SALFORD Red Devils will provide the first Betfred Super League opposition for the newly named Leigh Leopards.

Former Centurions coach Paul Rowley will bring last season’s play-off semi-finalists to Leigh Sports Village on Friday, February 17-a game to be televised live on Sky Sports (kick-off 8pm).

And the Red Devils will also be the opponents for the ‘rivals round’ on April 8, 2023 (Easter Saturday) with a 2.30pm kick-off. There will be only one Easter fixture in the calendar next season.

The full Super League fixture list has been announced today, Leigh’s first back in the top flight since their relegation in 2021. One of only two victories that year was achieved over Salford.

 

Leigh’s Magic Weekend fixture against Wakefield Trinity on June 4 at St James’ Park has previously been confirmed.

Adrian Lam’s Leopards are 33/1 with competition sponsors Betfred to win the 2023 Grand Final with champions St Helens 9/4 favourites and Wakefield 100/1 outsiders.

Leigh Journal:

Meanwhile, a trio of Leigh Leopards aim to knock spots off hosts England to cause a World Cup shock at Wigan on Saturday.

Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam and Nene Macdonald have starred in Papua New Guinea’s run to the quarter-finals, including victories over the Cook Islands and Wales.

Ipape, the Championship’s player of the year in 2022, is the only one of the three to feature in the Kumuls’ historic 28-10 victory over Wayne Bennett’s Great Britain three years ago, scoring his country’s first try after the Lions led 10-0.

He has already claimed a man of the match accolade in the Kumuls’ losing effort to Tonga where his try assists provided an opening for Leigh team mate Lam.

Shaun Wane’s England, however, start favourites after group victories against Samoa, France and Greece.

Leigh forward Ben Nakabuwai has featured in two of Fiji’s three group games and will hope to force his way into contention for Saturday’s last eight tie against New Zealand.

*Second row Sam Stone, who has been released by Leigh due to the club’s quota numbers, has been linked with a move to neighbours Salford. The son of former Huddersfield Giants coach, Rick Stone, Stone junior was a key member of last season’s successful squad.

Full-back Caleb Aekins, another made surplus to requirements after Leigh’s triple winning campaign, has still to fix-up a new club.

However, Aekins, who played in Wales’ three World Cup group games, has indicated he would be keen to stay in the UK for at least another season.