Widnes set to face 13 sides in Championship

THERE is just one more piece remaining to be put in place before the 2019 Championship fixtures jigsaw puzzle is completed for Vikings fans.

Professional rugby league’s second tier will consist of 14 teams in 2019 rather than the 12 who competed this year.

Last weekend’s Million Pound Game between Toronto Wolfpack and London Broncos saw the latter snatch a 4-2 win in a tryless encounter in Canada.

The result means the Broncos are promoted to Super League and leaves Widnes facing a trip to Toronto next season.

Meanwhile, in the Betfred League 1 Promotion Final, sleeping giants Bradford Bulls put Workington Town to the sword 27-8 at Provident Stadium to gain promotion to the Championship.

The Bulls are sure to be one of the best supported sides in the competition next season and will pose a threat to other Super League wannabes such as Widnes.

The last remaining place in the Championship next year will be decided by this Sunday’s Promotion/Relegation Play-Off game between Swinton Lions and Workington.

The winning team will compete in the Championship with the loser starting their 2019 campaign in League 1.

The match will be played at Swinton’s Heywood Ground after a coin-toss to decide the venue.

As it stands, next year’s Betfred Championship will consist of: Widnes Vikings, Toronto Wolfpack, Toulouse Olympique, Halifax, Featherstone Rovers, Leigh Centurions, Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Barrow Raiders, Sheffield Eagles, Rochdale Hornets, York City Knights, Bradford Bulls, Swinton Lions/Workington Town.

Meanwhile, the Super League XXIII season reaches its climax this Saturday evening when Warrington Wolves take on Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Warrington got the better of St Helens 18-13 at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the first semi-final last Thursday while Wigan downed Castleford Tigers 14-0 in the second semi the following night. It is the third time in six years Saturday’s combatants will have met in the end of season showpiece with Wigan winning on both previous occasions in 2013 and 2016.

The Warriors will be looking for their fifth Grand Final victory since the concept was introduced in 1998.

Warrington will be seeking to lift the Super League Trophy for the first time.

The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports main event and Sky Sports arena. The game kicks-off at 6pm.