Rivals Round preview

Rivals Round has arrived. Cities are divided and towns will collide during a bumper Easter Weekend of action. All six Betfred Super League fixtures, as well as the Betfred Women's Super League season opener, will all be broadcast live on Sky Sports. There's nothing like Rivals Round. There's nothing like league.

Thursday 6 April

Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity (20.00) - Sky Sports Arena

The opening game in Rivals Round has huge implications at the foot of the table. Bottom placed Trinity travel to the Jungle in a bid to kick start their season against eleventh placed Castleford. 

Jacob Miller is in contention for the Tigers and could face his former side for the first time since making the short trip to the Jungle during the off-season. Miller played a key role in ending Castleford's 18 game winning streak against their neighbours the last time these two sides met.

Miller's half-back partner Gareth Widdop is again unavailable as he battles an ongoing viral infection, with Adam Milner also missing as he serves the last of his two game suspension. 

Tigers interim head coach Andy Last welcomes Niall Evalds back into his squad ahead of Rivals Round, whilst loan signing Luis Johnson could feature for the first time after joining the club from Hull KR this week. 

Trinity have recruited extra reinforcements as they look to earn their first win of 2023. Giants trio Sam Hewitt, Innes Senior and Nathan Mason are all set to feature against Cas after being included in Trinity's 21-man squad.

Hooker Liam Hood makes a timely return to the Wakefield squad after missing the last two through injury, with Renouf Atoni also returning in Round 8. 

#RivalsRound Rewind ?@CTRLFC v @WTrinityRL with relegation implications ? We've seen that before ?

Ahead of their clash on Thursday, watch extended highlights from the 2006 relegation decider between Trinity & Tigers exclusively on the #OURLEAGUE app ? #SuperLeague
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 3, 2023

Friday 7 April

Hull FC v Hull KR (12.30) - Sky Sports Arena

The Good Friday Hull Derby returns to West Hull for the first time since 2019. Hull FC head coach Tony Smith will go up against his former side for the first time since leaving the club during the 2022 season. 

The Black & Whites make four changes to their 21-man squad as they search for their first win since Round 2. Ligi Sao returns from a one-match suspension, while Ben McNamara makes a timely return from a shoulder injury. Jamie Shaul and Mitieli Vulikijapani also come into the squad. 

February Glen's Player of the Month Tex Hoy misses out on the chance to play in his first Hull derby after picking up an injury against Warrington last weekend, whilst Andre Savelio, Joe Lovodua and Nick Staveley also drop out. 

The Robins are boosted by the return of their influential skipper Shaun Kenny-Dowall after completing his four match suspension. Fellow centre Tom Opacic is also included having overcome a groin injury picked up in Round 6. 

Luis Johnson drops out of Hull KR's squad following his loan move to Castleford, with Ethan Ryan also missing out. 

One city ??Two teams ???

There's nothing like the Hull derby ? pic.twitter.com/CCwurzohFN
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 5, 2023

Wigan Warriors v St Helens (15.00) - Sky Sports Main Event & Arena

Both Wigan and St Helens have suffered injury blows ahead of their huge Rivals Round clash this Friday.

Jai Field sustained a hamstring injury during the Warriors' Round 7 win against Leigh last week and is expected to miss the next 8-10 weeks of action. Cade Cust also remains unavailable and drops out of Wigan's 21-man squad, leaving Matt Peet with decisions to make in his spine with two of his key playmakers unavailable. 

Willie Isa also drops out of the Wigan squad after receiving a one-match suspension, as Iain Thornley, Junior Nsemba and Tom Forber all come into the Warriors squad.

Influential front rower Alex Walmsley is the major casualty in the Saints squad this week. Walmsley also picked up a hamstring injury in Round 7, with head coach Paul Wellens confirming that Walmsley is likely to miss the next four weeks and won't return until after the international break. 

Sione Mata'utia and Jake Wingfield are back in contention for the Champions - Mata'utia missed last week's game due to head injury protocols, whilst Jake Wingfield has missed the last two games due to a shoulder issue.

'It's bigger than any other game' ?

There's Nothing Like @WiganWarriorsRL v @Saints1890 on Good Friday ??#SuperLeague #RivalsRound pic.twitter.com/AF23r7phrR
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 4, 2023

Saturday 8 April

Leigh Leopards v Salford Red Devils (14.30) - Sky Sports Arena

The Leopards will be out to avenge an opening day defeat to the Red Devils when the two sides meet again in Rivals Round.

Adrian Lam is forced into just one change to his 21-man squad this week. Gareth O'Brien drops out after leaving the field early on during last week's defeat to Wigan and is replaced by Umyla Hanley.

The Red Devils are boosted by the return of their influential hooker Andy Ackers. The England international has missed the last two weeks through injury, but could return against Leigh on Saturday.

The @WarringtonRLFC Wolves are ready for their #RivalsRound clash with the Dragons, and coach Daryl Powell is ready for Josh McGuire to make his #SuperLeague debut ?
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 5, 2023

Catalans Dragons v Warrington Wolves (17.00 UK) - Sky Sports Arena

Although there's plenty of geographical distance between the Dragons and Wolves, they're almost inseparable at the summit of the Super League table. Warrington travel to the South of France unbeaten after seven rounds and face a Catalans side that have lost just once so far this year. 

 After serving his seven-match suspension, Josh McGuire is included in Warrington's 21-man squad. The former Australia and Queensland is expected to make his Super League debut in the South of France this weekend.

Sam Kasiano returns for the Wolves following the completion of his one match ban and is set to take on his former club for the first time, along with fellow former Dragons Josh Drinkwater and Gil Dudson.

For the Dragons, experienced playmakers Sam Tomkins and Mitchell Pearce both drop of out of their 21-man squad ahead of Saturday's clash with Warrington. 

Steve McNamara does welcome bustling front rower Siua Taukeiaho back this week, along with Mickael Goudemand and Ugo Tison.

A massive step forward ?@leedsrhinos head coach @LoisForsell explains why the Rhinos became the first British club to pay their women's players ?

The Out Of Your League podcast, available to download NOW & watch on YouTube and the #OURLEAGUE app ? #SuperLeague
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 5, 2023

Sunday 9 April 

Leeds Rhinos v Huddersfield Giants (18.00) - Sky Sports Action

Headingley plays host to a huge double header to bring the curtain down on Rivals Round. The Betfred Women's Super League gets underway with a repeat of the 2022 Grand Final, as Leeds Rhinos host York Valkyrie, before the Rhinos men take on Huddersfield Giants. 

Rhinos winger David Fusitu'a is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks of action after suffering an ankle injury in Round 7. Luke Hooley is also unavailable following a mid-week loan move to his former club, Batley Bulldogs.

The good news from the Rhinos camp is that Ash Handley could return earlier than expected. Handley wasn't expected to feature for at least another week, but returned to training this week so could feature against the Giants. 

Huddersfield have received a disappointing injury blow ahead of Sunday's trip to Leeds. The in-form Ash Golding picked up a serious hamstring injury in Round 7 and is set to miss up to three months of action. Jermaine McGillvary is expected to replace Golding on the wing.

Will Pryce could return on Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury which kept him out of last week's win against Salford. Pryce had been expected to go for scans on the injury, but has since made good progress.