2025 Super League Round One

After a long gap, the Rugby League blogging returns with 2023/24 to be covered in summaries but the magnetics resume with the opening round of 2025.

Leopards Late Show Wounds Warriors 

The season began on Thursday night at The Brick Community Stadium as defending Champions Wigan Warriors lost out in an historic 1-0 defeat to Leigh Leopards. History was made in being both the lowest scoring SL game in the 29 year history and the first ever 0-0 score line after 80 minutes. 

The victory was sealed for the Leopards as Gareth O'Brien swept over a drop goal in the 83rd minute, the third minute of Golden Point Extra time. 

Hull Humble Dragons

Hull FC stunned Catalans Dragons on Friday evening with a 24-6 success at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. FC opened the scoring through Jordan Lane with Adrian Sezer converting for a 6-0 lead (23mins) before Cade Cust and Tom Briscoe crossed just before the interval with Sezer kicking twice for an 18-0 half time lead. 

The Dragons hit back within five minutes of the restart as Arthur Mourgue crossed for 18-4, Cust score his second try of the evening on 63 minutes before a Sezer penalty rounded off the 24-6 win in the 74th minute. 

Robins Edge Past Tigers

A second Golden Point Extra Time win of the opening round came on Friday night at Sewell Group Craven Park as Hull Kingston Rovers secured a 19-18 win over Castleford Tigers.

The Robins opened the scoring with a Joe Burgess try inside 15 minutes for 4-0 before Josh Simm replied for the Tigers on 22 minutes to level at 4-4. Cas went ahead with a Fletcher Rooney try (29 mins) which Tex Hoy converted before adding a penalty four minutes later for 12-4. The hosts hit back twice to regain a 14-12 lead into the interval as Peta Hiku crossed ahead of a second from Burgess (Rhyse Martin conv).

A hard fought second half saw a frantic final ten minutes, Burgess completed his hattrick for 18-12 before Zac Cini crossed for Cas but Tex Hoy missed the chance to seal a 20-18 win which forced the game into Golden Point. The hosts sealed the win with four minutes on the clock as Mikey Lewis swept over a drop goal for 19-18. 

Trinity Triumph Against Rhinos

A perfect return to Super League for Wakefield Trinity on Saturday afternoon as they stunned Leeds Rhinos in a 14-12 win at AMT Headingley Stadium. The visitors struck first with Max Jowitt crossing for a 22nd minute try which he converted before crossing a second time four minutes later to open up a 10-0 advantage. The lead became 14-0 after a Mason Lino try on 32 minutes before Leeds got off the mark just two minutes before the interval as Harry Newman touched down with Jake Connor converting for 14-6. 

The second half proved to be a battle of the defences with just two more additions to the score in the final minute as Sam Lisone crossed with Connor kicking for 14-12 which meant Wakefield held on for a shock win. 

Saints Stroll Past Restricted Red Devils

St Helens set a new record for the biggest Super League winning margin in an 82-0 hammering of Salford Red Devils who fielded a Reserve side due to their ongoing salary cap restrictions at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday.

A rapid start from the hosts saw Morgan Knowles, Lewis Murphy, Tristan Sailor and Curtis Sironen all cross for tries inside 15 minutes with Mark Percival converting twice for a 22-0 lead. Harry Robertson touched down for a brace either side of a second Knowles score with Percival converting twice for 38-0 into the interval.

The spree resumed with two scores from Kyle Feldt and Jonny Lomax (Percival conv) within five minutes of the restart for 48-0 before Sailor wrapped up a hat-trick and quadruple with Percival converting the trio for a huge 66-0 lead just after the hour mark. Percival for a try of his own on 71 minutes before converting scores from Jack Batchelor and George Delaney to round off an historic 82-0 win.

Wire Win Against Gutsy Giants

The final game of the opening round saw Warrington Wolves seal a 20-12 success over Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday. A close first half saw just a single score each as Huddersfield opened up a 6-0 lead with a Tui Lolohea try which Danny Richardson converted. Warrington cut the gap on the interval with an Aaron Lindop for 6-4. 

Warrington completed the turnaround with two scores before the hour mark from Matty Ashton (Stefan Ratchford conv) and Toby King for 14-6. Hudds cut the gap to 14-12 with a Joe Greenwood (Richardson conv) try but Warrington sealed the victory with a Matt Dufty effort which saw Josh Thewlis convert for a 20-12 final score.