The new Super League season will open with a blockbuster match on Friday 7 February, when Wigan will face Huddersfield Giants in a clash between the Champions and the holders of the League Leaders’ Shield at the DW Stadium.
It will be the only game played that weekend, and its stature will be enhanced by being a standalone fixture.
It should also give Wigan fans the chance to see their new signing Matty Bowen, who will replace the departed Sam Tomkins at fullback.
Wigan will then fly off to Australia to face the Sydney Roosters in the World Club Challenge at Allianz Stadium, formerly known as the Sydney Football Stadium, which is the Roosters’ home ground.
That game is likely to be played on Saturday 22 February, and we won’t see Wigan back in this country until they face Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Round 3 on Sunday 2 March.
The other key factor about the new fixture list is the switch by Sky Sports to broadcasting Thursday night matches.
Sky experimented with Thursday nights during the latter part of the 2013 season, and they obviously liked how their viewers received those games.
In 2014 the Thursday televised matches will begin with Warrington v St Helens in Round 1 and will continue most weeks right through to Round 27, when Wigan will play Warrington at the DW Stadium on Thursday 11 September.
The first Thursday night blockbuster, which will probably be played in front of a full house, is the clash between Warrington and Wigan at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Round 6 on 20 March.
Whether or not you like the prospect of Thursday night matches, the new fixture list at least gives us plenty of advance warning about the games that will be played on Thursdays.
And London Broncos will feature in two of those Thursday night matches, which will be a relief for their supporters, who must have thought that the Broncos may not even get to the starting gate for the 2014 season.
The Broncos will play at home to Castleford Tigers in Round 7 on Thursday 27 March, giving us all the chance to view what they hope will be their new home stadium at The Hive in the London Borough of Harrow. Let’s hope that by the time the season begins the Broncos will have completed their negotiations to move into a new home.
The Magic Weekend will be on 17 and 18 May, and the Tetley’s Challenge Cup Final will be held on Saturday 23 August, while the semi-finals will be just two weeks earlier, giving the RFL and the clubs very little time to sell Cup Final tickets to the fans of the two teams that will figure in the Final.
The Grand Final in 2011 will take place on Saturday 11 October at Old Trafford.
Round 1
Friday February 7
Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants 8.00pm
Thursday February 13
Warrington Wolves v St Helens 8.00pm
Friday February 14
Hull FC v Catalan Dragons 8.00pm
Sunday February 16
Bradford Bulls v Castleford Tigers 3.00pm
Hull KR v Leeds Rhinos 3.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Widnes Vikings v London Broncos 3.00pm
Round 2
Thursday February 20
Wakefield T Wildcats v Bradford Bulls 8.00pm
Friday February 21
Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
St Helens v Hull FC 8.00pm
Saturday February 22
London Broncos v Salford Red Devils 3.00pm
Sunday February 23
Castleford Tigers v Catalan Dragons 3.30pm
Huddersfield Giants v Hull KR 3.00pm
To be rearranged: Wigan Warriors v Widnes Vikings
Round 3
Thursday February 27
Salford Red Devils v St Helens 8.00pm
Friday February 28
Hull KR v Castleford Tigers 8.00pm
Catalan Dragons v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Huddersfield Giants 8.00pm
Sunday March 2
Bradford Bulls v London Broncos 3:00pm
Warrington Wolves v Hull FC 3:00pm
Wigan Warriors v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Round 4
Thursday March 6
Widnes Vikings v Salford Red Devils 8.00pm
Friday March 7
Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Hull FC v Bradford Bulls 8.00pm
St Helens v Hull KR 8.00pm
Sunday March 9
Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors 3.30pm
London Broncos v Warrington Wolves 3.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Catalan Dragons 3.00pm
Round 5
Friday March 14
