Warrington Wolves kick-off the new Betfred Super League season against beaten Grand Finalists Leeds Rhinos.
Daryl Powell’s side, who endured a dismal campaign last time out, will bid to get off to a flying start when they entertain the West Yorkshire club in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Thursday February 16, at 8pm. The following night, also live on Sky Sports, sees the promoted and newly re-named Leigh Leopards host Salford Red Devils at 8pm, led by their former coach Paul Rowley.
The first weekend of broadcast games is rounded off on Saturday February 18 with Hull KR welcoming Wigan Warriors, live on Channel 4 at 1pm.
It will be the first fixture in charge for new Robins boss Willie Peters, the former Australian half-back who played for Wigan in the 2000 campaign. Wakefield's new coach Mark Applegarth begin at home to Catalans on Friday February 17 at 7:.30pm and Hull - also under new management with ex-KR coach Tony Smith at the helm - open up when they entertain Lee Radford's Castleford on Sunday February 19 at 3pm.
However, champions St Helens - out to claim a fifth successive Super League title - have not got a fixture penned in for the opening weekend. They were due to face Huddersfield Giants but that will be rearranged for later in the season as Saints are planning to tackle NRL champions Penrith Panthers over that weekend for the World Club Challenge.
Talks are ongoing regarding the details with new Saints coach Paul Wellens set to take his side Down Under for the contest. As expected, Super League have ditched ‘double-header’ weekends in 2023 meaning clubs only have one game over the Easter holidays but, for the first time, all six fixtures will be broadcast live. Sky Sports will air 66 live games in total while Channel 4 will again broadcast 10 games free-to-air in 2023.
Super League's other confirmed Channel 4 fixtures are Castleford Tigers v St Helens (Round 2, Sunday 26 February), Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons (Round 6, Saturday 25 March), Warrington Wolves v Hull FC (Round 7, Saturday 1 April) and St Helens v Salford Red Devils (Round 12, Saturday 13 May).
An international weekend is planned in April 28-30 when there'll be no Super League games and Magic Weekend returns to St James’ Park, Newcastle on June 3-4. The regular season again consists of 27 rounds. The top-six will once more make-up the play-offs with the top-two earning byes in the first round meaning they’ll be just 80 minutes from Old Trafford. The Grand Final will take place at Old Trafford on Saturday 14 October.
