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The Betfred Super League is back! | Round 1 Preview

6 hrs

  • The Betfred Super League is BACK for 2026!
  • Love is in the air in Round 1 with seven spectacles happening across Valentine's Weekend
  • Games to be shown LIVE on Sky Sports, SuperLeague+ and BBC Sport
  • League Hits Different.
The Betfred Super League is back! | Round 1 Preview

The Betfred Super League returns on Thursday Night – and the season is set for a spectacular start in Round 1!

Have you missed us?

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It's been over four months since Hull KR were crowned champions under the lights at Old Trafford, and now 14 teams, including the newly promoted Bradford Bulls, Toulouse Olympique and York Knights, will kick-off their 2026 campaigns in style.

Super League will celebrate its 30th birthday this season – with a long list of epic events taking place throughout the year.

There’s an extra game for fans to enjoy along with the continuation of a streamlined fixture list, and once again, fans can watch EVERY game LIVE on Sky Sports with FIVE LIVE games on SuperLeague+, as well as a selection on the BBC throughout the year.

Who's getting excited? With a brand-new season finally upon us, here's the first preview of what you can expect from an action-packed opening round on Valentine’s Weekend.

Will you be spending it with your true love, the Super League?

Which hearts will be racing and which hearts will be breaking following the events of Round 1?

Thursday 12 February

York Knights v Hull KR (20.00) – live on Sky Sports

The 2026 Super League season will kick off in emphatic fashion with York Knights hosting the current champions Hull KR at the LNER Community Stadium, live exclusively on Sky Sports.

This will be York’s first ever appearance in Super League and marks over 40 years since a York club last competed in top flight rugby league.

It’s going to be a landmark occasion for the city on Thursday Night, with a capacity crowd in attendance.

The Robins will be travelling in their numbers too, as Willie Peters’ men begin their title defence on the road, before a massive couple of weeks lie ahead with the Betfred World Club Challenge and Las Vegas.

It’s Hull KR who have won their last fourteen meetings with York, and the treble-winners will be hoping to start their campaign strongly.

The Knights shouldn’t be underestimated, however, as they look to showcase themselves on home soil.

 

Knights squad: 1 Toa Mata'afa, 2 Ben Jones-Bishop, 4 Sam Wood, 5 Scott Galeano, 6 Ata Hingano,7 Liam Harris, 8 Jack Martin, 9 Paul McShane, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Josh Griffin, 12 Jesse Dee, 13 Jordan Thompson, 14 Denive Balmforth, 15 Xavier Va'a, 16 Justin Sangare, 19 Danny Richardson, 20 Oli Field, 21 Kieran Buchanan, 25 Jack Smith, 26 Nikau Williams, 31 King Vuniyayawa 

Robins squad: 1 Arthur Mourgue, 2 Tom Davies, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Oliver Gildart, 5 Joe Burgess, 6 Mikey Lewis, 7 Tyrone May, 8 Sauaso Sue, 9 Jez Litten, 11 Dean Hadley, 12 James Batchelor, 13 Elliot Minchella, 14 Jack Broadbent, 15 Sam Luckley, 16 Jai Whitbread, 17 Rhyse Martin, 18 Jack Brown, 19 Karl Lawton, 21 Noah Booth, 22 Bill Leyland, 29 Tom Whitehead

Friday 13 February

Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants (18.00 UK time, 19.00 French time) – live on Sky Sports+ and Super League+

Catalans Dragons have the joys of a home fixture in Round 1 as Huddersfield Giants become the first team to make the trip to Perpignan in 2026.

Both teams are aiming to improve on last year’s performances, having finished ninth and tenth respectively.

Can the Dragons capitalise on home territory, or will the Giants return back to West Yorkshire with the two points?

Did you also know it's Catalans' 20th anniversary in the Super League this year?

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Warrington Wolves v St Helens (20.00) – live on Sky Sports

A classic is on the cards on Friday Night as Warrington Wolves welcome St Helens to a SOLD OUT Halliwell Jones Stadium. 

This fixture has produced a series of enticing encounters in recent seasons, and their 2026 season opener is highly anticipated.

