Super League team of the season so far, with eight clubs featured

VaselineJuly 1, 2024

0 5 minutes read

Super League team of the season so far, with eight clubs featured

We passed the halfway point of the Super League season earlier this month, but with the international break in full swing, it’s a good time to assess how the Super League team of the season looks so far.

There were plenty of standout performers for each team, but only eight teams were selected in this ‘Dream Team’, with one of the four absent teams being current playoff contenders Catalans Dragons. While Steve McNamara’s side are still in the mix, their form has nosedived and the team’s success has been a result of the sum of its parts rather than outstanding stars.

The other three teams without a represented player are all outside the top six in the form of Leigh Leopards, Castleford Tigers and London Broncos. Each side had their shining stars, but injuries limit their stars from penetrating this side.

For Leigh, Matt Moylan is unlucky to play in two positions where the talent in Super League is incredible, while Tom Amone has missed a third of the season through injury. Castleford saw Innes Senior, Sam Wood and new signing Tex Hoy shine but not consistently enough. As for the London Broncos, the effort is unmistakable, but their quality has not been there, unfortunately.

We recently selected a Super League Exiles team that could be named to face England instead of France, but that said, here’s our Super League team of the season so far after 15 rounds.

Quiz: Can you name every Man of Steel winner from the Super League era?

Super League Team of the Season so far…

Full back: Matt Dufty (Warrington Wolves)

Matt Dufty scores a try for Warrington Wolves in a Super League match against Hull KR.

Credit: Imago Images

He might be a controversial pick with his defensive capabilities in question, but Matt Dufty has the stats to back up his selection, not to mention the eye test. He is one of the most exciting players in Super League at the moment and this is evident in the fact that he averages almost 197 meters per game while boasting 21 try contributions in just 14 games.

Inside: Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos) and Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors)

Credit: Imago Images

To start the season it looked like Ash Handley had a try of the season competition to himself as the Rhinos flyer scored several long range tries. Attempts have leveled off, but he’s still 11-of-12 while putting up 160 yards per game. Besides, if it’s good enough for Shaun Wane, then it’s good enough for us.

The other winger is Liam Marshall, who is in the form of his life, the Wigan winger has scored 16 tries in just 13 games, also covering 1,900 metres. Marshall also leads the Super League in clean breaks with 18 and an impressive 9.03m carry average.

Centres: Nene MacDonald (Salford Red Devils) and Esan Marsters (Huddersfield Giants)

Credit: Imago Images

In a sight that will horrify fans of the other Super League clubs and delight Salford Red Devils fans, Nene Macdonald and Salford Esan Marsters are the top performing centers in 2024 before linking up in the 2025 season.

Macdonald has made the second most meters in Super League this season with 2,323 and has the third most offloads in the competition, averaging two a game. He scored an impressive seven tries and made three assists for the Red Devils.

Masters is just behind Macdonald in terms of meters made, having gained an impressive 2,218 at an average of 158.43 meters per game in a struggling Huddersfield Giants side. Masters has also helped create a total of 11 tries for the Giants so far, scoring five tries himself and registering five assists.

Defender: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR) and Marc Sneyd (Salford Red Devils)

Marc Sneyd, playing for Salford, holds the ball. He tops the Man of Steel leaderboard in the Super League

Credit: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com

Mikey Lewis showed what he has done for Hull KR all season in an England shirt as he danced through the French defense to set up a try for George Williams. Lewis has been inspirational for the Robins and led pundit Paul Cooke to say his form was better than England captain George Williams on commentary.

Lewis’ numbers back that up. He has an incredible 16 assist attempts so far this season with seven attempts. This makes him the player with the most try contributions in the league. He also had 1,454 yards and 203 carries. He inspired the Robins to third in the table.

Evergreen Marc Sneyd has been equally influential for Salford, he has 17 assists this season which is the most in Super League and his strike in the general game has given Salford a solid basis for a place in the top six. He made 243 shots in the overall game, the most in the league, and 131 offensive shots, which is also the most this season.

Hooker: Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves)

Credit: Imago Images

There are some strong contenders for the hanging spot, but Danny Walker has been integral to Warrington Wolves’ revival under Sam Burgess. Walker has improved considerably in recent years and is now one of the best prostitutes in the Super League.

Walker’s work around the ruck set him apart from the other prostitutes in Super League. In his 13 appearances so far this season, he has made an impressive 79 tackles and 59 runs from idle-half. He also has a tackle efficiency of 92%, having made 418 tackles and missed just 34.

Recovery: Herman Ese’ese (Hull FC) and Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors)

Credit: Imago Images

Herman Ese’ese has been outstanding in a very poor Hull FC side this season, but he has been excellent with the former Dolphins player racking up the meters and consistently high in tackles. Ese’ese gives the Black and Whites momentum going forward and if it wasn’t for him then their entire pre-season signing spell would be redundant.

As for Luke Thomspon, he showed why the NRL wanted him. The England international has been a mainstay in Wigan’s side and often goes under the radar because he simply does everything so efficiently, but at a high level. His 41-tackle performance in the defeat against Hull KR was a herculean effort.

Second row: Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils) and James Bell (St Helens)

Credit: Imago Images

Kallum Watkins is getting better with age and in his changed second-row role. The Salford skipper has been an ever-present this season, but at 33 he is better than ever, with his defensive prowess epitomizing the effort Paul Rowley demands.

He ranks sixth for most tackles and second for most marksman tackles. One man who doesn’t feature as well on those stats but is also key to everything his side do is James Bell, with the Scotland international finally breaking the underrated label to finally becoming incredibly well-rated and respected .

Whether playing in the second row or at loose forward, Bell gets his hands on the ball and makes an impact going forward, while also averaging nearly 30 tackles in his last four games as he continues to develop.

Free forward: Elliot Minchella (Hull KR)

Hull KR's Elliot Minchella and head coach Willie Peters celebrate their win against St Helens in the Super League.

Credit: Imago Images

Shaun Wane clearly rates him and it’s clear to see why. Elliot Minchella was brilliant in 2024 and just as Kallum Watkins does for Paul Rowley, Minchella does the heavy lifting and works hard for Willie Peters.

Minchella ranks third for tackles with a whopping 35.5 per game and also offers plenty going forward as he ranks 20th in Super League for offloads. Happy to play and with the ball in his hands, Minchella is an extension of the spine and justifies his place in this team.

Super League Team of the Season

FB: Matt Dufty (Warrington Wolves)
WG: Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos)
WHAT: Nene Macdonald (Salford Red Devils)
WHAT: Esan Marsters (Huddersfield Giants)
WG: Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors)
HB: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
HB: Marc Sneyd (Salford Red Devils)
PR: Herman Ese’ese (Hull FC)
HK: Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves)
PR: Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors)
SR: Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils)
SR: James Bell (St Helens)
LF: Elliot Minchella (Hull KR)

All stats are from the Super League website

VaselineJuly 1, 2024

0 5 minutes read