YP Power Rankings - Who is top of our Super League form chart?

St Helens are a side gathering pace, too, with the return of Jonny Lomax after a horrendous run of injuries being one of the highlights of the campaign so far.

At the other end, there is no respite in sight for ruined Leeds Rhinos who continue to stumble along unrecognisable from the side that won the treble last term.

1: Hull FC (+2)

No surprise Lee Radford has got a new deal at KC Stadium; the Hull FC boss has got his side playing some great football and keeps on securing results. Ended Wakefield’s winning run emphatically and then brought in-form Catalans’ surge to a halt, too, to underline their growing status even though he said they weren’t “at it” against the French club.

Unfortunate that both Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu have headed home for international duty this week but such is the depth of quality in Hull’s back-row - Gareth Ellis, Mark Minichiello, etc - you still sense they will win at St Helens in Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie.

2: Catalans Dragons (-1)

Lost top spot in The Yorkshire Power Rankings but no real dramas in Perpignan; defeated Salford and only narrowly missed out at Hull. Losing Krisnan Inu for the rest of the season is a blow but don’t expect the Kiwi’s knee injury to scupper Catalans too much. They have so much talent at their disposal. Be interesting, though, to see what their Antipodean international stars think of Batley and Mount Pleasant’s famous slope in Friday’s Challenge Cup contest…

3: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (-1)

Dropped a spot in the rankings after being brought down to earth by Hull FC.

Nevertheless, Chris Chester’s side showed their five-game winning run was no fluke by immediately bouncing back with a fine victory at Widnes. There is a real buzz around Belle Vue at the moment and it is imperative that continues; unbeaten League 1 side Toulouse will want to cause a shock in Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie there.

4: Warrington Wolves (+2)

Tony Smith’s side emerged from their slump in real style by putting 40 points on both Widnes Vikings and, more surprisingly, Wigan Warriors. Returning to the form they demonstrated at the start of the season, Warrington were sensational in the latter as they returned to the Super League summit. With dynamic Chris Sandow still to return from injury, everything bodes well for them.

5: Wigan Warriors (=)

Scrapped it out to defeat Huddersfield when the Fartowners were unlucky not to get more, Wigan were out-played by Warrington. Obviously, for all England stand-off George Williams is now back, they are still missing a raft of international players. They will be thankful they are not facing Super League opponents in the Challenge Cup - they head to Dewsbury on Sunday - giving them a little longer to recover in order to resume their charge.

6: St Helens (+3)

The biggest movers in The Yorkshire Post Power Rankings and hard to argue otherwise.

Keiron Cunningham’s side edged a bizarre, high-scoring game against Leeds Rhinos and then backed up with victory at Castleford - never an easy place to win. However, extra marks, too, simply for the successful return to action after so long out for the brilliant full-back Jonny Lomax; great to see him score three tries in those two games following a second knee reconstruction.

7: Castleford Tigers (-3)

Castleford need a change in luck badly.

Have lost three games on the bounce now with their squad ever more depleted. Losing prop Andy Lynch to a broken leg, still such a talisman even at 36, is a massive blow and given their current plight it will take a huge effort to overcome Salford in Saturday’s Challenge Cup tie.

8: Salford Red Devils (-1)

Pushed Catalans close in Perpignan and then swept past Hull KR, Ian Watson’s side have scored 76 points in their last two outings. It is the six point deduction for salary cap breaches that has been the talking point, however, but they have shown that will not affect their on-field displays. Still hope to make the top eight despite that setback, don’t be surprised if they do. Playing with real flair.

9: Huddersfield Giants (+1)

Another win for Paul Anderson’s side who prospered at Headingley to climb off the foot of the Super League table.

That’s two from three games now and they will target a swift double over Leeds Rhinos who arrive at Headingley in the Challenge Cup on Friday.

Still work to do but showing signs of getting back to the Giants of old.

10: Widnes Vikings (-2)

Denis Betts may have got the England assistant coach gig but it is events closer to home that will be worrying him.

A pale shadow of the team that led Super League early on, they are now down to sixth after consecutive defeats against Warrington and Wakefield.

Championship part-timers Halifax will have noted their fall in standards and hope it sees cause an upset to reach the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

11: Hull KR (+1)

Fair play to Rovers for their stunning result at Castleford, amassing 58 points in the victory that James Webster, Neil Hudgell and the rest of the club’s hierarchy demanded after that appalling Challenge Cup exit to Oldham. But it is always one step forward, two steps back with the Robins.

Conceded 44 points at Salford on Saturday and were hit with more injuries to Ken Sip and Graeme Horne - two of their more consistent performers - so recovery is sure to be slowed.

12: Leeds Rhinos (-1)

The champions’ season goes from bad to worse. Stuck at the bottom after that loss to Huddersfield, Brian McDermott’s side now have just one win from their last seven outings.

Defeat at Giants in the Challenge Cup would essentially end their hopes of retaining any of the three trophies won last year and the Qualifiers look increasingly likely.