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Some say the sound of a cuckoo heralds the start of spring.  For me, the sound of rugby players’ boots thundering across pitches that signals the start of the season. 

Although the Six Nations will occupy minds of the union code for the next couple of months, at the same time, the new rugby league season gets underway this month. In addition, the premier league of the sport - the First Utility Super League - reaches the ripe old age of 21. 

The sport enjoys really good times at the moment.  Crowd numbers are up; England won over the world’s top ranked side New Zealand in an international series last autumn. Last year’s league revamp was considered a success, and national recognition for its stars came with Kevin Sinfield’s runners-up spot in the .  It was the first time a rugby league player had ever been nominated for the award.  

From now until October’s Grand Final at Old Trafford, 12 teams battle through the regular season and then the ‘Super 8’s’ to see who becomes the sport’s ‘top dog’.  That side is currently Leeds Rhinos, who won everything in 2015 but lost key players to retirement and transfer during the close season. Watching how they cope with transition, and the ever-increasing quality of several other sides, will make  viewing and listening to the rugby league fascinating.

Our coverage will follow the twists and turns of the next eight months in depth and with authority.  In addition to the usual live TV coverage of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, the Four Nations international tournament in the autumn, plus the comprehensive coverage of 5ive live Sports Extra and , the Super League Show returns to TV for its 17th series and is broadcast on 主播大秀 One in the North on Monday nights from tonight. Each episode is repeated nationally on 主播大秀 Two on Tuesday nights. Each week the programme showcases the best of the action from the weekend’s games, debates current issues in the game with top studio guests and goes behind the scenes with each team’s star players. 

We have some experienced and knowledgeable faces and voices at the 主播大秀 to guide fans through the season.  Mark Chapman is well known to sports fans from hosting 5 Live Sport and Match of the Day 2, Dave Woods is the game’s leading commentator on TV and radio, while Tanya Arnold begins her fifth year fronting the Super League Show. Tanya says:  “It’s an exciting time for Rugby League, as the sport looks to build on a great season in 2015, both domestically and for England.   I love the fact we can follow it in depth each week on the Super League Show”.

主播大秀 Local Radio goes into huge depth following its teams.  主播大秀 Radio Manchester’s Trevor Hunt is into his 31st year covering the game around the world, reporting down a telephone line to using the latest digital technology.  Sometimes, however, not even digital technology can deal with the weather. During a Bradford v Wigan game when heavy fog descended, Trevor kept on going even though he could only see half the pitch.  “A towering kick from centre field was blasted into the gloom at the far top corner”, remembers Trevor, “and although I lost it in the fog I carried on, suggesting to listeners  that listening to the the roar of the crowd there was something very near to a score in that corner. A second or two later we saw Brett Dallas emerge from underneath the posts at the OPPOSITE end having gone the length of the field to score a Wigan try."

It’s not just the top teams who get all our attention.  Further down the leagues our local radio stations follow the fortunes of all their sides.  主播大秀 Radio Cumbria provides commentary on the county’s three fierce local rivals Barrow, Workington and Whitehaven.  主播大秀 commentary legend Ray French MBE continues to lead Radio Merseyside’s coverage, with Try Time every Thursday night adding to live commentary all three of their Super League Clubs.  Over the Pennines, Radio Leeds will follow the Leeds Rhinos’ defence of their title, as well featuring as all their other sides.  Radio Humberside have not one Hull Super League team in their patch but two - fierce local rivals Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers.

Don’t let anyone tell you it’s a glamorous life.  Through fog or rain, big team or small, we’ll be following the season as it unfolds, every 40-20, every play-the-ball and every try.

Charles Runcie is Head of Sport for 主播大秀 English Regions

•  the Super League Preview Show with Tanya Arnold on 主播大秀 iPlayer
• Keep up to date withRugby matches on the .
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