Fascinating Super League campaign lies ahead if first few fixtures are any guide - Peter Smith

Headlines have been made off the field but, on it, there is no form line whatsoever going into round four.

Even at this very early stage – with, owing to postponements, just two and a half rounds completed – only Huddersfield Giants boast an unbeaten record and Toronto Wolfpack are the lone team without a point.

Giants, who have a game in hand, could be the surprise package this season and wins away to Catalans Dragons and Salford Red Devils represent an excellent start.

Having finished 10th last year and been in danger of relegation going into the final round, they were tipped to struggle in 2020 but, defensively, they appear much more solid and, in Aidan Sezer, they have signed a half-back of real quality.

Giants aren’t going to get through the entire campaign without losing games, but maybe they could follow Salford’s lead from last year by transforming from relegation battlers to a play-offs team.

At the other end of the table, Wolfpack have suffered three successive defeats, but been relatively competitive in all of them.

Toronto will win games this season, particularly when they begin playing home fixtures in April.

The travel, plastic pitch and other problems associated with playing in Canada will prove too much for some English teams, but whether Wolfpack have a deep or good enough squad to retain their Super League place remains to be seen.

They feel they should be granted salary cap dispensation, given their unique circumstances, but the four-year-old club opted to spend most of their available budget on a couple of marquee players, rather than adding some depth.

Sonny Bill Williams has created welcome publicity for Wolfpack and rugby league, but he is 34, been out of the game a long time and, in purely playing terms, probably isn’t worth the money he is on.

Things may change, but the early indications are Toronto would have been better spending it on three or four players rather than just one.

Another returnee from rugby union, Israel Folau, has had the opposite effect on Catalans Dragons, creating negative headlines off the field, but having a positive impact on it.

Folau scored with his first touch for Catalans when they ended Castleford Tigers’ unbeaten start to the campaign last weekend though, from the French side’s point of view, the most encouraging aspect of that game was Sam Tomkins’ man-of-the-match performance.

They will be a threat if he plays like that on a consistent basis.

It was a setback for Tigers, eight days after a fine win over Wigan Warriors but, with players beginning to return from injury, they should not be too concerned.

St Helens had things all their own way last year, finishing top of the table by 16 points and losing only three games, two of those to London when they fielded a weakened team.

After the round-one demolition of Salford, it appeared Super League might as well let them keep the trophy, but then they were whitewashed the following weekend by Warrington Wolves.

That suggested the Cheshire side might be the real deal this term – and a week later they slumped to a surprise defeat at Wakefield Trinity who had been hammered by one of the relegation favourites, Hull KR, in their opening match.

After that, Rovers gave Hull – who had embarrassed Leeds Rhinos – a fright, but were then crushed 52-10 at Emerald Headingley in round three. Saints, meanwhile, bounced back with a big win at Hull.

In terms of form, it makes little sense, but take out St Helens and the competition last year – at both ends of the table – was quite open with only six points separating the teams from second to sixth and four from eighth to 12th.

Saints still look the most likely champions, but they are having to cope with a run of injuries and their squad strength will be tested, while the rest of the competition are struggling for consistency.

That may make it frustrating for fans of any particular club, but it is exciting for the league as a whole.