A couple of teams tipped to fall short this season are giving the leaders a run for their money, while several others - including one of 2023’s trophy winners - have yet to click into gear. There’s still a lot of rugby to be played and, for most sides, the campaign could yet go either way, but - taking into account last year’s performance and pre-season expectations - here’s how the YEP thinks the 12 clubs rate over the opening seven rounds, plus the Betfred Challenge Cup.
![The race for places in October's Grand Final at Old Trafford is wide open with a quarter of the season gone.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNhZDExNTY5LTJjODMtNDkwOC1iZmY5LThkNTY2YzVjZGZhMzplMDRmZDdjOS03Zjk3LTRkNjktYTFmNS1lOGQ4MzI1YWM5MmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=596)
1. Old Trafford
The race for places in October's Grand Final at Old Trafford is wide open with a quarter of the season gone. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
![Grade E. The current squad doesn't have enough quality or depth to compete in Super League and - other than an excellent home win against Salford - results have reflected that.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJhOGQ4Y2QxLWRmYzctNDQxNi1iODMzLTgyYmZmOTJlNDBmODo3MjM1MmYxZi0wZTdmLTQ0MTgtYWMyZS0zNTYyZWQ4Njg5NzY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=475)
2. Castleford Tigers
Grade E. The current squad doesn't have enough quality or depth to compete in Super League and - other than an excellent home win against Salford - results have reflected that. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
![Grade B+. Top of the table, have beaten Warrington twice and St Helens and looked good in doing so, but their home Challenge Cup thrashing by Huddersfield raised some questions.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ1ZmI3NjZjLTE1NjQtNDY3Ny04YjhjLWFmNDc1YTgwZGI3Nzo2OWJmNjRjNi1kMmMzLTQyZTMtODU3Zi0xMmUxMzIxZGYyZDc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=600)
3. Catalans Dragons
Grade B+. Top of the table, have beaten Warrington twice and St Helens and looked good in doing so, but their home Challenge Cup thrashing by Huddersfield raised some questions. Photo: Rémi Vignaud/Catalans Dragons/SWpix.com
![Grade B-. Sixth on the table, they haven't beaten a team above them so far in the league or lost to one lower down, but last weekend's Cup victory in France was a stunner and suggested they are heading in the right direction.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk4Y2JmM2E0LTEzNTEtNDliNS04OTFkLWQyNjA4ZDY0NDI4ZDphZGU4ZjY2ZS1lNTY3LTQyNmMtOTcxOS0zMjIyNDIxYTU4YjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=600)
4. Huddersfield Giants
Grade B-. Sixth on the table, they haven't beaten a team above them so far in the league or lost to one lower down, but last weekend's Cup victory in France was a stunner and suggested they are heading in the right direction. Photo: Rémi Vignaud/Catalans Dragons/SWpix.com
![Grade F. Fifty points conceded in three of their last four games, the coach gone, a host of suspensions and injuries; other than a last-gasp win over London, it has been a car crash of a campaign so far.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjA3Y2M2YzhlLWY3OWItNDlmYi1hNDgxLTZkYjlhYzczYmViNjpkOTk4ZmQ0OS1kZjY2LTRlMGYtYjcwOS0wMDA4NTczODg4Yzk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=600)
5. Hull FC
Grade F. Fifty points conceded in three of their last four games, the coach gone, a host of suspensions and injuries; other than a last-gasp win over London, it has been a car crash of a campaign so far. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
![Grade B+. Not quite perfect, but - with five wins from seven in the league and a place in the Cup semi-finals - the Robins are proving last year's improvement wasn't a fluke.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmMzY2RmZjM2LTllMjQtNDg0MS05MjlkLTMzMTU2ZDc5ZjhlODowMTQyODUyNy0zNzQzLTQ4ZWQtOTc3MS03YmFmZDE5NzlmYWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=600)
6. Hull KR
Grade B+. Not quite perfect, but - with five wins from seven in the league and a place in the Cup semi-finals - the Robins are proving last year's improvement wasn't a fluke. Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com