Pre-Season Friendlies Preview (7 January)

There are more three more friendlies taking place this Sunday as teams are gearing up for the fast-approaching Betfred Championship and League One campaigns.

Rochdale Hornets vs. Barrow Raiders

Firstly, Rochdale Hornets face a trip to Barrow Raiders at Craven Park, where they will look to test themselves against the Cumbrian Championship outfit. The Hornets narrowly missed out on a League One play-off place in 2023, as they lacked consistency towards the back end of the regular season.

Barrow, on the other hand, finished just a point above the Championship’s relegation zone and narrowly avoided the drop down into the third tier. This fixture will be an opportunity for both sides to see where they’re at heading into this year’s competition – and they will look to build on this moving forward.

Widnes Vikings vs. Workington Town

Elsewhere, Widnes Vikings host Workington Town at DCBL Stadium Halton in what is their first pre-season friendly of 2024. The Vikings finished the 2023 regular season in disappointing fashion, ending in ninth position and four points short of a play-off place. With a strong recruitment drive in the off-season, fans will have the chance to see a new-look Vikings side in action for the first time this weekend.

Workington are not a team to underestimate however, as the Cumbrian League One side adapted well to life in the third tier (following relegation from the Championship in 2022), finishing fifth in a tight-knit top six and achieving a play-off spot. Town will be preparing for an even stronger season this time around, so will be relishing this warm-up match against the Vikings.

Featherstone Rovers vs. Bradford Bulls

Finally, there is a West Yorkshire derby taking place this Sunday between Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Bulls at the Millenium Stadium. This will be the Bulls’ second pre-season friendly heading into the 2024 regular season, after they triumphed in their “Christmas Challenge” contest against Halifax Panthers on Christmas Eve.

For Featherstone however, it is their first time on home soil since last year’s heartbreaking semi-final loss against London Broncos. And while the Bulls will have already gained momentum from their epic festive victory, the Rovers will be testing out their team’s new pairings and combinations – following almost 20 departures from their 2023 playing squad.

With both sides aiming to compete at the top of the Championship table in 2024, this match promises to be a blockbuster encounter with an array of talent on display and the all-important bragging rights at stake.

Information and kick-off times regarding these three pre-season fixtures and other upcoming friendlies can be found in the Rugby League Match Centre.

Photo Credit: Bradford Bulls