Pre-Season Round-Up (20-21 January)

Six Betfred Super League teams were in action again this weekend, with a number of pre-season friendlies taking place in cold and windy adverse weather conditions. 

Youthful St Helens and Wigan Warriors sides were in action at the weekend, with Saints hosting Betfred Championship outfit Swinton Lions at the Totally Wicked Stadium. 

Fans were able to see a glimpse of the future as a young Saints side took to the field in what was their first run out of 2024, but an experienced Swinton would go on to triumph 28-18 in the end. 

It was also a valiant effort from the Wigan Warriors outfit that travelled to face Betfred League One's Midlands Hurricanes on Sunday. The reigning Betfred Super League Champions were put to the test against a spirited Hurricanes, in a scoring affair between the two sides. 

Two tries in quick succession would put the Warriors ahead at the break and although the Midlands would go on to regain the lead at the start of the second half, Wigan overcame this with two more back-to-back tries. 

In the final attack of the game, the Hurricanes would finish on a high as Sam Bowring burst through the middle to score. The extras were added and this would bring the final scores to 20-24, with Wigan only just holding on to a hard-fought victory. 

Over at the FLAIR Stadium, it was a special and poignant day as the Rush brothers both took to field in a pre-season fixture between Huddersfield Giants and Dewsbury Rams - as requested earlier on in the week. 

There were some new faces who impressed for the Giants, who went on to produce a convincing 36-0 victory, which included a hat-trick from Esan Marsters and a try from Giants half-back Kieran Rush, which was awarded by his brother and referee Liam Rush - an extremely proud moment for family members watching from the stands.

15' TRY! - Kieran Rush.

Beautiful moment, as Kieran Rush shows and goes and gets over, awarded by his brother, in front of their family. ??

? 0 - 10 ? | #CowbellArmy?? https://t.co/1a4qfjxY02
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) January 21, 2024

As their first fixture of 2024, and one week after returning from their pre-season camp in Spain, the Giants obtained some well-needed playing minutes and will now look ahead to their second pre-season friendly against London Broncos next weekend. 

Thank you to the Giants fans who braved #StormIsha to make the first Giants trip of 2024!

See you back at the JSS next Sunday for our game v @LondonBroncosRL ?#BecomeAGiant ?? pic.twitter.com/AGhIhJVCBu
— Huddersfield Giants ?? (@Giantsrl) January 21, 2024

Elsewhere, Hull FC made a trip down the M62 to face Doncaster at the Eco-Power Stadium. 

Whilst Tony Smith selected a stronger and more senior side in comparison to last week's youthful outfit against Bradford Bulls, the Dons handed a number of non-competitive debuts to their high-profile signings, including former Betfred Super League players Craig Hall, Pauli Pauli and England international Reece Lyne. 

The Dons would go toe to toe with the Super League outfit, as fans witnessed a flurry of tries in the bitterly cold weather conditions. But a seven try spectacle including a brace from new signing Liam Tindall and tries from debutants Franklin Pele and Morgan Smith, meant that the Black and Whites would prove too strong in the end - the final score-line 42-24.

Some important pre-season minutes in the bag ?

Who were your stand-out performers at the Eco-Power Stadium this afternoon? ?

???? #COYH pic.twitter.com/xex6FS2eiO
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) January 21, 2024

All eyes would then turn to Castleford Tigers v London Broncos, perhaps one of the bigger pre-season fixtures of the weekend. And it was all square at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle when the Broncos travelled to the Tigers, where an even contest took place. 

Both teams named a strong squad to face one another, highlighting a potential taste of what's to come when they play each other in the Betfred Super League later on this year. 

The Tigers would lead 14-6 at the break, with halfback and playmaker Danny Richardson making his comeback from injury in front of a home crowd. But Broncos' Oliver Leyland and new recruit Hakim Miloudi would hit back, where a scrappy encounter between last year's survivors and the newly promoted would end in a 14-14 draw - in what was described as a "typical pre-season friendly" by Tigers Head Coach, Craig Lingard.

There's plenty more pre-season action taking place next weekend and beyond, in the build up to Round 1 next month.

Fans can find all the relevant information, dates and kick-off times for these pre-season fixtures over in the Rugby League Match Centre, as we eagerly count down to the start of the 2024 Betfred Super League campaign.