Have to agree with you Bren. I think that the RFL have selected the two clubs in the hope that Salford have a winning start at their new stadium and Widnes start with a win on their return to SL.

I hope we both go over the Pennines and spoil the planned party at the RFL.

More games for the fans than the casual spectator. Could be decent games, but can't help thinking a bigger explosion would have been better to kick off the season.

I think these could be very competitive matches, just because they are not likely to win the league does not mean they should not be shown on SKY.

As for the big kickoff to the season the RFL dumped that when they dumped MM. So that's not really SKY's fault.

If they wanted the new boys and Salford then it should have been.

Widnes v Leeds - New boys v Champions

Salford v Wigan - First game in new stadium against the challenge cup winners.

Maybe they also wanted the best chance of competitive matches.

I think he's misunderstood the cynicism, in that the general view is that the RFL would like Salford and Widnes to post wins in their first outings of 2012.

I like these fixtures, if only for the outpourings of arrogant spew they've caused on the VT from the fans of 'bigger' clubs, who seem to think that the only interesting RL is played between the teams they perceive to be the top six.