After seeing the four potential stand-outs for Castleford Tigers, Catalans Dragons, Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC in part one of this three-part series, the focus shifts to four players from Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, Salford Red Devils and St Helens. The Robins, in their first season back in Super League following just a one-year foray in the Championship, will be aiming to secure a top eight spot along with Salford in order to avoid the Middle 8s, whilst Leeds and Saints will once more be looking for that top four finish. Here are those players that can make this happen for their respective sides in 2018.
Hull KR - Danny McGuire
After being part of a record-eighth Grand Final winning Leeds Rhinos side in 2017, Danny McGuire - now aged 35 - seemingly fancied a new experience before bowing out of the sport as one of Super League's greatest. Making the move to newly-promoted Hull KR, McGuire will be the lynchpin the Robins will rely on to secure their top-flight status.
With both Jamie Ellis and Jordan Abdull returning to their parent sides after being loaned to KR for their 2017 Championship season, Super League survival for KR will largely revolve around McGuire and whether or not he can produce the same form that earned him two Harry Sunderland trophies and the title as Super League's record try-scorer.
Leeds Rhinos - Matt Parcell
In his debut season in the British game in 2017, Matt Parcell impressed greatly, playing a key role in the Rhinos' Grand Final winning season. After the debacle of 2016 and the controversy surrounding James Segeyaro, many Rugby League fans believed Parcell was moving to Leeds to reignite his career before moving back to Australia.
This could not have been further from the truth; a wily character and an elusive dummy-half runner, Parcell hit the form of his life in 2017, quickly becoming one of the top flight's most influential hookers and earning a place in the Super League Dream Team.
With Leeds legends Danny McGuire moving to Hull KR and Rob Burrow retiring, it is time for Parcell to step up his game even further and direct his team around the field with even more authority in 2018 - a challenge which Parcell will likely thrive upon.
Salford Red Devils - Robert Lui
With half-back partner Michael Dobson and experienced stand-off Todd Carney both departing the Red Devils at the end of the 2017 season, Salford's top-eight and top-four ambitions will likely revolve around the 27-year-old Robert Lui. Salford will be looking to Lui to create a formidable partnership with new signing Jack Littlejohn and direct the much-changed side around the pitch.
A classy player with an eye for the line, Lui has been one of Salford's greatest signings in the Koukash era, registering 55 appearances and scoring 13 tries. In 2018, Lui - with Dobson and Carney no longer at the club - will be Salford's go-to man and could well be the difference between a Super 8s finish and a Middle 8s finish.
St Helens - Ben Barba
Despite making just five appearances towards the back end of 2017 with St Helens, Ben Barba showed glimpses of the class that the world of Rugby League knows he possesses. His dynamic and elusive running game is amongst the best in the sport, whilst his defensive game will be vital in Saints' top-four charge in 2018.
Though he played just five times in 2017 - after a 12-game drugs ban that he received Down Under - Barba scored three times and earned two man-of-the-match awards and was influential in Saints' last-ditch attempt to reach Old Trafford. With a full pre-season in the locker, Barba will have the time to learn the new attacking and defensive structures under impressive boss Justin Holbrook. As such, Barba will shine in 2018 and may well be the catalyst that sends an impressive looking St Helens back to Old Trafford once more.
