Revealed: Why Thursday night Sky games have disappeared

As Wigan Warriors battle with the likes of St Helens for the League Leaders’ Shield, Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR and Salford Red Devils battle for spots in the play-offs and Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity scrap for survival, the games chosen for Sky are as big as ever.

Last weekend we enjoyed a real rugby league feast with a fiery affair between St Helens and Leigh Leopards, a massive game between Wigan and Leeds and a Channel 4 clash between Warrington and Salford and this week it will be the same.

But again there will be an absence of Thursday night Sky games.

This has now been explained by Barrie McDermott who said on social media:

“Haven’t got used to no games on Thursday nights either but Sky’s decision to allow clubs to leave fixtures predominantly where they are or move them to weekends where it’s a bit easier for the clubs and fans was to help not hinder.

“Hopefully next season when all matches are televised Thursday matches are back.”

Recently, Round 26 TV selections have been confirmed.

The Round 26 action will kick off on Friday September 15 with the latest instalment of the fierce local rivalry between Warrington Wolves and St Helens with the teams currently sitting in fifth and third in the table, and in the thick of the battle for Play-Off places.

Then on Saturday September 16, the match between league leaders Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos in Perpignan will be followed by Hull KR v Salford Red Devils at Sewell Group Craven Park two teams who can currently be separated only by points percentage on either side of the Play-Off divide.

Sky Sports? coverage of the Betfred Super League continues this weekend with Salford’s trip to Wigan Warriors on Friday night (8pm), followed by Warrington’s home game against Castleford Tigers on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

Betfred Super League Rounds 24-26  Sky Sports coverage

Round 24

Friday September 1  Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils (8pm)

Saturday September 2  Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers (3pm)

Round 25

Friday September 8  St Helens v Leigh Leopards (8pm)

Saturday September 9  Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors (245pm)

Round 26

Friday September 15  Warrington Wolves v St Helens (8pm)

Saturday September 16 Catalans Dragons v Leeds Rhinos (5pm BST)

Saturday September 16  Hull KR v Salford Red Devils (730pm)

There has been a suggestion that this information has been “leaked” recently during the Catalans-Wigan game but in actual fact it was confirmed at the same time as the TV coverage for last weekend’s game in France between Catalans and Wigan with the following statement:

“Sky Sports are to provide live and exclusive coverage of two more Catalans Dragons home games from Perpignan in August and September, with the French club aiming to finish top of the Betfred Super League table for the second time in three seasons.

“Both matches are potential blockbusters, kicking off with the Round 23 visit of Wigan Warriors to Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday August 26, always a highlight of the Catalans’ season, and likely to be even more significant this season with the Dragons currently top of the table, and Wigan third.

“Then three weeks later in Round 26, there will be another Saturday evening showdown for Sky Sports viewers to enjoy, as Leeds Rhinos head for Perpignan with Rohan Smith’s team hoping for a repeat of last season’s late charge to the Play-Offs, and eventually to the Grand Final.

“The kick-off of that match has been brought forward by an hour, to 5pm UK time (6pm in France) while the Wigan match will kick off as scheduled, at 6pm UK time (7pm France).

“Sky Sports have already shown two Catalans home games this season, against Warrington Wolves on Easter Monday and St Helens in May, and have confirmed coverage of the return match against Saints at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Thursday 13 July.”