Wigan Warriors v Hull KR 8.00pm
Leeds Rhinos v Widnes Vikings 8.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
St Helens v Catalan Dragons 8.00pm
Saturday March 15
London Broncos v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Sunday March 16
Bradford Bulls v Huddersfield Giants 3.00pm
Castleford Tigers v Hull FC 3.30pm
Round 6
Thursday March 20
Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors 8.00pm
Friday March 21
Leeds Rhinos v London Broncos 8.00pm
Saturday March 22
Catalan Dragons v Huddersfield Giants 6.00pm
Sunday March 23
Hull KR v Bradford Bulls 3.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Castleford Tigers 3.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v St Helens 3.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Hull FC 3.00pm
Round 7
Thursday March 27
London Broncos v Castleford Tigers 8.00pm
Friday March 28
St Helens v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Hull FC v Salford Red Devils 8.00pm
Wigan Warriors v Catalan Dragons 8.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Bradford Bulls 8.00pm
Sunday March 30
Huddersfield Giants v Warrington Wolves 3.00pm
Hull KR v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Round 8
Thursday April 10
Hull FC v Huddersfield Giants 8.00pm
Friday April 11
Castleford Tigers v St Helens 8.00pm
Bradford Bulls v Salford Red Devils 8.00pm
Leeds Rhinos v Wakefield T Wildcats 8.00pm
Warrington Wolves v Hull KR 8.00pm
Wigan Warriors v London Broncos 8.00pm
Saturday April 12
Catalan Dragons v Widnes Vikings 6.00pm
Round 9
Thursday April 17
Hull KR v Hull FC TBC
London Broncos v Catalan Dragons TBC
Friday April 18
Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos TBC
St Helens v Wigan Warriors TBC
Salford Red Devils v Huddersfield Giants 6.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Castleford Tigers TBC
Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings 3.00pm
Round 10
Monday April 21
Catalan Dragons v Hull KR 6.00pm
Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves 3.30pm
Huddersfield Giants v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Hull FC v London Broncos 3.00pm
Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils 3.00pm
Widnes Vikings v St Helens 3.00pm
Wigan Warriors v Bradford Bulls 3.00pm
Round 11
Thursday May 1
St Helens v London Broncos 8.00pm
Friday May 2
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors 8.00pm
Saturday May 3
Catalan Dragons v Salford Red Devils 6.00pm
Sunday May 4
Huddersfield Giants v Castleford Tigers 3.00pm
Hull KR v Widnes Vikings 3.00pm
Bradford Bulls v Warrington Wolves 3.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Hull FC 3.00pm
Round 12
Thursday May 8
Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Friday May 9
Warrington Wolves v Catalan Dragons 8.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Wakefield T Wildcats 8.00pm
Saturday May 10
Hull FC v Wigan Warriors 8.00pm
London Broncos v Huddersfield Giants 3.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Hull KR 6.00pm
Sunday May 11
Bradford Bulls v St Helens 3.00pm
Round 13
MAGIC WEEKEND fixtures TBA
Round 14
Thursday May 22
Salford Red Devils v Wigan Warriors 8.00pm
Friday May 23
St Helens v Huddersfield Giants 8.00pm
Leeds Rhinos v Hull FC 8.00pm
Saturday May 24
Catalan Dragons v Bradford Bulls 6.00pm
Sunday May 25
Castleford Tigers v Widnes Vikings 3.30pm
Hull KR v London Broncos 3.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Warrington Wolves 3.00pm
Round 15
Thursday May 29
Huddersfield Giants v Wigan Warriors 8.00pm
Friday May 30
Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
St Helens v Salford Red Devils 8.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Catalan Dragons 8.00pm
Saturday May 31
London Broncos v Hull FC 3.00pm
Sunday June 1
Bradford Bulls v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Castleford Tigers v Hull KR 3.30pm
Round 16
Thursday June 12
Leeds Rhinos v Huddersfield Giants 8.00pm
Friday June 13
Hull FC v Widnes Vikings 8.00pm
Hull KR v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v London Broncos 8.00pm
Wigan Warriors v Castleford Tigers 8.00pm
Saturday June 14
Catalan Dragons v St Helens 6.00pm
Sunday June 15
