Following the Summer Bash and a week that included a double-header, there’s another huge week of rugby league on TV incoming.
Super League’s huge event of Magic Weekend follows on from the Championship’s Summer Bash, with St James Park the destination for all the action.
This week also marks the return of State of Origin, with game one making up one of eleven games across a packed schedule.
Wednesday 31st May
Queensland vs New South Wales: 11:05am on Sky Sports Main Event
The week’s rugby league action starts a day earlier than normal with one of the sport’s most iconic fixtures – the Maroons take on the Blues. If you’re wanting a display of the very best in the world then game one of Origin is what you need to be watching on Wednesday morning.
Thursday 1st June
New South Wales vs Queensland: 10:45am on Sky Sports Arena
A day after the men do battle in game one, it’s the turn of the women. In a clash that will feature all of the star’s of the recent dominant World Cup winning side this is another dose of must-watch rugby league.
Saturday 3rd June
Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs: 8:30am on Sky Sports Arena
Cronulla Sharks vs Brisbane Broncos: 10:35am on Sky Sports Arena
Salford Red Devils vs Hull Kingston Rovers: 1:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
Wigan Warriors vs Catalans Dragons: 3:45pm on Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
Leeds Rhinos vs Castleford Tigers: 6:00pm on Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
Saturday is the first bumper day of action with rugby league on your telly almost non-stop from breakfast to tea time. It kicks off down under with Leeming’s Gold Coast hosting Burgess’s Bunnies. Then it’s the time of this year’s surprise package Broncos with Herbie Farnworth set to star again in a clash between second and third.
The afternoon then takes us to Newcastle as Magic Weekend starts with Salford facing Hull KR as 6th faces 4th. It’s then a game between 2nd and 3rd with Wigan facing Catalans after their dramatic win last week against Rovers. The evening is then rounded off by two sides outside the playoffs, one desperate to get in (Leeds) whilst the other are desperate to distance themselves from bottom (Castleford). The Yorkshire derby rounds off day one of Magic.
Sunday 4th June
Penrith Panthers vs St George Illawarra Dragons: 9:15am on Sky Sports Arena
Wakefield Trinity vs Leigh Leopards: 12:00pm on Sky Sports Arena
St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants: 2:15pm on Sky Sports Arena
Hull FC vs Warrington Wolves: 4:30pm on Sky Sports Arena
The morning’s NRL action sees a depleted Penrith host St George. The Panthers are without many of their stars due to Origin call-ups with Nathan Cleary the most obvious absence of many. St George still languish at the bottom of the table and perhaps this is the best time for them to face the tw0-time Premiers.
Back to the northern hemisphere and it’s day two of Magic Weekend and is kicked off by a game between Wakefield and Leigh. That’s a fixture that’s occurred twice in recent weeks with the Leopards easy winners in both, perhaps the Magic crowd could alter the result this time? Two sides who were both expecting to be contending a lot higher up then face off as 7th placed Saints face the 9th placed Giants. The weekend is rounded off by table toppers Warrington hoping to bounce back against former boss Tony Smith and his Hull FC side.
**All NRL games are available on the streaming service Watch NRL**