Super League games set for Monday TV slot (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Super League games set for Monday TV slot

5:13pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Bulls

Super League skippers, including the Bulls’ Matt Diskin, line up in front of a Super League-branded Stobart truck at Old Trafford today

Super League matches will be played on Monday nights this summer, it was announced at today’s season launch at Old Trafford.

The switch of Sky Sports’ second weekly televised game from the Saturday slot has been agreed as part of a new five-year deal, with the broadcasters keen to fill the gap left on Monday nights when the football season finishes from late May to early August.

The first Monday night game will be Leeds’ round-14 clash with St Helens, a repeat of last year’s Grand Final.

Sky will stick to Fridays and Saturdays for the first three months of the season, beginning this Friday with Widnes’ first match back in the top flight at home to Wakefield and Salford’s first game at their new stadium against Castleford the following evening.

The City of Salford Stadium is one of two new grounds in Super League in 2012, with St Helens set to officially open Langtree Park against Salford on Friday week.

“The improving stock of stadia within Super League demonstrates the value of licensing and offers extra incentive to those other clubs who have plans to develop new homes of their own,” said Super League chairman Richard Lewis.

Meanwhile, Lewis defended the clubs’ controversial decision to sign a three-year title-naming rights deal with the Stobart Group, who have not paid any cash but will instead help market Super League with giant posters on their famous trucks which were on display at Old Trafford today.

Five of the 14 Super League clubs wanted to accept a rival offer from Betfair thought to be worth £750,000 a year but were out-voted, much to the delight of Lewis, who was keen for the game not to closely align itself with a bookmaker.

“I’m thrilled and delighted to welcome Stobart aboard and am confident this partnership will prove to be a success for both Super League and the Stobart Group,” he said.

“To have a FTSE 250 company and a recognised Superbrand as title sponsors is a great coup which will allow the sport to elevate its visibility and profile to new levels.

“The multi-dimensional, marketing-led approach of the sponsorship contract testifies to the confidence the clubs have in themselves and the Super League competition and they are to be congratulated on their innovative approach.”

Leeds launch the defence of their title against Hull KR at Headingley on Friday, with the Grand Final scheduled for October 6 at Old Trafford.