Big names and new cities headline the most eagerly-awaited Super League season for years as rugby league aims to reach new international audiences in 2020.
Along with cross-code superstars Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams, the arrival of former NRL premiership winners Gareth Widdop, James Maloney, George Burgess, Matt Prior, Soisaia Feki and Shaun Kenny-Dowall have ramped up the excitement in the UK for the new campaign.
Former St George Illawarra coach Steve Price, who has been in charge at Warrington for the last three seasons, believes this year will be the toughest yet.
Price’s team kick off the new season on Friday (0645 AEDT) against Wigan and is confident the star names plus the arrival of Toronto Wolfpack will be the shot in the arm the sport needs in a soccer-dominated country where league lags behind cricket and rugby union in terms of profile.
“Each year the league has got stronger and stronger,” Price told AAP.
“The talent has improved. If you look at the number of players that have come over to the Super League this season, it’s fantastic.
“It’s credit to all the clubs to be able to branch out. With Toronto coming in and signing Sonny Bill Williams it can broaden the market and grow our great game.
“From a coaching point of view there is going to be a lot of challenges but that is what you want.”
Veteran coach Tony Smith, now in charge at Hull KR admitted the competition has become stale in recent years and hopes the new arrivals can freshen it up.
“There have been some really significant recruits and I hope that leads to something that is strong and exciting,” Smith told AAP.
“Dare I say it, but we have all played to a formula a bit for the last couple of years, been a bit predictable and not so entertaining in style.
“I am hoping with the recruitments we have got, it adds a whole new level of entertainment to our sport with their high quality.”
While the signing of Williams was greeted with delight, the arrival of Folau at Catalans has polarised opinion.
From a purely sporting point of view, the capture of the brilliant former Wallabies fullback, who would have played at the last Rugby World Cup had it not been for his sacking for homophobic comments on Instagram, is seismic for the French club.
News of Folau’s signing on Tuesday was greeted in a largely negative manner and it is a decade since he last played in the NRL with Brisbane.
But there is no doubt that he boasts the talent to the take the league by storm and with the likes of Maloney and Sam Tomkins alongside him in Perpignan, the French side look well placed for a run at a first ever Super League crown.
Williams is not surrounded by as much talent in Toronto, who will play the first half of their season in England due to the inclement winter weather in Canada.
Subsequently, the pressure is on the former All Black, who’s believed to be receiving $5 million, to hit the ground running.
All eyes will be on Headingley on Sunday where Williams is set to make his debut against Hull FC in a double header fixture which is followed by Leeds Rhinos’ clash against Castleford.
Castleford are hoping to have Feki, who is battling to overcome a calf injury, available for selection, while Prior will debut for Leeds.
Super League round one fixtures: (All times AEDT)
Friday 0645 – Wigan v Warrington
Saturday 0645: Hull KR v Wakefield Trinity; St Helens v Salford
Sunday 0400: Catalans v Huddersfield
Monday 0130: Toronto v Castleford; 0345: Leeds Rhinos v Hull FC.
