This past weekend saw some amazing rugby league on TV with Saturday being a particularly great morning of viewing on Channel 4 thanks to their coverage of the World Club Challenge.
The free-to-air broadcaster then followed it up with their first Super League game of the season which saw 2022 Challenge Cup winners, Wigan, go down to Hull KR at Craven Park.
Both games got brilliant viewing figures on the box, far surpassing Sky’s Super League opener on Thursday night of Warrington vs Leeds.
As for this week Sky cover two matches, Channel 4 one and Viaplay makes a return with the Championship. There’s also Challenge Cup action elsewhere.
Thursday 23rd
Salford Red Devils vs Hull KR: 8pm on Sky Sports Arena
Two teams who have kicked off 2023 with a winning start face off in Sky’s Thursday night fixture. The attacking style of Paul Rowley’s Salford will host a Hull KR side that impressed on Willie Peters’ Super League coaching debut.
Friday 24th
Leeds Rhinos vs Hull FC: 8pm on Sky Sports Arena
Leeds find themselves on Sky again but they’ll hope for a far more successful game than their opener, in which Warrington trounced them 42-10. Hull FC come in off a 32-30 win but it was a game that they almost threw away, switching off from the 60 minute mark seemingly. Brad Dwyer and Liam Sutcliffe return to Headingley in this Friday night matchup.
Saturday 25h
Cornwall vs Rochdale Mayfield: 1pm on BBC iPlayer
Round Two of the Challenge Cup sees the BBC coverage head away from the rugby league heartlands to cover Cornwall host Rochdale Mayfield. The League One outfit have struggled with results in the league since turning semi-professional, but this cup matchup against amateur side Mayfield could give them their biggest ever win.
Sunday 26th
Castleford Tigers vs St Helens: 1pm on Channel 4
Hull Dockers vs Midlands Hurricanes: 2:45pm on The Sportsman Rugby League Youtube Channel
Sunday gives us two games and we get to see the very elite of the sport with World Club Champions St Helens in the early kick-off, before the grassroots side of the game with Hull Dockers hosting a Challenge Cup fixture.
Saints make the journey back from down under and are out of the flames and into the frying pan as they head to what is expected to be a packed-out Jungle, with Castleford intent on righting the wrongs of round one, live on Channel 4.
The later game sees more Challenge Cup action and pits another League One side against amateur opposition with Midlands Hurricanes travelling to face Hull Dockers, live and free on the Sportsman Youtube Channel.
Monday 27th
Widnes Vikings vs Halifax Panthers: 7:45pm on Viaplay Sports
The round’s televised fixtures are finished off with two of the Championship’s top teams facing off against each other on Viaplay, formerly Premier Sports. Widnes are fresh off their first loss, one that came in heart-breaking last minute fashion against Bradford Bulls, with John Kear’s side set to host Halifax Panthers. Fax recovered from their week two loss to the favourites Featherstone with a solid victory over London Broncos, and this fixture has all the inklings of a potential play-off match further down the line.