When a rugby league side hits a vein of form, the two players wearing the numbers six and seven inevitably draw the most attention. These are the scrum‑half and the stand‑off, the partnership that dictates the tempo and direction of the game.
Their influence is just as pronounced when a team is struggling; pundits and fans alike start to question whether the link between the half‑backs is functioning, if their kicking strategy is effective, whether the passes they deliver are accurate, and if alternative combinations might produce better results. After nine rounds of the 2026 Super League, the league table is remarkably tight.
Leeds sits at the summit with just four points separating them from Catalans, who occupy seventh place. Warrington Wolves and Hull KR are positioned in third and fifth respectively, each holding a game in hand. The season has been defined by a faster, more fluid style of play – quicker play‑the‑ball situations, higher scoring totals, and a greater emphasis on attacking flair.
In this environment, the half‑back pairing becomes the engine room, responsible for issuing commands, organising the defence, and orchestrating attacking moves. The key question is whether the teams that currently occupy the top spots owe their success to the performances of their half‑backs. Can Leeds attribute its early dominance to the synergy between Jake Connor and Brodie Croft?
If so, what specific elements of their partnership are clicking? Conversely, can a side maintain consistent results despite frequent changes in its half‑back combination, as St Helens have demonstrated with the rotating trio of Jackson Hastings, George Whitby, Jonny Lomax and Tristan Sailor? Several Sky Sports Rugby League analysts have taken a deep dive into the data and offered their rankings of the most influential half‑back duos so far this season. Jodie Cunningham highlighted the situation at Wigan, noting that the lack of continuity between Harry Smith and Bevan French has been detrimental.
"Smith allows French to be the maverick and run," she explained, adding that once both players are regularly selected, their combined impact could be the greatest in the league. The current dip in Wigan's form, she suggested, is a direct reflection of the absence of that partnership.
Cunningham then turned her focus to Hull KR, arguing that their half‑backs have, at this stage, exerted a greater influence than the Leeds pair. She cited the role of full‑back Lachie Miller, whose ability to shift the ball quickly and create scoring opportunities eases the pressure on Brodie Croft. "Miller has nine try assists, more than Connor's eight and Croft's three," Cunningham pointed out, emphasizing how Miller's contributions complement the Leeds halves and enhance the overall attacking structure. However, Cunningham also praised the Hull KR duo of Lewis and May, stating that they take on a larger share of control, pressure and influence compared with the Leeds halves.
Lewis, she noted, is among the league's top try‑scorers with nine tries and matches Connor's eight try assists, while May has added two tries and an impressive thirteen try assists. "When you look at how their contributions translate into points, you can see they are a proven half‑back pairing," she concluded. Expanding on these observations, it becomes clear that the effectiveness of a half‑back partnership cannot be measured solely by raw statistics.
Context matters: the style of the team, the quality of the players surrounding the halves, and the tactical approach of the coach all shape how much impact the duo can have. For Leeds, the combination of Connor's strong running lines and Croft's precise kicking has created a balanced attack that can exploit the faster play‑the‑ball tempo that defines the 2026 season.
Their ability to interchange roles – with Connor occasionally taking on the kicking duties while Croft pushes the ball from the ruck – adds an element of unpredictability that opponents find difficult to defend against. In contrast, Hull KR's success has been built around a more direct, power‑based game, where the half‑backs are tasked with quick distribution to a potent backline anchored by Miller.
Miller's vision and speed enable him to turn half‑back passes into line‑breaks, which in turn reduces the creative burden on Croft and allows him to focus on strategic kicking and defensive organization. The broader narrative of the season suggests that teams with versatile half‑back pairings – those capable of adapting their roles based on the flow of the match – are better positioned to thrive in the modern, high‑scoring Super League. This versatility is evident in the way St Helens rotate their half‑backs, keeping opponents guessing and maintaining a high level of performance despite injuries or form fluctuations. Looking ahead, the race for the top of the table will likely hinge on which clubs can cement a stable, high‑performing half‑back partnership while also integrating the contributions of key play‑makers like full‑backs and centres.
As the season progresses, the rankings of these duos may shift, but the underlying principle remains: the half‑backs are the architects of a team's attacking identity, and their synergy often determines whether a side merely competes or dominates the competition. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every Super League match this season, offering two exclusive live games each round and covering the remaining fixtures throughout the week. The ongoing analysis and discussion of half‑back pairings will continue to be a focal point for pundits, coaches, and supporters eager to understand the subtle dynamics that drive success in the fastest‑growing era of rugby league.