Watch: Emma Jones reflects on exciting start to Monday night rugby league coverage
Photo: Allan McKenzie / SWpix
The return of regular live Championship coverage to our TV screens has been a welcome boost at the start of 2022.
Monday nights on Premier Sports have fit seamlessly in to the schedule as rugby league opens up to more eyeballs than ever before.
A peak audience of 90,000 watched the Featherstone match against Leigh in round two.
Presenter Emma Jones has been joined by Leon Pryce, Kevin Brown, Kyle Amor and Andrew Henderson for the coverage, with commentary by Mark Wilson.
It’s Emma’s first foray in to rugby league coverage and she has been impressed on and off the pitch.
“I absolutely love it. I really look forward to Monday nights. There’s a massive production that goes on behind the scenes and everyone is just so friendly.
“I’ve been really impressed by the access that you’re allowed. Managers will come and talk to you and they’ve been really welcoming and warm as well. Plus the honesty of the managers and players as well has impressed me.
“Everyone had said to me that working in rugby league, everyone will be so warm and welcoming. I don’t think I expected it to be this warm!
“It’s been lovely. Like genuinely, it’s made it feel like it’s not work. And that’s good because as you know, it’s freezing at the moment! So Summer Bash is going to be incredible!”
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Looking ahead to the summer
The Monday night coverage started with Featherstone’s win away at York back on January 31.
Since then it has taken in games at Featherstone, Leigh and Dewsbury and heads to Widnes next week for their game with Barrow.
Games are currently scheduled in up to the end of May.
And despite the weather so far, there have been plenty of exciting moments.
Emma Jones added: “To be honest with you, and you’ll have heard in the commentary, Joe Mellor’s performance the other night was unbelievable.
“When I’m sort of flitting between inside and outside the trailer, you know when a player is having a good game because whenever he’s involved in the play, everyone in the truck is watching.
“And that was happening on Monday. And there have been a few moments like that already.
“It’s something else that I’m looking forward to watching more players in the Championship, and there’ll be players and teams that surprise us.”
We’ll be catching up with Emma on a weekly basis to discuss all things Championship and rugby league.
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Upcoming Monday night rugby league
- Widnes v Barrow – Monday March 7
- Bradford v Leigh – Monday March 14
- Halifax v Leigh – Monday March 21
- Newcastle v Widnes – Monday April 4
- Whitehaven v Workington Town – Sunday April 17
- Bradford v Featherstone – Monday April 25
- Barrow v York – Monday May 2
- Batley v Leigh – Monday May 16
- Sheffield v Widnes – Monday May 23
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