The Wolves will be striving to be better this year and have the opportunity to set a positive tone early on. Will Sam Burgess’ side bounce back in 2026?

The Saints, who are celebrating 30 years since their first ever Super League title win, are equally as ambitious, with new head coach Paul Rowley looking to work his magic.

Saints are the most successful team in Super League with ten titles under their belt, but haven’t featured in a Grand Final since their famous four-in-a-row back in 2022.

They’ve certainly made a statement of intent signing the likes of David Klemmer and Jackson Hastings, but can they achieve higher than last year's fifth place finish?

It was a clean sweep of victories for Wire over Saints in their league and cup trilogy last season, but who will claim the spoils in Round 1?

Find out only on Sky Sports! Nothing says Valentine's Weekend like a fierce rivalry.

 

Wolves squad: Cai Taylor-Wray, Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Albert Hopoate, George Williams, Marc Sneyd, Luke Yates, Danny Walker, James Harrison, Sam Stone, Ben Currie, Sam Powell, Toafofoa Sipley, Liam Byrne, Jordy Crowther, Ewan Irwin, Luke Thomas, Joe Philbin, Josh Smith, Jake Thewlis, Kelepi Tanginoa

Saints squad: 1. Jack Welsby, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Harry Robertson, 5. Deon Cross, 6. Tristan Sailor, 7. Jonny Lomax, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Clark, 12. Shane Wright, 13. David Klemmer, 14. Jacob Host, 15. George Delaney, 16. Matt Whitley, 17. George Whitby, 20. Lewis Murphy, 22. Joe Shorrocks, 23.Jake Burns 24. Owen Dagnall, 25. Nene Macdonald, 28. Jake Davies, 31. Jackson Hastings.

Leigh Leopards v Leeds Rhinos (20.00) – live on Sky Sports+ and SuperLeague+

It’s box office stuff as Leigh Leopards meet Leeds Rhinos under the lights of Leigh Sports Village – in Friday’s third and final game.

As two of last year’s top six go head-to-head, it’s clear both sides are building towards something special and will be hungry to go that one step further at the business end of the year. 

Both are predicted to be up at the top once again in 2026, but can either side get their hands on some silverware?

Where Saturday is concerned, their previous meetings haven’t disappointed, although it’s the Rhinos who were on the right side of the score-line each of the times in 2025 (48-30 and 14-22).

There will be no love lost in this game, that's for certain.

 

Leopards squad: Keanan Brand, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley, Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam, Joe Ofahenague, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Owen Trout, Isaac Liu, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Matt Davis, Liam Horne, Bailey Hodgson, Innes Senior, Gareth O’Brien, Jack Hughes, Andrew Badrock, Nathan Wilde

Rhinos squad: 1 Lachie Miller, 3 Harry Newman, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Brodie Croft, 9 Jarrod O'Connor, 10 Tom Holroyd, 11 Kallum Watkins, 12 James McDonnell, 14 Chris Hankinson, 15 Cooper Jenkins, 16 Ethan O'Neill, 20 Presley Cassell, 22 Riley Lumb, 23 Danny Levi, 24 Ned McCormack, 25 Ben Littlewood, 26 Tom Nicholson-Watton, 27 George Brown, 28 Fergie McCormack, Oscar Brown, Jacob Stead 

Saturday 14 February

Hull FC v Bradford Bulls (17.30) – live on Sky Sports+ and SuperLeague+

Bullmania is back! Bradford Bulls return to Super League following a 12-year absence and will start their season with an away day at Hull FC on Valentine’s Day. 

The Black & Whites are on track to host their biggest non-derby opening round crowd since 2005 and after last year’s Play-Off heartbreak where they narrowly missed out on the top six, Hull FC should be raring to go.

You can bank on the Bulls to come out firing – they’ll want to show that they aren’t just here to make up the numbers and it would do wonders for their confidence if they could pull off a victory in Round 1.

Likewise, John Cartwright’s men will be desperate to finally have a home record they can be proud of in 2026, so an opening round win on Saturday is crucial for the hosts.

This will be the sides’ first match-up since 2014, where Bradford came out 38-24 victors at Odsal. It’s Hull FC who have won their first five home meetings against the Bulls, however.

