Why does the NRL keep more Kiwis tuned in than almost any other sporting code?
Ask anyone who follows rugby league in New Zealand and you will hear a version of the same answer. The NRL has become a Friday night ritual.
The Warriors are the local heartbeat. Origin season turns lounge rooms into pubs across the country, and by the time September rolls around, most fans have a finals scenario sketched out before the qualifiers have even kicked off.
But what is actually driving that loyalty? Is it the Warriors finally getting their structure right, the rise of the Roger Tuivasa-Sheck generation of New Zealand-born players, the steady pipeline of Kiwi talent across other clubs, or just the fact that the league happens to be the most watchable contact sport in this part of the world?
Super League Magic Weekend 2026: Teams, fixtures and what to expect at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
All 14 Super League teams will battle it out on the same pitch over two days in July. The Magic Weekend, covering July 4 and 5, sees round 17 of the league played in Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It promises to be an exciting round of rugby, writes Sports News Blitz’s rugby league fan Tom Down.
Rugby League analysis: Are games played abroad helping the sport to grow?
A rugby Super League fixture was played in Paris on June 6, and the competition is set to return to Las Vegas for the third time in 2027.
Wigan Warriors took on Catalan Dragons at the Stade Jean Bouin in a commemorative fixture to celebrate 30 years of the Super League.
But with the sport still struggling to grow its domestic audience, the decision to host matches in other countries may not be the way forward, writes Sports News Blitz’s Tom Down.
Rugby league betting tips: Predictions and suggested bets for Super League Round 11
Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos take on title challengers Wigan Warriors in Round 11 - and there’s a Yorkshire derby between York and Castleford.
With Leeds Rhinos beating high-flying Wakefield last week and St Helens defeating York, the quality is shining through with these two teams looking like hot favourites early on.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward takes a look at upcoming fixtures, highlighting the best betting angles and offering some choice tips.
Rugby league news: Predictions and suggested bets for Super League round eight
Another huge round awaits in the Super League, with teams battling for play-offs spots and everything still to play for. And while there isn’t a standout game this weekend, the stakes remain just as high as the next gameweek is likely to give us a clearer picture of who could break into the top six.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward takes a look at upcoming fixtures, highlighting the best betting angles and offering some choice tips.
Super League rivals round analysis: What did results tell us for how the season will progress?
St Helens completed an incredible six-minute comeback, Wakefield now hold the bragging rights after defeating Castleford, while Hull KR came out on top in the Hull derby.
The first rivals round this year did not disappoint as the first bragging rights were given to local rivals, we had upsets, late drama and vital points at the top and the bottom of the table.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward looks at the results from this weekend's action, how this shapes the table up, the crucial try scorers and the overall performance from the teams involved.
Rugby League news: St Helens vs Wigan and Bradford vs Leeds headline Super League’s rival round
Super League’s rival round is here, and it's looking tasty - Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward gives his thoughts on how he thinks the key games will pan out.
What is rival round?
Rival round is local derbies across the country, which are all played over one weekend's action; it falls on Easter weekend over the bank holiday. We should be in for some great action and high attendances.