Good to see the fixtures are spread over the weekend at last a bit of common sense, no three games on a Friday anymore, One Thursday, two Friday, Two Saturday and one Sunday but sometimes one Saturday, two Sunday.

How are the loop fixtures arrived at, I'm assuming there is some sort of logic to it?

I'm not wholly sure. I know the league is split into three groups of four (top, middle, bottom) and you then play two games (one home, one away) from each of the two groups you're not in (hence our group of fixtures).
But I've no idea how those individual fixtures are arrived at. In our case, for example, why Wigan/Wire and not Salford/rovers, or Leigh/Cats and not Saints/Leeds?

Similarly, at magic we are allocated another bottom-four side, but I guess in that instance we were paired with Huddersfield so that Cas-Wakey could be the other one? Whether there is a definitive logic process to all this I don't know, this is rugby league after all!

Regardless, I now know more than I did, so thanks.
Didn't know they split the league into groups.

I believe because we finished 11th, we play 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th 3 times. So if we'd have finished 5th and Leigh 11th for example, we'd still have the same loop fixtures

That does make some sense and is reasonably logic. So I guess, under that criteria, if we had finished tenth last year (or even bottom

) we would have been given a third derby (as rovers were second) instead of playing Wigan for a third time?
The Huddersfield game (9th v 11th) is the one to be played out at magic weekend alongside the likes of Wigan v Wire (1st v 3rd). That does look fairly clear, for once!

Doesnt this system just entrench the top teams at the top and the bottom teams at the bottom? I don't understand it from a fairness point of view

I'm not a fan of the loop fixtures as they just serve a purpose of getting more fixtures due to it being a 12 team league. Increasing the league to 14 would negate the need for the loop fixtures to an extent but would mean the central pot then has to be shared by another 2 clubs. A 14 team league for me would be a much fairer system and a level playing field for all as every team plays each other once home and away.
The problem I have with the loop fixtures is it removes the level playing field by having a system in which you play each team home and away but then the league is split in to odds and evens where all the teams that finished the league on an odd number play each other once, and the same with the evens. The Loop fixtures would have been better if each team then played every other team once more, the only problem is that would extend the season by a further 5 weeks/games.

Think the key point from the clubs perspective (or more specifically the club owners perspective) is the central pot, particularly the Sky money. Having the loop fixtures allows the clubs to have the two extra home games without having to forfeit any of the central pot. They get to have their cake and eat it in this instance.

The downside to that, especially from a fan's viewpoint, is it creates the uneven playing structure as you point out above, which is unedifying for most supporters. Unless the Tv money is increased somehow I can see us being stuck with the loop games for the foreseeable future. Like you say Chris, this is to the detriment of the league as a sporting competition.

Pure coincidence I know, but we always seem to end up playing Cats, Warrington and Wigan 3 times a season.

I will be pleasantly surprised if we don't finish in the bottom 2.
We just need to get a win on the board early doors by whatever means, (spawn, fluke, brilliance

) and some confidence behind us.
Wouldn't wanna be going away to Wakefield in Round 5 without a W behind us.

I'll be disappointed if we do, I think we have a good enough squad to finish above Cas and Wakey.

I'll be disappointed also but I don't like the look of the fixture list having to play them two and Huddersfield away before return fixtures, and the loop games are tough.
We live in hope.

I'm sticking with my optimism, it might be gone by the end of February though

Pretty sure Hull will finish between 9th and 12th - outside of Cas, Wakefield and Huddersfield I don't see another club that are a realistic target to get above. I wouldn't be surprised if any of those four clubs finish bottom.

Salford could be in danger, depends what happens with them and they have a thin squad.

Leighs an interesting team, lost alot of quality, a few gamble signings, but still have Ipapa and Lam.

As ever alot of teams succes will be based in injuries

Realism sucks.

I did think about mentioning Salford but just judging it by the squad they have on the books currently. If mass sales have to occur then that obviously changes things. Re Leigh if there's one thing Adrian Lam has proven to be very good at, its identifying talent from Australia who have fallen out of favour for whatever reason. My gut tells me they won't make the 6 this year - would probably go with Leeds and Catalans to replace Leigh and Salford. I doubt they'll be far off though.

7th or 8th for us next season.

Big shout.
We live in hope.

Yep, that's right re the derbies, and that's why we played them 3 times last year because the year before we were 10th and they were 4th.

The magic fixtures I guess are to try and reduce the blow outs and give 6 competitive matches on the big stage (which on paper look really good this year) so it seems to work. Just looks worse for us because we've been garbage haha

Very odd spread of games with only five homes games before July and then five in seven weeks. At least most games should be in decent weather.

As Dave says we need to get over our terrible away record to ensure we are in a good position when this block of home fixtures comes around. Possibly a chance for the club to offer a deal on fixture packages.

This is a good shout. A half season ticket could be looked at if we're in a decent position, even if it only saves the price of 1 or 2 games as to not upset those who've gone for the full season price.

August 3rd International break?

No it's a split round three games one week three games the week after I'd imagine that's to give the teams a breather later on in the season.

Thursday 24th July
Wakefield Trinity versus Leeds Rhinos, 20:00

Friday 25th July
Wigan Warriors versus Catalans Dragons, 20:00

Saturday 26th July
Hull FC versus Huddersfield Giants, 15:00

Thursday 31st July
Salford Red Devils versus Hull Kingston Rovers, 20:00

Friday 1st August
Leigh Leopards versus Warrington Wolves, 20:00

Friday 1st August
St Helens versus Castleford Tigers, 20:00