Wigan Warriors are ahead of rising Salford Red Devils in the Power Rankings

Every week this season, He loves rugby League will bring you the Power Rankings, ranking the top 10 clubs in the British game who we believe have the most momentum behind them.

The 35 clubs from Super League, Championship and League 1 are all in the process of being involved, with only performance on the pitch affecting the rankings (we’re not IMG!).

The latest campaign top 10 is below, with all competitive games so far taken into account.

For Super League clubs, this is their performance in the 16 rounds so far and in the Challenge Cup.

Meanwhile, the Championship and League One seasons began in March and clubs in those divisions had already played matches in the 1895 Cup and Challenge Cup this year and before.

For reference, last week’s power rankings are here.

Without further ado, the Loves Rugby League Power ranking (07/08/2024)…

10. Hull KR (BOTTOM 1)

KR retain their place in the top 10 after a 15-14 defeat at home to Catalans Dragons in Golden Point overtime. Despite coming back from 14-0 down to take the game beyond 80 minutes, this looks like a defeat that has come in recent weeks for the Robins. A first defeat in five doesn’t paint the full picture, in our opinion.

IN CONNECTION WITH: Every Super League Golden Point match since the concept was introduced in 2019 following Hull KR’s dramatic defeat against Catalans Dragons

9. Oldham (BOTTOM 5)

Oldham are the club with the biggest “drop” in the table this week, but it’s not their fault. The Roughyeds were out of action at the weekend and have won each of their last four as well as 11 of 12 in League One so far this season. We’re sure head coach Sean Long will also be pleased with the results elsewhere at the weekend, as we’ll go over shortly.

8. Sheffield Eagles (-)

Sheffield remain 2nd in the Championship and 8th in our rankings after their 28-0 win at home to Halifax Panthers on Friday night. Since their defeat in the 1895 Cup Final, the Eagles have won four games in a row – and Friday night’s success was the most convincing performance of that run.

7. Bradford Bulls (BOTTOM 1)

Staying in the Championship, Bradford are also perhaps a little unhappy to drop a place. They picked up a point on Saturday following a 12-12 draw in France against Toulouse Olympique and have now lost just one of their last eight in the league. The Bulls are still in the running for the No. 2 spot and probably would have taken it at this stage if you offered it to them in the preseason.

EXCLUSIVE LRL CHAMPIONSHIP TRANSFER NEWS: Featherstone Rovers want to leave for an ambitious League One club

6. Toulouse Olympique (Bottom 3)

Speaking of Toulouse… they are still above Bradford on points difference in the league table after that draw and are above them in the Power Rankings too. Still, this was a better point for the Bulls than the French side were at home. It is now just one defeat in 10 for Olympique, with that defeat coming against league leaders Wakefield Trinity.

5. Salford Red Devils (NEW)

It wasn’t pretty at times on Sunday afternoon, but Salford held on to win 22-20 at home to Hull FC and, having now won four games in a row, Paul Rowley’s side deserve their fifth spot in our rankings. The Red Devils continue to embrace that underdog tag and you’d be a fool to back against them finishing in the top six in Super League.

4. Keighley Cougars (BOTTOM 2)

In similar fashion to Toulouse, League One leaders Keighley drew 20-20 with Rochdale Hornets at Cougar Park on Sunday afternoon and it was a far better point for the visitors than the hosts. Matt Foster’s side now lead the third tier by a single point, but Oldham have a game in hand. Not a positive weekend, realistically.

LRL RECOMMEND: 13 moving pictures and videos from rugby league icon Rob Burrow’s funeral

3. Rochdale Hornets (UP 2)

And speaking of Rochdale, the draw keeps them in 3rd place, now a point above Hunslet in fourth place. The Hornets have enjoyed a superb couple of months, losing just one of their last nine with that loss at home to Keighley. Not many will leave Cougar Park with anything this year, and finishing third would be a big accomplishment if they can keep it going.

2. Wakefield Trinity (BOTTOM 1)

Wakefield dropped a place after – by their standards – a poor performance, despite winning comfortably in the end. Daryl Powell’s side trailed Batley Bulldogs 12-6 at half-time at Belle Vue but ultimately maintained their 100 per cent Championship record this term, 34-12 winners in the final. Week by week, an unbeaten league campaign looks more and more likely.

1. Wigan Warriors (UP 6)

Wigan clawed their way back up the table to the summit after not playing last week due to the international break and returned to action on Friday night with a tight 24-6 win at home to Leigh Leopards in the ‘Battle of the Borough’. They were made to work hard for it, but that win was the Warriors’ ninth in a row in all competitions.

Matt Peet’s side now have a four-point lead at the top of the Super League table and still have that game in hand – which is also at home to Leigh at the start of August.

WARRIORS: Wigan Warriors Debrief – Luke Thompson’s huge effort, a new pair of half-backs, Liam Marshall’s freakishly good finish