Toulouse, TV deal and a World Cup to follow: Super League 2022 is here

Whisper it quietly, but for the first time in a good few years there is genuine optimism in rugby league ahead of what could be a seminal year for Super League. Few sports suffered quite like league did throughout the early stages of the pandemic, a point underlined by the publication of club accounts over the winter that showed monumental losses running into the millions for some of the biggest clubs.But, cautiously, that period appears to be behind us and Super League 2022 provides a chance to lay a positive platform for this year’s rescheduled World Cup. There are no shortage of stories to pick through too, with numerous clubs embarking on a new era, the opportunity for the competition to be shown on free-to-air television for the first time and the arrival of a second French club.

Make no mistake, Toulouse Olympique face an uphill challenge to extend their stay in Super League beyond one season. They have been engulfed by Covid-related issues over the winter, culminating in the departure of their captain and talisman, Johnathon Ford. However, Sylvain Houles’ team will add colour and more continental vibrancy to the competition alongside fellow French side Catalans, and the prospect of a first all-French derby this summer is one to savour.

Before that though, there is another line-in-the-sand moment for Super League. Sky Sports have been loyal and lucrative partners for the competition since its inception in 1996, but there is little doubting that the platform Channel 4’s new broadcast deal provides has the opportunity to open previously unthinkable doors. Their arrangement to cover 10 games a season begins this weekend, when Leeds host Warrington in a fascinating clash between title contenders.It can only be good for