top eight, and with so many players missing, it’s hard to see where the first win’s going to come from.
Betting tips
The Dragons are 11/10 with a -12 handicap, which looks too good to turn down.
