PREMIERSHIP PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD

SHEFFIELD have been there or thereabouts ever since they returned to the top league in 2021, and after a near miss in the Grand Final the following year, they raced to title glory in a dramatic comeback against Ipswich in 2023.

But nobody has retained the title since Poole in 2015, and the Tigers were unable to end that statistic despite topping the 2024 league table, overcoming injury problems to finish two points clear of Leicester.

However, there would be no hat-trick of Grand Finals at Owlerton as Roses rivals Belle Vue mounted a staunch defence of a 12-point first leg advantage in the semi-final and duly made it through en route to their title success.

The Tigers, though, were clearly happy with their top four as each of them return to the club this year, with Australian GP star JACK HOLDER top of the averages having firmly established himself as a Sheffield rider, and elder brother CHRIS HOLDER is only just behind him in the listings after a terrific first full season back in the UK.

Treble World Champion TAI WOFFINDEN was a big signing in the closing part of the 2023 season, and came back for the full year last time, but his campaign came to an end in a GP crash in June, and his absence was a problem the Tigers had to contend with for the remainder of the campaign.

Woffinden is back for 2025 and completing the top four is the spectacular JOSH PICKERING who is in his second spell with Sheffield and continues to produce some stunning racing manoeuvres.

It’s the lower end of the team where boss Simon Stead has re-structured things with long-serving Kyle Howarth departing for Leicester whilst the club have also parted company with Jason Edwards (to Birmingham) and Dan Gilkes.

In their places the Tigers have signed ANDERS ROWE who has graduated from the Rising Star berth after an excellent season with King’s Lynn, whilst it’s a return for DANYON HUME after a spell with the club in 2021 and more recent Premiership experience with Ipswich.

And here’s a position at Rising Star for LEON FLINT who has previously appeared in that slot for Wolverhampton and Birmingham and will see the move to Owlerton as a real chance to kick on with his career.

2025 STARTING LINE-UP:

Jack Holder 8.85

Chris Holder 8.79

Tai Woffinden 8.45

Josh Pickering 6.74
Anders Rowe 3.91

Danyon Hume 3.25

Leon Flint (RS)

*Line-up subject to approval