Super League: Wigan's world bid, Sam Burgess' return & new TV deals - what to expect in 2024

Few seasons in the men's Super League have had the buzz and sparkle that has accompanied the build-up to the 2024 campaign.

With a new Sky television deal promising every game live, 15 free-to-air matches on the BBC and highlights of every game on the BBC Sport website and app, there is a genuine sense of positivity around the sport.

Throw in a host of attractive new signings, a glut of talented England stars ready to impress after a successful autumn Test series win and a truly open contest for the big prize, it promises to be a special year for the game.

All eyes will be on Wigan's defence of their Super League crown, but also on their attempts to add a record-equalling fifth World Club Challenge title.

With rivals St Helens the current champions, having beaten Australia's National Rugby League premiers Penrith in their own backyard last year, the onus is on Wigan to keep the trophy in Super League hands.

Penrith retained their NRL title in 2023, meaning Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris will be heading to a sold-out DW Stadium on 24 February, with the BBC television cameras present.

For Wigan's influential playmaker Bevan French, it is a litmus test against Ivan Cleary's dominant Panthers.

"It's exciting coming up against a team like Penrith, with the calibre of players, and really testing ourselves with our players," French told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's about getting to see where we're at as individuals, as a team, and the great lessons we can take from it. Being sold out at the DW, that in itself - without even mentioning winning a championship - it's something we're grateful to be a part of.

"If we're able to come away with that trophy it will be the icing on the cake."

Warrington Wolves hit the headlines when they appointed former England and Great Britain enforcer Sam Burgess as their head coach.

While the 35-year-old was a stellar player, notably guiding South Sydney Rabbitohs to glory in the 2014 NRL Grand Final with a broken cheekbone, when it comes to coaching he is in rookie territory.

Yet, having served under top-level coaches in Wayne Bennett, Michael Maguire and Steve McNamara, and had stints at Orara Valley Axemen and under Jason Demetriou at Souths, there are plenty of experiences and influences to draw upon.

"I speak to Wayne a lot, he's my greatest counsel," Burgess told BBC Sport. "I've also got a couple of good role models in life, in business and other aspects of life that I lean on.

"I've been fortunate to be coached by some very good leaders in my time, but not only that, great men.

"I speak to most of them actually, and I'm fortunate to have them in my corner."

There is also an aura about Burgess, a sense of superstar that not even his off-field issues in Australia have dimmed, and that has rubbed off on the players.

"He came into England camp and presented the shirts at the first game [against Tonga last autumn], I looked at him and he's not lost any size, he's twice the size of me," Warrington winger Matty Ashton said.

"It was surreal at first, as I'm sure it was for a lot of the players, but now he's just our coach. He's a friend as well, but he's a coach who we want to perform well for.

"He's great, especially with the forwards and the defensive structures. We've conceded too many points for our liking, the best teams like Wigan have the best defence and that's what we're really focusing on.

"We want to be a team that is tough to beat, and Sam's been driving that into us."

Warrington's title aspirations will mirror those of several Super League rivals, all aiming to take down the champions and claim the crown for themselves.

Down in the south of France, it has been all change for last season's losing finalists Catalans Dragons following the retirement of Sam Tomkins and Mitchell Pearce. Steve McNamara has thoughtfully recruited in their place, with Jordan Abdull and Jayden Nikorima among the eye-catching arrivals.

St Helens lost a couple of titans in James Roby and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, after missing out on a fifth straight title last season, but with megastar Jack Welsby, new captain Jonny Lomax and new hooker Daryl Clark in the ranks, there is plenty to be positive about in WA9.

With a Challenge Cup final appearance and a play-off semi-final showing, Hull KR impressed in 2023 but there is obvious room for improvement, and in half-back Mikey Lewis they have one of the standout players after his England debut last autumn.

Leigh did win the Challenge Cup but their league challenge faltered a little on the back of that glory. Adrian Lam's side will want to avoid second-season syndrome after their breakout campaign post-promotion in 2023. Signing an NRL star like Matt Moylan and retaining Lachlan Lam and John Asiata will certainly help.

Salford finished just outside the play-off places and were in with a chance of the top six right to the final round in 2023. However, key exits such as Andy Ackers, Brodie Croft, Joe Burgess and Ken Sio would test any coach, even one as tactically and technically sound as Paul Rowley.

Leeds have recruited extensively, with electric full-back Lachie Miller, half-back Croft and hooker Ackers all forming part of a new-look spine. Having made a Grand Final in 2022, boss Rohan Smith will be targeting better than 2023's lower-middle finish.

Huddersfield under Ian Watson and Tony Smith's Hull FC are two other sides desperate to turn their fortunes around after disappointing 2023 seasons.

With points at stake on and off the field, Craig Lingard has freshened things up at Castleford, who will want to avoid another year of toil - having only just avoided the drop last term.

What happens at the bottom end of the Super League table will have a different feel in 2024, given the new grading system implemented by the sport's strategic partner IMG for the rugby league pyramid.

Rather than straightforward promotion and relegation decided by league placings, those results will generate points that - along with a number of criteria - will decide a team's performance for the season.

Within the indicative gradings, from the 12 clubs currently in Super League, 10 are current members of the competition, with Championship duo Wakefield and Toulouse completing the list.

Castleford were placed 13th while newly promoted London were listed 24th, with a 4.38 point deficit on 12th placed Leigh - almost a quarter of the entire number of points available.

It means Mike Eccles' job as London head coach is made all the more difficult as they start the season in the unique position of knowing they will almost certainly drop back out of the top flight in 2025, regardless of their on-field results.

Scrappy play-the-balls have been a bone of contention for the game's purists for an eternity, but this year might just see the ruck tidied up following some law amendments.

Following consultation with match officials, clubs, players and coaches, the Rugby Football League has set out new guidelines and laws for the policing of the ruck.

These include fixed handovers for incorrect play-the-balls - for example where a player has not attempted to use the foot to roll the ball backwards, a player is not correctly 'to their feet', or where the ball has been played off the mark.

In terms of defending a ruck, penalties within a team's own 40 and set restarts beyond that point - 'six agains' - will be given for a flop, or lying on at a ruck, or for markers not square.

Teams have found referees policing these aspects keenly in pre-season, so expect some early adjustments by players as they get to grips with it during the hurly-burly of the season.

The 18th player can now be introduced if a team picks up two failed head injury assessments rather than three, or if a player is required to leave the field through injury following an act of foul play that results in a sin-bin or sending off.

There has also been the creation of a new category within on-field misconduct for those tackles aimed at the lower limbs - now listed as 'unnecessary endangerment'.