York Knights will play their first game in Super League in front of a record crowd with the club nearing a sellout for the season opener.
Mark Applegarth’s side were one of two sides to earn promotion to Super League through the application process with Lord Caine approving the North Yorkshire club, who had placed first in the Championship before losing the Grand Final to fellow promoted side Toulouse Olympique.
There are no easy games in Super League but York have on paper the toughest opponents they could for their first game in the competition as treble winners Hull KR visit the LNER Stadium on Thursday, 12th February.
Ticket sales have now surpassed the ground’s record attendance with York nearing a sellout for their first game in Super League, something that would be a huge achievement.
It’s believed that the current record crowd at the LNER Stadium was actually when upcoming opponents Hull KR played Catalans Dragons at the ground in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup last year, as 8,402 turned out for the Robins’ win.
York Knights in line for Super League opener sellout
On that occasion, the overwhelming majority of those in attendance were Hull KR fans and whilst that won’t be the case on the opening night of Super League, plenty will have traveled across from Hull.
Confirming news of the record and announcing that ‘limited tickets remain’, the Knights took to social media.
“We’re set for a RECORD crowd as the Knights host @hullkrofficial in the @SuperLeague season opener at the LNER Community Stadium on Thursday, 12 February.
“History in the making. Limited tickets remain.”
It will mark the first real test that Hull KR have had this year as their sole pre-season trial saw Willie Peters field a squad mainly comprising fringe and academy players, whilst the Robins will also face community club Lock Lane in the Challenge Cup.
A week after facing York, the Robins will face Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge whilst York’s first away trip in Super League will take them to Headingley for a clash with Leeds Rhinos.
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We’re set for a RECORD crowd as the Knights host @hullkrofficial in the @SuperLeague season opener at the LNER Community Stadium on Thursday, 12 February.
History in the making. Limited tickets remain.
👉 https://t.co/qAXRJcosSR pic.twitter.com/21ocdqD7JG— York RLFC Knights (@YorkRLFC) January 30, 2026
