It’s long been regarded as the weekend where the league table finally takes shape each and every year – and Easter is often a period that can define a team’s season.
This year will have been no different, and though we don’t know just how impactful each team’s Easter has been until the business end of the season, here are the biggest winners and losers from the weekend in terms of matches played.
Winner: St Helens
The Super League leaders are in imperious form right now – and after seeing off local rivals Wigan on Good Friday with ease, they backed that up on Monday with a thumping win at home to Hull FC – despite making a number of changes to their team to boot. Can anyone stop Justin Holbrook’s side at the moment?
Loser: Halifax
It’s been a tough week for Fax, who lost ground on the Championship play-off places over Easter. First up was a disappointing defeat at home to Bradford – despite leading for large periods of the contest – before a convincing loss across the Channel against Toulouse.
Winner: Sheffield
It’s certainly a good time to be a Sheffield Eagles fan! Mark Aston’s side picked up back-to-back wins over Easter – including an impressive win against second-placed Toulouse – to move level on points with the French side with a game in hand!
Loser: London
After a strong start, the Broncos are now bottom of Super League following two damaging defeats over Easter. They lost at home to Catalans on Easter Thursday, before a huge defeat at Huddersfield on Easter Monday – albeit with a shade of controversy following Alex Walker’s late disallowed try.
Winner: Batley
Matt Diskin’s side are beginning to climb the Championship table. They won the Heavy Woollen Derby against Dewsbury on Good Friday, before backing that up with another big win, this time against Swinton Lions, to double their points tally from the first nine games in the space of just a few days!
Loser: Hull KR
Tim Sheens’ side were arguably the biggest losers of all at Easter – suffering two heavy defeats, conceding over 50 points in both to slide down the Super League table. If the Good Friday loss at Hull FC was bad enough, that was backed up with a thumping loss at home to Warrington on Easter Monday, too.
Winner: Catalans
Steve McNamara’s side are slowly and quietly going about their business in Super League. Having won at London on Easter Thursday, they then saw off Castleford in Perpignan on Monday to keep their play-off charge going.
