Super League 2025 – Round 9 preview, predictions and tips
Can you believe Easter’s already been and gone and we’re onto Magic Weekend next week? The following week it’s the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals, and suddenly we’re almost at the halfway stage already.
The season truly is flying by to me, but before all that, there’s another weekend of action, with two fantastic games to start and finish the round…
Thursday 24th April – Warrington Wolves vs St. Helens – Halliwell Jones Stadium
Form guide
After pushing the top two all the way in 2024, Warrington find themselves way down in 9th going into this weekend, with a 4-4 record. The Wire have lost their last two games, and results need to turn around soon or their season’s in danger of slipping away.
They can at least take some comfort from the fact they’ve beaten Saints in both of their previous meetings this year, though.
As for Saints, they’re only two points better off than their opponents this weekend, and they suffered a 24-14 loss to biggest rivals, Wigan, on Good Friday.
Team news
James Harrisson replaces Oli Leyland for Warrington, in the only change from last weekend’s squad.
Joe Batchelor will be out for a while for St. Helens, after suffering a hamstring injury last weekend. Owen Dagnall replaces him in the only change to the 21-man-squad.
My prediction – Warrington Wolves 18-14 St. Helens
This should be a tight game between two sides with room for improvement, but I’m tipping Warrington to edge it at home. They’ve beaten Saints twice already this year and that will give them the confidence to take the two points in this one as well.
Betting tips
I’m expecting a close game, so I’d be going with Warrington to win by 1-10 points at 5/2. It’s 11/8 for Warrington in the half-time/full-time market as well, and I’d back that too.
Friday 25th April – Leeds Rhinos vs Hull KR – AMT Headingley Stadium
Form guide
Leeds made it back-to-back wins with their 28-6 victory over Huddersfield last weekend to move up to 6th in the table.
Rovers, meanwhile, bounced back from their first loss of the year to beat neighbours, Hull FC, in the derby. Their 14-28 win kept them top of the table with a two-point cushion over Wigan.
Team news
Mikolaj Oledzki is back for Leeds in the headline news this week. Youngster Pressley Cassell has been named again and could make his debut if chosen for the matchday 17.
Hull KR will be without both of their first-choice wingers this week – Tom Davies and Joe Burgess. Davies picked up an injury in the derby, while Burgess failed an HIA and will sit out this week as a result. Their absences mean Lee Kershaw comes into the squad. There’s also a return to the 21 for Bill Leyland this week, while Zach Fishwick has also been named, with Harvey Horne dropping out.
My prediction – Leeds Rhinos 12-22 Hull KR
The Robins have been ticking along very nicely and there aren’t many games where they’re not favourites. With respect to the Rhinos, this is a game I’d expect KR to win, given their current form and their lofty ambitions this year.
Betting tips
The 10/11 on Hull KR with a -2 handicap is too good to turn down in my opinion. I’d be comfortable with a -4 handicap at 11/10 as well. In the try scoring market, Oliver Gildart has six so far this year, so the 15/8 on him to score anytime looks huge.
Saturday 26th April – Huddersfield Giants vs Castleford Tigers – John Smith’s Stadium
Form guide
Easter was another weekend of disappointment for the Giants, who suffered another chastening defeat, 28-6, at Leeds. That made it eight losses from eight games for the year in Super League to go with an early Challenge Cup exit as well.
Things haven’t been much better for Cas, who made it seven losses from eight games in Super League with defeat at Wakefield last week. The Tigers did at least push their neighbours all the way though, as they went down 13-12, having led 0-12.
Team news
The squads haven’t been announced yet, but Huddersfield’s mounting injury list was added to last week, as Liam Sutcliffe and Aidan McGowan both suffered injuries that’ll keep them out for at least a few weeks. Teenagers Jacob Algar and Archie Sykes made their debuts last weekend and could both be included again this week, while Matty English and Kieran Rush could make their returns from injury.
Tom Amone is in line for his Castleford debut this weekend, with Sylvester Namo having left the club on Wednesday. The Tigers needed to shift one of their overseas players to make way for Amone, and it’s Namo who’s departed. Brad Singleton and Innes Senior are also expected to be available again this week.
My prediction – Huddersfield Giants 8-14 Castleford Tigers
Huddersfield won’t have had many better chances to get off the mark this year, but I still can’t see them doing it this week. Cas were impressive in defeat last week and the Giants’ huge injury list makes them hard to back against anyone.
