Round One Preview
30 Jan 2020
Bad Blood
Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves (Live on Sky Sports, Thursday 30 January [KO 7:45PM])
The 2020 Betfred Super League season will kick off on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports.
Warrington Wolves will make the short trip to the DW Stadium.
They’ll face sworn enemies Wigan Warriors, last year, the fixture was dubbed ‘Bad Blood’.
Anthony Gelling could make his debut for Warrington on his old stomping ground, at Wigan, where he won a Grand Final and World Club Challenge.
Warrington’s biggest signing, Gareth Widdop is out due to injury.
Adrian Lam and Wigan have made some impressive signings.
Jackson Hastings and George Burgess are the two big names to have put pen to paper and they’re on Lam’s first 21 man squad of the season.
Wigan will be light in the centres with Oliver Gildart still out after suffering an injury on Great Britain Lions’ tour.
The Rematch
St Helens vs Salford Red Devils (Live on Sky Sports, Friday 31 January [KO 7:45PM])
The 2019 Super League Grand Final saw St Helens beat Salford Red Devils, they’ll go head to head in their opening fixture of 2020.
St Helens have made no new signings in the off-season; however, Tongan coach Kristian Woolf will take the reins at Saints after Justin Holbrook left the club for the NRL.
Saints will be without Tommy Makinson, James Roby and Morgan Knowles who all miss out because of injury.
After their miraculous season last year, Salford are in a transition year with the loss of some of their key players.
2019 Man of Steel winner, Jackson Hastings has left the club, alongside, Josh Jones and Jake Bibby.
Ian Watson has made plenty of new signings including former Grand Final winner, Dan Sarginson from Wigan.
A New Start
Hull KR vs Wakefield Trinity (Friday 31 January [KO 7:45PM])
Hull KR have made more signings than any other Super League club this year. Tony Smith has signed more than 20 players - Shaun Kenny-Dowall headlines that list of players.
Weller Hauraki and Matt Parcell miss out due to injury.
Wakefield Trinity will be without new signing Alex 3Walker; he was injured during pre-season. Prop forward, David Fifita is still recovering from the injury he picked up in 2019.
Wakefield could have five debutants in their starting line-up; Romain Navarrete, Josh Wood, Jay Pitts, Adam Tangata and Joe Westerman.
Maloney vs Sezer
Catalans Dragons vs Huddersfield Giants (Saturday 1 February [5PM UK])
James Maloney and Aidan Sezer will go head to head in Perpignan when Catalans Dragons face Huddersfield Giants at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Catalans have made one of the signings of the season in Maloney. He joins the club from Penrith Panthers.
Huddersfield will be without Ashton Golding after he’s been ruled out for the first two months of the season. James Gavet could make his debut for Giants.
We... We play League 💪
Season starts Thursday 30 January #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/ILwjboPMuw
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) January 25, 2020
The Double Header at Emerald Headingley
Sunday 2 February
Toronto Wolfpack vs Castleford Tigers (Live on Sky Sports, KO 2:30PM)
Leeds Rhinos vs Hull FC (Live on Sky Sports, KO 4:45PM)
The curtain raiser with the headline act. Sonny Bill Williams could make his debut at the Emerald Headingley on Sunday afternoon.
The first transatlantic side to play in Super League, Toronto Wolfpack will face Castleford Tigers.
All the hype has been around Sonny Bill’s return to league; however, Toronto have a thin squad as it is. Any injuries and they could be struggling for players.
Daryl Powell could give Danny Richardson and Sosaia Feki their Castleford debut.
Shortly after the Toronto fixture, Leeds Rhinos will host Hull FC.
There’ll be plenty of new signings on show for both sets of fans. FC fans will be anticipating the return of Mahe Fonua, while Manu Ma’u, also known as the ‘Tongan Terminator’ could make his debut.
Boyhood Leeds fans, Luke Gale, could make his debut for the club aged 31-years-old. He’s had a torrid two years due to injury.
Richard Agar could also hand a debut to three other signings; Matt Prior from Cronulla Sharks, Alex Mellor and Kruise Leeming who both signed from Huddersfield Giants.
