Super League play-offs usher in an epic era


 
 

The quest for Grand Final glory at Old Trafford on Saturday October 5 steps into overdrive this week with the start of the 2013 Super League play-off series featuring the sport’s eight strongest clubs.

The Sky Sports cameras will capture all the action, thrills, spills and heartbreak of the Super League play-offs and Grand Final as it happens with every match televised live, starting with the mouth-watering clash between Huddersfield Giants and Wigan Warriors on Thursday September 12.

Huddersfield, who finished top of the pile for the first time in 81 years when they clinched the 2013 League Leaders’ Shield last week, host  the Tetley’s Challenge Cup holders looking for the victory that would give them a bye to Week 3 and the right to select their opponents in ClubCall.

Wigan, for whom victory who would secure a bye (but not ClubCall after they finished in fourth place), can be expected to take a massive following to the John Smith’s Stadium as they hunt what would be a famous double.
Thursday night action will become a regular feature on Sky Sports throughout the Super League play-offs, which continue on Friday at 8.00pm with a match between Challenge Cup beaten finalists Hull FC and Catalans Dragons, who narrowly missed out on a home tie after losing to Warrington Wolves on Saturday night.

Rugby League fans have a double treat in store on Saturday when Sky Sports will be at The Halliwell Jones Stadium for Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos at 3.00pm and Langtree Park for St Helens v Hull Kingston Rovers at 5.00pm.
The first match is a repeat of the 2012 Super League Grand Final and both clubs know victory would see them secure a hard-earned week off and - should the Giants slip - earn ClubCall.


As with Hull FC and Catalans Dragons, St Helens and Hull KR go into their elimination play-off looking to avoid the defeat that will end their season, and the do-or-die nature of the fixtures will guarantee two matches to savour.

With the Super League title decider and the Kingstone Press Championships Finals Day taking place just a few short weeks before the must-see Rugby League World Cup 2013 opening ceremony at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday October 26, fans are now facing the most exciting period in the sport’s history,” said RFL Communications Manager John Ledger.

Many of the player involved in both the Super League and Championships play-offs will be hoping for RLWC2013 selection and the stakes have never been higher. The World Cup is already giving a whole new dimension to the end of the domestic seasons and the next few months promise to be an epic era for Rugby League fans everywhere.”

This weekend’s confirmed play-off fixtures are as follows:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12

Qualifying play-off: Huddersfield v Wigan Warriors (8.00)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13

Elimination play-off: Hull FC v Catalans Dragons (8.00)

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14
Qualifying play-off: Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos (3.00)

Elimination play-off: St Helens v Hull Kingston Rovers (5.00)