Nobody's arguing with the Wire v Leeds opener. But Wigan v Catalan ??? Maybe Catalans at home, but that's a real damp squib for the first weekend - an easy win in zero atmosphere. Then, next week, Saints v Salford! Who thought that'd be a good idea?

Poor show.

Moan, moan, moan.

You're right, it could be worse : at least they're not trying to make us watch Rovers.

What has Ryan Hall got on his face? He looks like a sewer rat.

I very much doubt it'll be a damp squib. Or an easy win, for that matter.

An easier win than when Wigan played 12 man Widnes in the first round last year then.
Who's to say the slight underdogs can't win? Adds to the excitement surely. A great chance to see how the teams who didn't make the 4 have improved too.

Don't look now but I think 6 of Wigan's first 7 home games are televised.

Does it really matter that much? In the end it is a game of rugby league that I can watch so I don't care which ones they are.

I thoroughly enjoyed that.

For the first game of the season – that was good stuff.

A really tight free-flowing game, sure there were some contentious calls, but Warrington just edged it with the Sandow kick for the try, pure class.

So what have I learned from tonight, Warrington need to stop holding down for too long, the penalties they racked up could have lost them the game. Leeds need to find a better kicker & Jon Wells needs to stop getting in a fluster.

Wigan and Catalans will be a top game I reckon. We're always vulnerable at the start of the year and Catalans team looks strong.

It'll be a tough battle in the forwards and I could see Todd Carney putting an early stamp on the season.

the golden rule of slagging the fixtures for tv is to actually let them play out first before critisising them

He looks like Genghis Khan at 13 years of age.

Freddie Mercury cross-bred with Albert Steptoe.

Unfortunately I think the weather might do its best to ruin this one. Looks set to chuck it down

Rovers V Cas or St's V Hudds would have bee good options with better atmospheres and saved the Wigan games for the big blockbusters.

What ever games are selected we really don't have much choice as there are only 6 games a week, why can't they show a few championship games to mix it up a bit?

Spot on

Catalans have to master the psychology of playing away with virtually no spectator support. That is the key to them making the playoffs. They certainly have the squad to win some silverware: the Duport-Inu centre combination, with Gigot at full back and with Carney in the halves, should provide some attacking flair; the Catalans pack is strong, and should challenge Wigan's forwards. The talent quality is there for Catalans, but their away mind-set is the crucial variable.

It would be nice if a few St Helens and Warrington fans would come to support Catalans, and thus give the game some decent crowd atmosphere, but I suspect that their interest in doing so is outweighed by the financial costs of doing so.

Because Championship games are of a lower standard of play, and they tend to bore viewers (except for Sheffield Eagles who have Garry Lo on the wing, and London Broncos who have Israel Eliab at five eighth).

poor trolling that, waaaay too obvious.

Gareth.

No real problem with the decision to screen wigan and Catalans. As very close runners up last time, I don't mind casting an eye over wigan second game up.

Probably the same people who put on the same game at the same time last year ?

Personally I'd be happy if they stuck with the same four or so teams each week I hate us being on tv, but hey ho we only have two or three a season to bother you with.

Salford v Saints by the way.

Worse than that, he looks...well... Australian....

I agree about our game v Saints, its been the same for two years in a row, one of the first home games pf the season on Sky and one was 52-6 and the other 52-0 you'd think they'd of learnt their lesson but on the other hand there was a time when Salford v Saints on Sky used to throw up some right classics.

Hopefully third time lucky it'll be a lot closer than a 50 point drubbing.