Salford Red Devils v Bradford Bulls 3.00pm
Round 17
Thursday June 19
Bradford Bulls v Hull KR 8.00pm
Saturday June 21
Catalan Dragons v Hull FC 6.00pm
Sunday June 22
Huddersfield Giants v London Broncos 3.00pm
St Helens v Castleford Tigers 3.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Wigan Warriors 3.00pm
Warrington Wolves v Salford Red Devils 3.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Leeds Rhinos 3.00pm
Round 18
Thursday June 26
Hull KR v Huddersfield Giants 8.00pm
Friday June 27
Wigan Warriors v St Helens 8.00pm
Hull FC v Wakefield T Wildcats 8.00pm
Saturday June 28
London Broncos v Widnes Vikings 3.00pm
Sunday June 29
Castleford Tigers v Salford Red Devils 3.30pm
Leeds Rhinos v Catalan Dragons 3.00pm
Warrington Wolves v Bradford Bulls 3:00pm
Round 19
Friday July 4
Hull FC v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Castleford Tigers 8.00pm
Saturday July 5
London Broncos v Wigan Warriors 3.00pm
Sunday July 6
Bradford Bulls v Catalan Dragons 3.00pm
Huddersfield Giants v Salford Red Devils 3.00pm
Hull KR v St Helens 3.00pm
Round 20
Thursday July 10
Wakefield T Wildcats v Widnes Vikings 8.00pm
Friday July 11
Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR 8.00pm
St Helens v Bradford Bulls 8.00pm
Saturday July 12
Catalan Dragons v Wigan Warriors 6.00pm
Sunday July 13
Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants 3.30pm
Salford Red Devils v Hull FC 3.00pm
Warrington Wolves v London Broncos 3.00pm
Round 21
Thursday July 17
Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers 8.00pm
Friday July 18
Widnes Vikings v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
Wigan Warriors v Hull FC 8.00pm
Saturday July 19
Catalan Dragons v Wakefield T Wildcats 6.00pm
London Broncos v St Helens 3.00pm
Sunday July 20
Huddersfield Giants v Bradford Bulls 3.00pm
Hull KR v Salford Red Devils 3.00pm
Round 22
Friday July 25
Hull FC v Castleford Tigers 8.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
St Helens v Widnes Vikings 8.00pm
Saturday July 26
London Broncos v Hull KR 3.00pm
Sunday July 27
Bradford Bulls v Wigan Warriors 3.00pm
Huddersfield Giants v Catalan Dragons 3.00pm
Warrington Wolves v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.00pm
Round 23
Friday August 1
Catalan Dragons v Warrington Wolves 9.00pm
Hull FC v St Helens 8.00pm
Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls 8.00pm
Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils 8.00pm
Sunday August 3
Castleford Tigers v London Broncos 3.30pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Huddersfield Giants 3.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Hull KR 3.00pm
Round 24
Friday August 15
St Helens v Wakefield T Wildcats 8.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Catalan Dragons 8.00pm
Saturday August 16
London Broncos v Leeds Rhinos 3.00pm
Sunday August 17
Bradford Bulls v Hull FC 3.00pm
Huddersfield Giants v Widnes Vikings 3.00pm
Hull KR v Wigan Warriors 3.00pm
Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers 3.00pm
Round 25
Friday August 29
Hull FC v Hull KR 8.00pm
Leeds Rhinos v St Helens 8.00pm
Widnes Vikings v Wigan Warriors 8.00pm
Saturday August 30
Warrington Wolves v Huddersfield Giants 3.00pm
Catalan Dragons v London Broncos 6.00pm
Sunday August 31
Castleford Tigers v Bradford Bulls 3.30pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Salford Red Devils 3.00pm
Round 26
Thursday September 4
St Helens v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
Friday September 5
Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Sunday September 7
Bradford Bulls v Widnes Vikings 3.00pm
Castleford Tigers v Wakefield T Wildcats 3.30pm
Huddersfield Giants v Hull FC 3.00pm
Hull KR v Catalan Dragons 3.00pm
Salford Red Devils v London Broncos 3.00pm
Round 27
Thursday September 11
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves 8.00pm
Friday September 12
Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos 8.00pm
Salford Red Devils v Widnes Vikings 8.00pm
Saturday September 13
Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers 6.00pm
London Broncos v Bradford Bulls 3.00pm
Sunday September 14
Huddersfield Giants v St Helens 3.00pm
Wakefield T Wildcats v Hull KR 3.00pm
