LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
After a break for the Challenge Cup, Super League is back for round five, with Barrie McDermott predicting the outcomes for the matches.
McDermott believes that this round is particularly difficult to predict, as all the teams seem to be on equal footing at this stage of the season.
He states, "I think this could be the tightest round of matches to predict so far because every single one of them looks like they are both at the same point at this point in the season."
One team to watch in round five is Salford, who recently secured a morale-boosting victory over Bradford in the Challenge Cup.
McDermott emphasizes the importance of this win for Salford, stating, "They needed to get some feel-good factor throughout that squad and throughout that club." Despite their recent success, Salford has experienced some player losses, including Brad Singleton to Castleford Tigers.
There may be more departures as the club undergoes a takeover.
However, McDermott acknowledges the strong leadership of head coach Paul Rowley and captain Kallum Watkins, stating, "They are at home, head coach Paul Rowley has done an amazing job, and captain Kallum Watkins is going to have to rally his troops on the field."
Overall, McDermott anticipates an exciting and competitive round of matches in Super League round five.
He highlights the unpredictability of the games, indicating that it will be a close call for many of the teams.
With teams like Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos looking to bounce back from previous losses, McDermott suggests that fans can expect intense and closely-fought matches.
As the teams battle it out on the field, McDermott's predictions add to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming round of Super League action.