Coaches glad to see the back of double-header Easter weekend

Drew Darbyshire
Matt Peet, Daryl Powell and Paul Wellens SWpix

Photo: Paul Currie/SWpix

Super League coaches have expressed their delight at there being just one fixture over Easter rather than playing a second on Easter Monday.

There is a new, fresh approach to Super League’s Easter schedule this year. The old concept of clubs playing two games over the space of three of four days has been ditched, which will no doubt be music to the ears of players, who now save themselves from putting extra stress on their bodies.

Instead, this week’s Rivals Round will see every Super League game shown live on Sky Sports across the weekend.

The bottom of the table clash between Wakefield and Castleford will kick off the derby weekend on Thursday night.

And then on on Good Friday, the Hull derby will kick-off the blockbuster day, followed by Wigan taking on St Helens at 3pm.

Leigh will host Salford in a neighbourly affair on Saturday, with Warrington facing Catalans in a top of the table clash in Perpignan in the evening.

And then on Sunday, the Rivals Round will come to a close when Leeds take on Huddersfield in a West Yorkshire derby.

“It’ll be a little bit different for players, that’s for sure,” said Warrington coach Daryl Powell.

“The Easter period has been really challenging over quite a few years now so I think its great for the game, for the players and for the quality of the game over Easter that we now have one game (each), which are all on TV which is awesome.

“I’m really looking forward to the whole weekend to see how good rugby league can be.”

Speaking at a joint Rivals Round press conference on Monday, Wigan coach Matt Peet echoed Powell’s comments, saying he is happy to see more of a focus on the headline fixtures.

“It’s exciting for everyone involved,” Peet said. “It’s the perfect week and we’ve not got the distraction of the fixture on Monday which is important and I think we’ll feel the benefit of that, not just this weekend, but for the next month or so.”

Another Good Friday to remember

The traditional Good Friday fixture between Wigan and St Helens is heading for a sell-out, with more than 23,000 tickets already sold for the clash at the DW Stadium.

It will be the first Good Friday derby at the DW since 2019, and Peet’s first at home as head coach.

“Motivation won’t be an issue for me this weekend and I’ll be amazed if it doesn’t sell out to be honest,” Peet said.

“Going to Leigh last week felt like a big occasion. With what Hull KR, Warrington, Saints, ourselves are doing, I feel like rugby league is on a small upward curve and one that we need to ride.

“This week is the perfect week for anyone who wants an insight in to our game.

“For those fans and the clubs involved who’ve not got tickets then they need to have a serious look at themselves because it’s got everything these games.

“I can only talk about our game on Friday, the sub plots are huge, both have got a couple of players missing, Saints are the world club champions and rightly so, the dominant team in the competition.

“There’s just a lot to be excited about, hopefully the sun will be shining, if you’re not coming you’re crazy I think!”

First Easter derby for Paul Wellens as a head coach

Saints stalwart Wellens has played in many Good Friday games as a player, but this week will be his first as head coach of his hometown club.

“I’m really excited, similarly to how I was as a player,” Wellens said.

“Its obviously a huge fixture in the calendar, particularly the Good Friday fixture, there is a lot of history behind it. It’s an exciting time for everyone – players, coaches, supporters – so it should be a great occasion.

“Its probably the game in the calendar that excites you the most at the start of the season. Obviously you want to be in the bigger games at the end like the play-offs and finals, but certainly the Good Friday fixture aside from those is the biggest, so it excites you.

“We’re going to have to perform well but we’re looking forward to that challenge.”

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Super League Daryl Powell