Sinfield a superhero CHANNEL PHWOAR
Myler thankful for telly vision
RICHIE MYLER believes Super League’s groundbreaking TV deal with Channel 4 can take the sport to higher levels.
The competition will this morning confirm that 10 matches will be screened live over each of the next two seasons.
It is the first time in Super League’s 26-year history that games will be shown live on freeto-air TV, and runs alongside their existing agreement with Sky.
The deal will kick off with Leeds against Warrington on Saturday, February 12 – and Rhinos fullback Myler sees it as a significant step for the whole sport.
He said: “It’s massive for rugby league.
“Sky have been tremendous for the sport for so long – now this is another string to the bow which can hopefully take the game to a new audience.
“We have a core of diehard fans that support rugby league through thick and thin – it’s such a family sport. Others see it just as a northern game, which it has been to an extent.
“But now with the influence of two French teams in the competition it can be really appealing for a wider audience.
“Our product is phenomenal and rugby league people always say that if you introduce somebody to a game, they never leave disappointed.
“This allows more people to access it more easily, which is the biggest thing.”
The opening Channel 4 game pits Myler’s Rhinos against his old club Warrington – and sees his new team-mate Blake Austin take on the club he has just left.
Myler added: “The character he is and the personality he has, I know he won’t shy away from that challenge.
“This TV deal really important league.
“We’re hopefully coming out of Covid and throughout all of that everyone rallied together.
“It was almost like having something we’d all taken for granted taken away from us for a while – the sport was off the telly and we couldn’t train and play.
“Now we’re fully back up and running again and it’s where can is coming at a time for rugby
THE sporting world paid tribute to Kevin Sinfield after his 101 miles in 24 hours Extra Mile challenge raised more than £1m for Motor Neurone Disease charities. Frank Bruno, Alan Shearer and James Haskell were among those to hail the Leeds Rhinos icon after his latest remarkable feat of endurance. He was joined by former team-mates Jamie Peacock, Barrie McDermott and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, as well as Olympic triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.
The money will be split between the MND Association and the Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal, which aims to build a care centre named in honour of his friend Rob Burrow who is fighting the disease. Talking through a computer, Burrow said: “To my amazing friend Kev, you don’t realise the impact you have had on me and all the MND community.” See Page 16 we take bigger?
“This is a really good opportunity to do that.”
The 10-game per season deal will include two play-off matches each season.
Channel 4 head of sport Peter Andrews said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing Super League to free-to-air television for the first time in its history.
“It’s fantastic news for rugby league fans and it’s a really special addition to Channel 4’s sports portfolio particularly since it’s one of our first major partnerships since moving to our new National HQ building in Leeds.” it now to make it even