We’ve had two weeks of Championship rugby league to warm up with but Super League finally launches this week after it’s long off-season.
With the new campaign comes new TV games and the season opener is the first game that fans can get stuck into this week.
The NRL Pre-Season Challenge also enters it’s second and final week which means we get to see St Helens contest the World Club Challenge as well, something that will be aired on free TV this year.
It’s also worth mentioning that League One also gets underway this week but sadly it receives no TV coverage, meaning the only way to view those sides is on the day and at the stadium.
Thursday 16th
Warrington Wolves vs Leeds Rhinos: 8pm at the Halliwell Jones on Sky Sports Main Event
The Super League season gets off with a bang as the Wire and the Rhinos face off in the opening round for the third time in four years.
Last year this opening game was won by Warrington however they ultimately went on to have the worse season, with Rhinos making the Grand Final and the Wolves dwindling in 11th.
Friday 17th
Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels: 6:55am on Sky Sports Arena
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles: 8:55am on Sky Sports Arena
Leigh Leopards vs Salford Red Devils: 8pm on Sky Sports Arena
The NRL Pre-Season Challenge heads into week two and Jackson Hastings’ Newcastle will be looking for a bounce-back win, not before Victor Radley’s Roosters look for another 15 points out of 15 in their game against Manly.
Both of those games are available on Sky Sports Arena from 6:55am onwards as a great way to feed your rugby league fix.
As the evening comes round though we get to see Super League’s new boys Leigh Leopards kick their season off, also on Sky Sports Arena, with the Red Devils travelling to the Leigh Sports Village.
Leigh have promised entertainment off the pitch but they face the side who were dubbed ‘the great entertainers’ in the 2022 campaign.
Saturday 18th
St George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs: 5:20am on Sky Sports Arena
Penrith Panthers vs St Helens: 7:50am on Sky Sports Main Event/Arena/Mix and Channel 4
Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys: 9:55am on Sky Sports Arena
Hull KR vs Wigan Warriors: 1pm on Channel 4
Saturday is the day with the most fixtures and also the earliest start as St George host the Rabbitohs for a 5:20am kick-off. For English fans wanting a chance to see Tom Burgess it’s great as the English prop has been named as part of a very strong Rabbitohs’ side.
That game is only shown on Sky Sports Arena, as is the third game of the day which sees England’s Herbie Farnworth feature. Brisbane Broncos take on North Queensland for a 9:55am kick off to round out their pre-season.
New Zealand Warriors vs Melbourne Storm: 1:50am on Sky Sports Mix
Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders: 3:55am on Sky Sports Mix
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks: 6am on Sky Sports Mix
The Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans: 8:05am on Sky Sports Mix
The final set of games in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge are all on show on Sky Sports Mix on Sunday morning, or more realistically Sunday night for the two earlier games with the Warriors facing the Storm at 1:50am GMT. Those four fixtures round out the week of rugby league on TV.