How will they get on rekindling their romance?

 

Hull FC squad: 2 – Harvey Barron, 3 – Davy Litten, 4 – Zak Hardaker, 5 – Lewis Martin, 6 – Jake Arthur, 7 – Aidan Sezer, 9 – Amir Bourouh, 10 – Harvie Hill, 11 – Joe Batchelor, 14 – Cade Cust, 16 – Sam Lisone, 17 – Liam Knight, 18 – Ligi Sao, 19 – Tom Briscoe, 20 – Yusuf Aydin, 21 – Arthur Romano, 22 – Connor Bailey, 23 – Brad Fash, 27 – Callum Kemp, 32 – Lloyd Kemp

Bulls squad: Andy Ackers, Caleb Aekins, Waqa Blake, Ed Chamberlain, Eribe Doro, Brandon Douglas, Zac Fulton, Luke Hooley, Joe Keyes, Loghan Lewis, Esan Marsters, Joe Mellor, Rowan Milnes, Jayden Okunbor, Eliot Peposhi, Leon Ruan, Dan Russell, Ebon Scurr, Mitch Souter, Ryan Sutton, Connor Wynne

Wakefield Trinity v Toulouse Olympique (20.00) – live on Sky Sports+ and SuperLeague+

Wakefield Trinity are closing in on a sell out for their Round 1 opener at the DIY Kitchens Stadium – also on Valentine’s Day.

Toulouse Olympique, who will embark on their second stint in the Super League, are Trinity’s opponents.

They have met just seven times in history – most recently in the 2024 Betfred Championship Grand Final, where Wakefield secured a comfortable 36-0 win.

The Olympique have beaten Trinity before though – most memorably when they produced a magnificent comeback at the 2022 Magic Weekend to snatch a 38-26 victory.

Trinity are on the hunt for back-to-back Play-Off places for the first time in Super League history, but will they be the team having the party come the end of Saturday Night?

 

Trinity squad: 1. Max Jowitt, 3. Cameron Scott, 4. Corey Hall, 6. Jake Trueman, 7. Mason Lino, 8. Mike McMeeken, 9. Tyson Smoothy, 11. Seth Nikotemo, 12. Matty Storton, 13. Jazz Tevaga, 14. Jay Pitts, 15. Caleb Hamlin-Uele, 16. Caius Faatili, 17. Harvey Smith, 18. Isaiah Vagana, 19. Lachlan Walmsley, 20. Jack Sinfield, 23. Josh Rourke, 24. Tray Lolesio, 25. Jordan Williams, 32. Will Tate

Olympique squad: Olly Ashall-Bott, Paul Ulberg, Reubenn Rennie, Benjamin Laguerre, Thomas Lacans, Lambert Belmas, Brendan Hands, Mathieu Jussaume, Anthony Marion, Joe Cator, Joe Bretherton, Rob Butler, Baptiste Rodriguez, Romeo Tropis, Henry O’Kane, Tyler Depree, Pierre Jean-Lima, Luke Polselli, Trevor Chiffolleau, Hugo Garrigues, Cesar Rouge

Sunday 15 February

Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors (15.00) – live on BBC Sport, Sky Sports+ and SuperLeague+

The final fixture of the round sees Wigan Warriors come to Tiger town.

A revitalised Castleford Tigers will play the Warriors as they get their campaign underway with new boss Ryan Carr at the helm, in front of the BBC Sport cameras.

Former champions Wigan will be out for blood in 2026, determined to regain the three trophies they lost in 2026 to their top two rivals Hull KR.

Cas’ previous outing against the Warriors was one to forget as they were thumped 62-6 in Round 26 last year. Their home tie with Wigan, however, saw a real battle unfold, with the Tigers only just losing out 20-26 in the later stages…

Can a revamped Cas show some class, or will Wigan dominate with a trademark performance?

 

Tigers squad: TBC

Warriors squad: TBC

Which Round 1 fixture are you most looking forward to?

 

Fans can find all details for these Round 1 fixtures here.

For information on SuperLeague+ and how to purchase your passes, click here.

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