In the blink of an eye, the first month of the Rugby League season has been and gone, and it’s been a manic journey so far.

We’ve already seen season-ending injuries, shock results and a managerial departure in a crazy first month of the 2016 season.

For some teams, the season couldn’t have gone much better so far, while for others, they wish the campaign could be restarted.

Here are the teams basking in February’s glory, or alternatively weeping after their torrid start to the year.

WINNERS

1. Widnes Vikings

Hands up, who is eating their words?

There’s plenty of Vikings supporters that never doubted that their side, but few could have honestly imagined they’d end round four on top of the table.

A solid first round performance against Wakefield was followed by one of the most unexpected results in Super League history, an absolute annihilation of reigning Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

Defeat to Salford followed, but a superb victory over Huddersfield last Sunday means they rightfully perch at the top of the Super League ladder.

Rhys Hanbury, Kevin Brown and Lloyd White have been sensational, and if they can maintain their current form, anything is possible.

2. Batley Bulldogs

What. A. Start.

It was feasible that the Bulldogs could end February without a win, such was the difficulty of their first four matches.

But, after stunning Leigh on the opening day of the season, Batley have proved that was no fluke after going on to defeat both Sheffield and Halifax in the opening month.

Currently just a point off the top of the league, Batley could very well push for a top four spot this year.

3. Warrington Wolves

You can’t get much better than three wins from three games, so the Wolves are rightly very pleased.

Victories over Leeds, Hull KR and Wakefield leave Warrington joint top and looking good value for a strong season as it stands.

With Chris Sandow in great form and the new signings going well, it’s been a very satisfying month for the Wolves.

 

LOSERS

1. Leeds Rhinos

Doesn’t 2015 seem like a long, long time ago now?

In hindsight, it was inevitable that losing Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai was going to be a hole just too big to fill for the Rhinos. However, nobody expected the Rhinos to struggle as much as they have, losing all four matches, including a battering at the hands of Widnes.

A catalogue of injuries have come at the worst possible time, and it has resulted in the Rhinos looking very vulnerable at this stage.

2. Huddersfield Giants

Like Leeds, the Giants have a side riddled with injuries and it is desperately damaging their push for another top four finish.

Still without a win and now without their two regular halfbacks, it has been a very dismal start at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Nothing is decided in February, but the Giants are already having to play catch up.

3. Whitehaven

In an ever improving Championship, the Cumbrian side have struggled to make their mark.

Three defeats have been suffered with an average of nearly 40 points conceded per game.

A 52-6 defeat to Halifax on the opening day was particularly tough to take, and although there were signs of improvement in their 20-4 defeat to Dewsbury on Sunday, they still have progress to make.