Super League XIX live on Sky Sports

After the drama of the World Cup in the autumn the Super League is already preparing to surge back into gear and you can follow the 2014 season with Sky Sports.

England put up a gallant bid for the most precious of international rugby league prizes – beaten 20-18 by New Zealand in the dying seconds of a truly pulsating Wembley semi-final.

Although the Kiwis were ultimately thrashed 34-2 in their rematch with Australia in the final, Steve McNamara’s England produced a terrific advert for Super League rugby.

One of Super League’s brightest young stars, Sam Tomkins, has left Wigan to join fellow Englishmen Sam Burgess and James Graham in the affluent surroundings of the NRL – but there remains a heady mix of experience and promise on offer domestically.

Before saying goodbye to the Warriors, Tomkins helped the club to the Super League XVIII and Challenge Cup double last season – and coach Shaun Wane will be desperate to preserve the momentum of his young side despite the departure of one of its linchpins.

2013’s Man of Steel Danny Brough will be scheming an alternative eventuality as he attempts to guide Huddersfield Giants to their first title. The Claret & Gold finished top of the table in the regular season last year but have never made a Grand Final.

Warrington, meanwhile, are determined to go one better having lost the last two Grand Finals – going down to the Warriors 30-16 last year and falling 26-18 to Leeds in 2012.

Seasoned warriors such as Ben Westwood and Michael Monaghan may look back with regret should they fail to crown their careers with Super League glory and this term may be one of their last chances.

Then you have the team who are always there or thereabouts: the Rhinos.

With England skipper Kevin Sinfield now 33 and long-time cohorts Rob Burrow and Danny Maguire also the ‘wrong’ side of 30, many feel that this squad has passed its sell-by date. It would be foolish to count them out, though, wouldn’t it?

Amid the usual suspects, there is the emerging financial superpower of Salford, who have recruited the likes of Rangi Chase, Adrian Morley and Gareth Hock ahead of their first full season under Dr Marwan Koukash’s ownership.

Wigan Warriors will be trying to emulate their success of last year when they won the Super League and Challenge Cup titles.

The competitive nature of the Super League makes each round of games enthralling viewing.

Teams such as St Helens, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors all have a great chance of beating their rivals on their day, so you can expect them to be there or there abouts when it comes to the big trophies.

2013 was a thrilling final, between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors where Wigan came back to win from 14 points down to claim the title.

Wigan will be favourites once again and will be looking to lead the challenge in 2014, despite losing their star player, Sam Tomkins.

It is the start of a historic year for the game as two of the 14 teams will be relegated to The Championship by the end of 2014 as the battle to survive relegation returns to Super League.

Don’t be surprised to see another team come from nowhere to catch fire early on in this campaign – it promises to be another thrilling year of Super League rugby and it kicks off in style with the champions against the winners of the League Leaders Shield.

Sky Sports will be the place to watch all the live Super League action throughout the season, while BBC Sport will provide comprehensive free-to-air highlights.

Follow the 2014 Super League season on Sky Sports & BBC Sport:

The First Utility Super League returns to Sky Sports in February 2014, bringing back fast-paced action, spectacular tries and nail-biting-drama.

Sky Sports is the only place to see live games from the UK’s premier rugby league competition, including every match from the Magic Weekend in May, plus two fixtures from the Tetley’s Challenge Cup.

In combination with its exclusive live coverage of 71 matches throughout the season will be Sky’s usual array of critically acclaimed magazine programming – all of which are available on the go and in stunning HD.

Eddie Hemmings and Mike Stephenson return to lead Sky Sports’ on-air presentation team alongside Brian Carney, Phil Clarke, Barrie McDermott, Terry O’Connor, Bill Arthur and Rod Studd.

Sky Sports’ extensive live coverage of Super League is supplemented by a series of shows during the week.

Fans of rugby league can see every try from each round of the season on Super League Fulltime on Sunday nights at around 10.00pm, while Friday’s Super League Warm-Up show previews the weekend’s games.

Plus, Rod Studd and Mike Stephenson sit down each week with noted rugby league journalists to discuss all the major news on Super League Backchat.

Alongside exclusive online videos, reports and interviews via the Sky Sports website, rugby league fans can also get further insight and analysis into their favourite sport via the usual magazine programmes Boots ‘n’ All, Back Chat, Full Time and Super League Superstars.

Alongside its Super League coverage, Sky Sports will also cover selected Challenge Cup ties and the World Club Challenge match between Sydney Roosters and Wigan Warriors.

On the eve of the season, Sky Sports secured a new five-year Super League deal from 2017 onwards, taking the partnership between Sky and the RFL beyond 30 years.

This new agreement will guarantee Sky Sports viewers live rugby league for at least eight more seasons and also over 100 matches a season from 2015 when a new league structure will mean coverage of matches from a 12-team Championship alongside the 12-club Super League.

The 2014 Super League season kicks off on Friday, February 7, live on Sky Sports when Wigan Warriors begin their defence of the title with a match against 2013 League Leaders Huddersfield Giants at DW Stadium.

Details of the Super League games confirmed for live broadcast this season on Sky Sports can be found below.

BBC Sport will provide extended highlights of each weekend of the Super League season from the opening round to the Grand Final in October.

The Super League Show returns for the new season with presenter Tanya Arnold and regular guests including Brian Noble, Robbie Hunter-Paul and many more.

Each programme will be broadcast first on BBC One in the following northern regions on Monday evenings at around 11.30pm – North East & Cumbria, North West, Yorkshire & Lincolnshire and Yorkshire – followed by a nationwide showing on BBC Two on Tuesday lunchtimes.

Once the regular season is over, BBC Two will broadcast early-evening highlights of each stage from the Play-offs, including the Grand Final.

As well as Super League highlights, BBC Sport will also screen live coverage of selected ties from the Challenge Cup from Round 4 in April to the showpiece final at Wembley in August.

Following on from its World Cup coverage last year, BBC TV will also screen more international rugby league in the autumn when it covers the Four Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Latest news, match reports and features will be available via the BBC rugby league website.

BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra has increased its commitment to the sport this year by confirming a new dedicated programme for the 2014 Super League and Challenge Cup season.

Hosted by Dave Woods, 5 live Rugby League will broadcast more than 70 live commentary games on Thursday and Friday evenings on 5 live sports extra with contributions from Rugby League regulars George Riley and Stuart Pyke.

There will also be news, interviews and debate along with contributions from head coaches, players and former players.

Selected programmes will also feature live commentary from BBC Local Radio, simulcasting from host club grounds on 5 live sports extra and the local BBC stations as well as online streams.

Controller of BBC Radio 5 live, Jonathan Wall, says: “It is our biggest ever commitment to rugby league – more matches, more build-up, and more interviews from an experienced team of broadcasters, producers and expert summarisers who love this sport and are passionate about it.

“New partnerships with the Super League TV show and BBC local radio will help take our coverage to a new level.”

FRIDAY 7th FEBRUARY

Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants

Super League