Big Super League kick-off is delayed further by Covid SQUAD NUMBERS

THE start of Huddersfield Giants’ Super League season has been delayed due to the nationwide rise in Covid infections.

Betfred Super League clubs have bowed to the inevitable by putting back the start date for the new campaign by a fortnight.

The season traditionally kicks off at the end of January but was put back by six weeks to March 11 after the 2020 season ran to the end of November.

Following the latest lockdown and worsening Covid data, Super League has announced it will now start on March 25.

The league say the decision was taken following discussions with broadcasters Sky and in the hope that a later start will increase the prospects of starting the campaign in front of fans.

Super League say the season will still end with the Grand Final on October 9, a fortnight before the start of the World Cup, and talks will continue on whether to reduce the number of matches, with production of the fixture list also delayed.

The league’s fixtures working group must now decide whether to stick with the 27-round format, which would to add to the players’ workload by scheduling more midweek fixtures, or reduce the number of games.

That could put the Magic Weekend at Newcastle’s St James’ Park at the end of May under threat or, alternatively, clubs could decide to remove the four extra ‘loop’ fixtures, even though it would mean reduced income.

Despite the later start, it still seems likely matches will initially be played behind closed doors and in double or tripleheaders at Covid-secure stadia.

Whatever formula is arrived at, fixtures are set to be backloaded in the hope that the more attractive matches can be played later in the season in front of big crowds.

All Super League clubs, with the exception of Catalans Dragons, have returned to training and are undertaking Covid19 testing, but some are still awaiting the arrival of overseas players. 1. Ashton Golding 2. Jermaine McGillvary 3. Jake Wardle

4. Ricky Leutele 5. Darnell McIntosh 6. Lee Gaskell

7. Aidan Sezer

8. Luke Yates

9. Adam O Brien

10. Michael Lawrence

11. Kenny Edwards

12. Joe Wardle

13. Josh Jones

14. Matty English

15. Joe Greenwood

16. Jack Cogger

17. Chris Mcqueen

18. Jack Ashworth

19. James Cunningham 20. Oliver Wilson

21. Leroy Cudjoe

22. James Gavet

23. Oliver Russell

24. Louis Senior

25. Owen Trout

26. Jon Luke Kirby

27. Sam Wood

28. Sam Hewitt

29. Ronan Michael

30. Chester Butler

Meanwhile, Giants head coach Ian Watson has revealed his squad numbers for the season. New signings Ricky Leutele and Luke Yates appear in the first 13, with Leutele taking the No.4 and Yates No. 8. Jack Cogger has been given 16, while Jack Ashworth and James Cunningham are 18 and 19.