Even though the current spotlight remains on the Rugby League World Cup, Super League clubs have already started planning for the 2023 campaign.
It will not be long before the bruised bodies of those international stars will be back in training for the Super League season and Thursday's fixture announcement was another milestone in the calendar.
While England fans are hoping they can have something to cheer later in November by watching their team win the World Cup, supporters of domestic rugby can now start planning for the year ahead.
| What | 2023 Super League season |
| Where | England and France |
| When | Thursday 16th February 2023 - Saturday 14th October 2023 |
| How to watch | Sky Sports & Channel 4 |
| Odds | St Helens 15/8, Wigan Warriors 10/3, Leeds Rhinos 13/2, Catalans Dragons 7/1, Warrington Wolves 8/1 |
2023 key dates
There are just over 100 days to go before the start of the 2023 Super League campaign, and it will not be long before the 12 clubs prepare for 26 regular fixtures, plus one trip to St James' Park for Magic Weekend.
The new campaign gets under way on Thursday 16th February, with Warrington Wolves hosting Leeds Rhinos, who lost to St Helens in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Fans can look forward to Rivals Round over the Easter Weekend, where, for the first time ever, all six matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
From Thursday 6th April until Sunday 9th April, Super League fans can watch the best face the best from the comfort of their homes.
Channel 4 has once again thrown its support behind Super League in 2023 and they plan to broadcast 10 games free-to-air throughout the campaign.
Magic Weekend will also return to the calendar, with fans set to travel to St James' Park on the 3rd and 4th June.
The top six teams will fight it out for the play-offs, with the Grand Final scheduled to take place on Saturday 14th October.
Champions Saints to watch on in round one
As the reigning champions of Super League, St Helens will be absent in week one as they plan to organise a World Club Challenge against NRL champions Penrith Panthers.
As was said earlier, Leeds have to travel to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, while newly-promoted Leigh Leopards face Salford Red Devils in one of two games on Friday 17th February.
Elsewhere that night, Catalans Dragons travel to Wakefield Trinity, while 24 hours later Hull KR welcome Wigan Warriors to east Yorkshire.
Hull FC will also play at home on the opening weekend, with the Black and Whites set to host Castleford Tigers, who are coached by former FC boss Lee Radford.
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St Helens made history last season, becoming the first side ever in Super League to win four consecutive titles. Kristian Woolf managed to win three of those, but the pressure will now be on the shoulders of his successor, former Saints full-back Paul Wellens.
The Merseyside outfit are 15/8 to win another Grand Final, while they are 2/1 to win the League Leaders' Shield.
Local rivals Wigan remain their closest competitors, with the Cherry and Whites priced at 10/3 to go all the way and win the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
Steve McNamara's Catalans are as big as 7/1 after their late slump last season, while those that fancy Leeds to win another Grand Final can back them to do so at odds of 13/2.
Daryl Powell's first year at Warrington could not have gone any worse and it comes as a surprise to see the Wolves listed as 8/1 for Grand Final glory, while Huddersfield Giants are 12/1.
There is plenty of value there for the Giants and the recent signing of Jake Connor could give them a lift in the halves.
Wakefield are considered outsiders at 66/1, but there will be plenty of transfer activity to look forward to once the World Cup comes to an end and that could shift the situation considerably.
