Wigan Warriors will launch their defence of the Betfred Super League title at the home of their fierce rivals St Helens in a Thursday night blockbuster opening to the 2019 season.
The clash between the 2018 Grand Final winners and a Saints team who earned the League Leaders’ Shield will be the first live match on Sky Sports in 2019 – and it will be followed on Friday night by another of the game’s classic derbies, between Hull KR and Hull FC at KCOM Craven Park.
That will be one of three Friday night fixtures, and the bumper opening weekend continues with the meeting of last season’s beaten Grand Finalists, Warrington Wolves, and the Leeds Rhinos at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday February 2 – a third live televised match of the weekend, a pattern which continues well into March.
That leaves the stage clear on Sunday afternoon for the Super League’s return to London, as the Broncos face Chris Chester’s Wakefield Trinity at their Ealing Trailfinders base.
In Round Two, Sky will screen Hull FC-Castleford Tigers on Thursday night, Wigan’s first home game against Leeds on Friday, and the Catalans-Huddersfield clash from Perpignan on Saturday.
Then, after Wigan face Sydney Roosters in the World Club Challenge on February 17, the third full round of Betfred Super League fixtures sees another triple-header on Sky Sports – Wakefield hosting Catalans on Thursday 21, the first St Helens versus Leeds fixture of the season on Friday 22, and a first televised match of the season for the Broncos at home to Castleford on Saturday 23.
Wigan face Saints again, this time on home territory at the DW Stadium, on their traditional Good Friday date, which this year falls on April 19 – when other televised derby fixtures, between Hull FC and Hull KR at the KCOM Stadium, and Wakefield’s short trip to Castleford, set up the possibility of a challenge to Super League’s record aggregate attendance for a round of six matches.
The Dacia Magic Weekend will be played on the second Bank Holiday weekend in May (Round 16) with fixtures and the venue for the 2019 festival to be confirmed next week.
Each team will play 29 fixtures – 14 at home and 14 away, plus the Magic round – meaning they play seven of the other 11 teams three times, and the other four twice. That fixture pattern has been determined by the teams’ finishing positions in 2018.
Old Trafford will stage the 22nd Grand Final on Saturday October 12, the culmination of a return to the Top Five Play-Offs which produced the original Grand Final in 1998 – when Jason Robinson’s famous try set up Wigan’s 10-4 win against Leeds.
That means the winners of the League Leaders’ Shield could take a direct passage to Old Trafford with victory in a single home match in the second round of the Play-Offs – whereas the team finishing fifth would have to win three away matches to make the Grand Final.
Robert Elstone, the chief executive of Super League Europe, said: “The 2019 season will mark a change of direction for the Super League, and the start of exciting new beginnings.
“We want our fans to be really excited about that first weekend, and how better to do that than with a Saints-Wigan derby, pitting the champions against their local rivals who were also last year’s League Leaders? And then to follow it up with a Hull derby?
“We’re equally excited about the extra Saturday games which our broadcast partners at Sky Sports are showing in the early stages of the season, allowing the drama of the opening round of matches to unfold throughout the weekend.
“Throw in the World Club Challenge between Wigan Warriors and the Sydney Roosters, the unique appeal and challenge of Super League’s Easter weekend – and of course the season builds to a real climax with the battle for places in the Top Five Play-Offs, building to the Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.”
