Key Points
- Leeds Rhinos secure six selections in the Super League Dream Team following a second-place league finish.
- Lachie Miller, Maika Sivo, Ash Handley, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, and James McDonnell represent the Rhinos in the all-star side, with Connor and McDonnell earning consecutive inclusions.
- Wigan Warriors feature only two players, Zach Eckersley and Brad O’Neill, despite achieving a domestic double.
- Notable Wigan players such as Jai Field, Adam Keighran, Harry Smith, Oli Partington, and Junior Nsemba miss out.
- Leigh Leopards contribute two players: Umyla Hanley at centre and prop Joe Ofahengaue.
- Wakefield forward and England hopeful Caleb Hamlin-Uele secures a forward spot.
- Toulouse Olympique’s Mathieu Jussaume becomes his club’s first-ever Dream Team selection in the back-row, displacing Junior Nsemba.
- Warrington Wolves’ Ben Currie takes the loose forward position.
- The official team confirmation takes place on Sunday.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) September 13, 2026 — Leeds Rhinos have claimed a dominant presence in the latest Super League Dream Team selection, capturing nearly half of the available spots in the prestigious all-star lineup despite finishing the regular campaign in second place. Six players from Headingley have earned inclusion, outshining current domestic double holders Wigan Warriors, who managed to place only two representatives in the squad.
Why did Leeds Rhinos dominate the Super League Dream Team selections?
The heavy representation from Headingley reflects a strong individual campaign across the spine and flanks for Leeds Rhinos. Full-back Lachie Miller, winger Maika Sivo, and winger Ash Handley join half-back Brodie Croft, centre Jake Connor, and second-rower James McDonnell in the representative side. For Connor and McDonnell, this selection marks consecutive appearances in the Dream Team.
Despite finishing behind Wigan in the league standings, the collective output of the Leeds roster evidently resonated with the selection panel, showcasing attacking brilliance throughout the 2026 season.
How many players did Wigan Warriors have selected in the Dream Team?
Despite securing a domestic double, Wigan Warriors saw a surprisingly low return of just two players in the Dream Team: Zach Eckersley and Brad O’Neill. Several high-profile members of Matt Peet’s squad were left out of the final XIII.
Star full-back Jai Field, centre Adam Keighran, scrum-half Harry Smith, prop Oli Partington, and young forward Junior Nsemba all missed selection. Nsemba’s omission at back-row proved to be one of the major talking points of the announcement, as the promising forward lost out to Toulouse Olympique’s Mathieu Jussaume.
Who else made the Super League Dream Team squad?
The remainder of the squad features representation from several other clubs across the competition. Leigh Leopards secured two selections, with Umyla Hanley named at centre for the second consecutive year—despite featuring in only 16 matches during the campaign—alongside prop Joe Ofahengaue.
Wakefield forward and England hopeful Caleb Hamlin-Uele also earned a place in the pack following standout performances. Meanwhile, the final spot in the side went to Warrington Wolves’ Ben Currie, who claimed the loose forward position.
The complete side is scheduled for official confirmation on Sunday.
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Background of the particular development
The Super League Dream Team is an annual selection acknowledging the standout performers across each position in the top-tier competition. Voted on by a panel of media, pundits, and game officials, the team carries significant prestige within British rugby league, often serving as a barometer for international selection and end-of-season individual honours like the Man of Steel award.
Discrepancies between a club’s team success—such as Wigan’s domestic double—and individual Dream Team representation are historically common, driven by standout individual statistics, consistency through injuries, and localized brilliance in teams that push hard for playoff positioning. Toulouse Olympique’s historic first inclusion via Mathieu Jussaume also highlights the expanding geographic footprint and competitive depth of the Super League structure.
Prediction
This heavy representation of Leeds Rhinos players in the Dream Team, contrasted with the sparse Wigan Warriors contingent, is likely to serve as a powerful psychological motivator for both clubs as the business end of the season approaches.
For the Leeds players, validation on an individual level can translate into heightened confidence on the pitch, reassuring supporters and coaching staff of their squad’s ceiling.
Conversely, the omission of key Wigan stars like Jai Field, Harry Smith, and Junior Nsemba provides the Warriors with a potent narrative of perceived disrespect, potentially fueling a siege mentality within their camp. For fans and observers of the sport, these selections heighten the competitive tension, framing upcoming fixtures not just as club battles, but as direct contests between recognized individual brilliance and overlooked collective ambition.