Betting tips
The Giants are odds-on favourites, which for a team who haven’t won seems strange to me. I’d get on the Tigers at 11/10. You can also get 11/4 on a 1-10 winning margin for Cas, and with this likely to be a close game, that looks well priced to me.
Saturday 26th April – Salford Red Devils vs Leigh Leopards – Salford Community Stadium
Form guide
Salford suffered a 38-10 loss to Catalans Dragons over Easter, making it seven losses from their opening eight games.
Leigh, meanwhile, made it back-to-back wins with an 18-14 victory over Warrington – a result that moved them up to third in the table.
Team news
The squads haven’t been named yet for this one, but Salford will definitely be without Matty Foster, who failed an HIA against Catalans. Coach Paul Rowley also confirmed earlier this week that Deon Cross still isn’t training with the squad, and Chris Atkin is believed to be in the same boat, so there’s almost no chance of those two being involved this week.
Leigh will be without David Armstrong, who suffered a quad injury against Warrington that’ll keep him out for at least a couple of weeks. Umyla Hanley and Tesi Niu are nearing a return, but this game’s likely to come too soon for both of them.
My prediction – Salford Red Devils 10-28 Leigh Leopards
It’s hard to see anything other than a comfortbale Leopards win here. Salford’s ongoing struggles mean it’s a minor miracle that they’re even getting a team out every week, so expect Leigh to take full advantage.
Betting tips
As is becoming customary with the Red Devils, there’s no markets at all yet for this week, so it’s hard to know where the value is. Leigh with a -10 to -14 handicap should be pretty safe though, although don’t expect great odds when the betting opens.
Saturday 26th April – Catalans Dragons vs Wakefield Trinity – Stade Gilbert Brutus
Form guide
The Dragons made it back-to-back wins last weekend, but given that those two victories have come against the bottom two, I’m not convinced they’ve completely turned a corner yet. Still, their 4-4 record sees them sitting just outside the play-off spots after eight rounds.
Wakefield finally got off the mark at home last weekend, as they edged past neighbours Castleford, 13-12. They’re also 4-4 for the year and it’s only Catalans’ superior points difference keeping them above Wakey.
Team news
Squads haven’t been announced for this one yet, but the Dragons will have Ollie Partington, Fouad Yaha and Matthieu Laguerre available. The three players were charged following the win pver Salford, but have escaped suspension.
Wakefield coach Daryl Powell has revealed that Australian forward Ky Rodwell will be missing for around 10 weeks with a knee injury. Seth Nikotemo will also be missing this weekend, while Jake Trueman is still at least a week away.
My prediction – Catalans Dragons 12-16 Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield’s best form has been on the road this year and I’m still not convinced by the Dragons, despite them picking up a couple of wins in the past two weeks. I’m expecting a close game, but Trinity to nick it.
Betting tips
Catalans are big favourites for this one, so the 2/1 on a Wakefield win looks good to me.
Sunday 27th April – Hull FC vs Wigan Warriors – MKM Stadium
Form guide
After a four game unbeaten run in Super League, Hull were finally beaten last week by arch rivals Hull KR. They still sit 4th in the table though with five wins from eight games, but incredibly they still haven’t won at home yet this year.
Wigan, meanwhile, have won three straight games, including a 24-14 win over St. Helens on Good Friday. The Warriors have climbed to 2nd in the table off the back of that result.
This will be the third meeting of these two in 2025. Wigan won the first game, 4-46, in round two, but Hull got revenge in the Challenge Cup, picking up an impressive 22-26 win at the Brick.
Team news
Liam Watts and Harvey Barron are expected to be back for Hull FC this week after injury. Cade Cust will also be available to play against his former club after avoiding suspension for his red card in the derby last week. On-loan forward Sam Eseh won’t be available to play against his parent club this week though.
Wigan are looking light in the forwards this week, with Tyler Dupree and Patrick Mago joining the casualty list last weekend. Luke Thompson and Ethan Havard were already missing, so we could see a young gun join the bench for the Warriors this week.
My prediction – Hull FC 18-26 Wigan Warriors
This should be a cracker of a game and both sides will fancy their chances. Despite Wigan missing a few players though, I’m backing them to have enough to overcome the Black and Whites.
Betting tips
I’m expecting a close game, so Hull FC with a +10 handicap at 10/11 looks good to me. There’s no try scoring market yet, but when it opens I’d be tempted to back Lewis Martin. He scored a hat-trick when these two met in the Challenge Cup and he has five tries in Super League so far, so I’d back him to cross anytime.