|
Round |
Date |
Home |
Away |
KO Time (Local) |
|
|
1 |
Thursday, January 31 |
St Helens |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
1 |
Friday, February 1 |
Castleford Tigers |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
|
|
1 |
Friday, February 1 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Salford Red Devils |
7.45pm |
|
|
1 |
Friday, February 1 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Hull FC |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
1 |
Saturday, February 2 |
Warrington Wolves |
Leeds Rhinos |
5.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
1 |
Sunday, February 3 |
London Broncos |
Wakefield Trinity |
3.00pm |
|
|
2 |
Thursday, February 7 |
Hull FC |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
2 |
Friday, February 8 |
Wigan Warriors |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
2 |
Saturday, February 9 |
Warrington Wolves |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
3.00pm |
|
|
2 |
Saturday, February 9 |
Catalans Dragons |
Huddersfield Giants |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
2 |
Sunday, February 10 |
Salford Red Devils |
London Broncos |
3.00pm |
|
|
2 |
Sunday, February 10 |
Wakefield Trinity |
St Helens |
3.00pm |
|
|
10 |
Sunday, February 17 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
London Broncos |
3.00pm |
|
|
10 |
Sunday, February 17 |
Salford Red Devils |
Leeds Rhinos |
3.00pm |
|
|
3 |
Thursday, February 21 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
3 |
Friday, February 22 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
|
|
3 |
Friday, February 22 |
St Helens |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
3 |
Saturday, February 23 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Salford Red Devils |
3.00pm |
|
|
3 |
Saturday, February 23 |
London Broncos |
Castleford Tigers |
5.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
3 |
Sunday, February 24 |
Wigan Warriors |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
4 |
Thursday, February 28 |
Salford Red Devils |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
4 |
Friday, March 1 |
Castleford Tigers |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
4 |
Friday, March 1 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
4 |
Saturday, March 2 |
Catalans Dragons |
Warrington Wolves |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
4 |
Sunday, March 3 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
4 |
Sunday, March 3 |
London Broncos |
Wigan Warriors |
3.00pm |
|
|
5 |
Thursday, March 7 |
Warrington Wolves |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
5 |
Friday, March 8 |
Hull FC |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
|
|
5 |
Friday, March 8 |
St Helens |
London Broncos |
7.45pm |
|
|
5 |
Friday, March 8 |
Wigan Warriors |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
5 |
Saturday, March 9 |
Catalans Dragons |
Salford Red Devils |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
5 |
Sunday, March 10 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
3.00pm |
|
|
6 |
Thursday, March 14 |
Huddersfield Giants |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
6 |
Friday, March 15 |
Hull FC |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
|
|
6 |
Friday, March 15 |
Leeds Rhinos |
London Broncos |
7.45pm |
|
|
6 |
Friday, March 15 |
Warrington Wolves |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
6 |
Sunday, March 17 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Catalans Dragons |
3.00pm |
|
|
6 |
Sunday, March 17 |
Castleford Tigers |
Salford Red Devils |
3.30pm |
|
|
7 |
Thursday, March 21 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
7 |
Friday, March 22 |
Castleford Tigers |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
7 |
Friday, March 22 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
7 |
Saturday, March 23 |
Catalans Dragons |
Leeds Rhinos |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
7 |
Sunday, March 24 |
London Broncos |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
7 |
Sunday, March 24 |
Salford Red Devils |
Wigan Warriors |
3.00pm |
|
|
8 |
Thursday, March 28 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
8 |
Friday, March 29 |
Hull FC |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
8 |
Friday, March 29 |
St Helens |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
8 |
Sunday, March 31 |
London Broncos |
Huddersfield Giants |
3.00pm |
|
|
8 |
Sunday, March 31 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Salford Red Devils |
3.00pm |
|
|
8 |
Sunday, March 31 |
Wigan Warriors |
Catalans Dragons |
3.00pm |
|
|
9 |
Thursday, April 4 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
9 |
Friday, April 5 |
Castleford Tigers |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
9 |
Friday, April 5 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
|
|
9 |
Friday, April 5 |
Warrington Wolves |
London Broncos |
7.45pm |
|
|
9 |
Saturday, April 6 |
Catalans Dragons |
St Helens |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
