September has arrived and the Super League campaign reaches its decisive climax – yet watching Wigan Warriors ease toward another piece of silverware on Saturday evening, one could easily have believed it was already October and we were watching the eventual title-winners in the grand final.
Throughout Matt Peet’s five-year tenure, his side has routinely stepped up and delivered whenever the stakes are highest. Capturing a ninth trophy across that stretch is now within touching distance, as victory over Catalans on Friday would secure the League Leaders’ Shield and complete the second leg of a potential 2026 domestic treble.
Saturday evening’s display against Leeds was vintage Wigan, operating as an elevated version of the outfit that secured the quadruple in 2024 while dismantling the Rhinos 40-8 in what was effectively a direct showdown for top spot.
Anyone who doubted what this Wigan side could deliver following consecutive spring losses against Castleford and Warrington was mistaken. Elite teams consistently demonstrate an ability to hold something back for when the pressure peaks, and the Warriors showed exactly that at Headingley.
Leeds led the standings across 17 of the previous 25 rounds, whereas Wigan had not occupied first place since March. However, championship-calibre sides make it their business to sit at the summit when it truly counts.
Wigan produced an outstanding defensive showing to hold the competition’s most prolific attack to a solitary try, paired with ruthless precision during pivotal phases – with Bevan French further solidifying his status as one of the most captivating performers across Super League’s 30-year history.
The odds remain short on a rematch at Old Trafford next month, though both Wigan and Leeds – each virtually certain of finishing in the top two – must first navigate their semi-final fixtures. Nevertheless, several outcomes across the final weekend of the regular season must still be resolved before the semi-final bracket is finalized.
Wakefield and Leigh are set to duel on Friday night to determine home advantage in the opening week of the playoffs, with the victor anticipated to host the loser in round one. Meanwhile, Warrington Wolves’ slip-up at Wakefield on Saturday afternoon condemns them to third place and an expected clash against reigning champions Hull KR.
However, should Hull KR overcome St Helens – whose 64-year streak of playoff appearances has officially drawn to a close – they could rise to fifth and meet Wakefield, provided Trinity defeat Leigh. The four teams occupying third through sixth will then shoulder the challenging assignment of winning away at either Leeds or Wigan to book a place in the grand final.
Compelling storylines also remain at the lower end of the ladder. While the 14th-placed side avoids automatic relegation, a four-team battle to avert the wooden spoon unfolds in the final round featuring Hull FC, Castleford Tigers, Huddersfield Giants, and Bradford Bulls. All four clubs are already guaranteed Super League places in 2027 courtesy of the IMG gradings structure.
Even so, substantial pride is at stake, particularly for Hull FC following a humiliating defeat in Toulouse on Friday night that leaves them at risk of finishing bottom for the very first time in the summer era. Such a finish would mark a major embarrassment for a team that remains among Super League’s biggest spenders. Hull now travel to face a wounded Leeds side on Friday.
Significantly absent from the wooden spoon scrap are Toulouse and York Knights. Both clubs earned late promotions last year under the decision to expand Super League to 14 teams, receiving only half the central funding allocated to established clubs due to that expansion. Operating on just £650,000 in funding, both have successfully avoided finishing bottom of the table.
That represents a remarkable achievement for two expansion teams proving that rugby league thrives beyond traditional heartlands. Simultaneously, they remain the two clubs most vulnerable to losing their Super League positions under the upcoming IMG gradings next month. If either side is demoted, it would send an appalling message for the sport given their performances on the pitch.
By the time those gradings are revealed in mid-October, the 2026 champions will already have been crowned. While plenty of drama remains in this closing month, recent form suggests writing off Wigan carries considerable risk.
Originally published at https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/08/super-league-wigan-leeds-wakefield-leigh-warrington-hull-kr-toulouse-york-knights.
