Pre-season friendlies are set to get underway within a week with the traditional Boxing Day games within touching distance, but the schedule for January is filling out with Super League side St Helens now confirming another of their friendly matches.
The Red Vee had a very different pre-season in 2023 as they headed down under to contest the World Club Challenge where they faced, and defeated, Penrith Panthers.
That was the showpiece game in the NRL’s pre-season ‘Challenge’ which saw all 17 NRL teams, plus Saints, play two games a piece with points awarded for margin of victory and strangely enough offloads.
The team atop the table after their two fixtures would take home the $100,000 prize money. That saw Saints take on St George Illawarra Dragons before they faced Penrith, a very glamorous pre-season indeed.
As for 2024 they’re back in England and they’ll host Championship side Swinton Lions in stark contrast to how they kicked off 2023.
Paul Wellens’ side are in a dual registration deal with the Lions so it makes sense for the two teams to come together to give one another some much needed reps during the pre-season.
Both teams confirmed the fixture via their websites with the game set for Saturday 20th January at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Swinton took to their website and stated: “Our 2024 season will be launched with a first-ever visit to the Totally Wicked Stadium early in the new year, for a high-profile pre-season friendly against Super League giants St Helens!
“The match will take place on Saturday 20th January with a 2pm kick-off, as Alan Kilshaw’s new-look Lions finalise preparations ahead of our first competitive game eight days later at North Wales Crusaders.”
Similarly St Helens shared the news: “St Helens will welcome the Betfred Championship side on Saturday, 20th January 2024 (kick-off 2pm) as Paul Wellens’ men begin their build-up to the start of the 2024 Betfred Super League season.
“Swinton have been the Saints’ dual-registration partner in 2023 and it has been a beneficial partnership for both parties, so the Club is looking forward to welcoming the Lions to kick off the new year.”
Fans could also take advantage of some very reasonable ticket offers with all tickets priced at £10 or less, a snip compared to some of the other pre-season ticket prices for Super League sides.
Tickets priced Adults £10, Concessions £5, and Juniors £3, are available via the ticketing page on the St Helens RLFC official website.