9 |
Sunday, April 7 |
Salford Red Devils |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
10 |
Thursday, April 11 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
10 |
Friday, April 12 |
St Helens |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
10 |
Friday, April 12 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
|
|
10 |
Saturday, April 13 |
Catalans Dragons |
Hull FC |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
11 |
Thursday, April 18 |
Castleford Tigers |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
11 |
Thursday, April 18 |
London Broncos |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
|
|
11 |
Friday, April 19 |
Hull FC |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
TBC |
Sky Sports |
|
11 |
Friday, April 19 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Huddersfield Giants |
3.00pm |
|
|
11 |
Friday, April 19 |
Warrington Wolves |
Salford Red Devils |
3.00pm |
|
|
11 |
Friday, April 19 |
Wigan Warriors |
St Helens |
TBC |
Sky Sports |
|
12 |
Monday, April 22 |
Catalans Dragons |
Castleford Tigers |
TBC |
Sky Sports |
|
12 |
Monday, April 22 |
Huddersfield Giants |
London Broncos |
3.00pm |
|
|
12 |
Monday, April 22 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Warrington Wolves |
3.00pm |
|
|
12 |
Monday, April 22 |
Salford Red Devils |
Wigan Warriors |
3.00pm |
|
|
12 |
Monday, April 22 |
St Helens |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
12 |
Monday, April 22 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Leeds Rhinos |
3.00pm |
|
|
13 |
Saturday, April 27 |
London Broncos |
Salford Red Devils |
3.00pm |
|
|
13 |
Saturday, April 27 |
Wigan Warriors |
Castleford Tigers |
5.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
13 |
Sunday, April 28 |
Hull FC |
Wakefield Trinity |
3.00pm |
|
|
13 |
Sunday, April 28 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
3.00pm |
|
|
13 |
Sunday, April 28 |
St Helens |
Catalans Dragons |
3.00pm |
|
|
13 |
Sunday, April 28 |
Warrington Wolves |
Huddersfield Giants |
3.00pm |
|
|
14 |
Thursday, May 2 |
Wigan Warriors |
London Broncos |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
14 |
Friday, May 3 |
Castleford Tigers |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
|
|
14 |
Friday, May 3 |
Salford Red Devils |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
|
|
14 |
Saturday, May 4 |
Hull FC |
Catalans Dragons |
3.00pm |
|
|
14 |
Sunday, May 5 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Wakefield Trinity |
3.00pm |
|
|
14 |
Sunday, May 5 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
St Helens |
3.00pm |
|
|
15 |
Thursday, May 16 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
15 |
Friday, May 17 |
St Helens |
Salford Red Devils |
7.45pm |
|
|
15 |
Friday, May 17 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
15 |
Saturday, May 18 |
Catalans Dragons |
Wigan Warriors |
TBC |
Sky Sports |
|
15 |
Saturday, May 18 |
London Broncos |
Wakefield Trinity |
3.00pm |
|
|
15 |
Saturday, May 18 |
Warrington Wolves |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
Round 16 – Dacia Magic Weekend to be played on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 |
|||||
|
17 |
Thursday, June 6 |
Warrington Wolves |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
17 |
Friday, June 7 |
Castleford Tigers |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
|
|
17 |
Friday, June 7 |
Hull FC |
Salford Red Devils |
7.45pm |
|
|
17 |
Sunday, June 9 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Wigan Warriors |
3.00pm |
|
|
17 |
Sunday, June 9 |
London Broncos |
St Helens |
3.00pm |
|
|
17 |
Sunday, June 9 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Leeds Rhinos |
3.00pm |
|
|
18 |
Thursday, June 13 |
Castleford Tigers |
Hull FC |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
18 |
Friday, June 14 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
|
|
18 |
Friday, June 14 |
St Helens |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
|
|
18 |
Saturday, June 15 |
Catalans Dragons |
London Broncos |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
18 |
Saturday, June 15 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Warrington Wolves |
3.00pm |
|
|
18 |
Sunday, June 16 |
Salford Red Devils |
Wakefield Trinity |
3.00pm |
|
|
19 |
Thursday, June 20 |
London Broncos |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
19 |
Friday, June 21 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
|
|
19 |
Friday, June 21 |
Salford Red Devils |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
|
|
19 |
Friday, June 21 |
St Helens |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
|
|
19 |
Friday, June 21 |
Warrington Wolves |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
|
|
19 |
Saturday, June 22 |
Catalans Dragons |
Hull FC |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
20 |
Thursday, June 27 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Hull FC |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
20 |
Friday, June 28 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
|
|
20 |
Friday, June 28 |
Warrington Wolves |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
|
|
20 |
Friday, June 28 |
Wigan Warriors |
Salford Red Devils |
7.45m |
|
|
20 |
Sunday, June 30 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Catalans Dragons |
3.00pm |
|
|
20 |
Sunday, June 30 |
Castleford Tigers |
London Broncos |
3.30pm |
|
|
21 |
Thursday, July 4 |
Salford Red Devils |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
21 |
Friday, July 5 |
Hull FC |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
|
|
21 |
Friday, July 5 |
Wigan Warriors |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
21 |
Saturday, July 6 |
London Broncos |
Warrington Wolves |
3.00pm |
|
|
21 |
Saturday, July 6 |
Catalans Dragons |
Wakefield Trinity |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
21 |
Sunday, July 7 |
Castleford Tigers |
Leeds Rhinos |
3.30pm |
|
|
22 |
Thursday, July 11 |
Hull FC |
London Broncos |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
22 |
Friday, July 12 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
|
|
22 |
Friday, July 12 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
22 |
Friday, July 12 |
St Helens |
Wigan Warriors |
7.45pm |
|
|
22 |
Friday, July 12 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
|
|
22 |
Friday, July 12 |
Warrington Wolves |
Salford Red Devils |
7.45pm |
|
|
23 |
Thursday, July 18 |
Wigan Warriors |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
Sky Sports |
|
23 |
Sunday, July 21 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
23 |
Sunday, July 21 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Huddersfield Giants |
3.00pm |
|
|
23 |
Sunday, July 21 |
London Broncos |
St Helens |
3.00pm |
|
|
23 |
Sunday, July 21 |
Salford Red Devils |
Catalans Dragons |
3.00pm |
|
|
23 |
Sunday, July 21 |
Castleford Tigers |
Warrington Wolves |
3.30pm |
|
|
24 |
Friday, August 2 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Leeds Rhinos |
7.45pm |
|
|
24 |
Friday, August 2 |
St Helens |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
|
|
24 |
Saturday, August 3 |
Hull FC |
Wigan Warriors |
5.00pm |
|
|
24 |
Saturday, August 3 |
Catalans Dragons |
Warrington Wolves |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
24 |
Sunday, August 4 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Castleford Tigers |
3.00pm |
|
|
24 |
Sunday, August 4 |
London Broncos |
Salford Red Devils |
3.00pm |
|
|
25 |
Friday, August 9 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
|
|
25 |
Friday, August 9 |
Warrington Wolves |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
|
|
25 |
Friday, August 9 |
Wigan Warriors |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
7.45pm |
|
|
25 |
Saturday, August 10 |
Castleford Tigers |
London Broncos |
7.30pm |
|
|
25 |
Sunday, August 11 |
Salford Red Devils |
Huddersfield Giants |
3.00pm |
|
|
25 |
Sunday, August 11 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Hull FC |
3.00pm |
|
|
26 |
Friday, August 16 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
|
|
26 |
Friday, August 16 |
Wigan Warriors |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
|
|
26 |
Saturday, August 17 |
Hull FC |
Salford Red Devils |
5.00pm |
|
|
26 |
Saturday, August 17 |
Catalans Dragons |
London Broncos |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
26 |
Sunday, August 18 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
Wakefield Trinity |
3.00pm |
|
|
26 |
Sunday, August 18 |
Leeds Rhinos |
St Helens |
3.00pm |
|
|
27 |
Friday, August 30 |
Hull FC |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
|
|
27 |
Friday, August 30 |
St Helens |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
|
|
27 |
Saturday, August 31 |
Catalans Dragons |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
6.00pm |
Sky Sports |
|
27 |
Sunday, September 1 |
London Broncos |
Leeds Rhinos |
3.00pm |
|
|
27 |
Sunday, September 1 |
Salford Red Devils |
Warrington Wolves |
3.00pm |
|
|
27 |
Sunday, September 1 |
Wakefield Trinity |
Wigan Warriors |
3.00pm |
|
|
28 |
Friday, September 6 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Salford Red Devils |
7.45pm |
|
|
28 |
Friday, September 6 |
St Helens |
Huddersfield Giants |
7.45pm |
|
|
28 |
Friday, September 6 |
Warrington Wolves |
Wakefield Trinity |
7.45pm |
|
|
28 |
Friday, September 6 |
Wigan Warriors |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
|
|
28 |
Sunday, September 8 |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
London Broncos |
3.00pm |
|
|
28 |
Sunday, September 8 |
Castleford Tigers |
Hull FC |
3.30pm |
|
|
29 |
Friday, September 13 |
Huddersfield Giants |
Catalans Dragons |
7.45pm |
|
|
29 |
Friday, September 13 |
Hull FC |
St Helens |
7.45pm |
|
|
29 |
Friday, September 13 |
Leeds Rhinos |
Warrington Wolves |
7.45pm |
|
|
29 |
Friday, September 13 |
Wigan Warriors |
Castleford Tigers |
7.45pm |
|
|
29 |
Sunday, September 15 |
Salford Red Devils |
Hull Kingston Rovers |
3.00pm |
|
|
29 |
Sunday, September 15 |
Wakefield Trinity |
London Broncos |
3.00pm |
|