WIRE fans can now start planning their 2019 after the Super League fixtures were revealed.

With fixtures scheduled until the middle of September, there is no longer the uncertainty around who The Wire may be playing at the back end of the campaign after the scrapping of the Super 8s format.

READ > Warrington Wolves’ 2019 Super League fixtures revealed

Here, we take a look at some of the stand-out points that have arisen from the fixture list.

LOOP FIXTURES:

The divisive and convoluted Super 8s format has been ditched for 2019 and has been replaced by a much clearer structure.

Each team will play 29 fixtures – 14 at home and 14 away, plus the Magic round – meaning they play seven of the other 11 teams three times, and the other four twice. That fixture pattern has been determined by the teams’ finishing positions in 2018.

After finishing fourth in 2018, The Wire will play teams who finished in odd-numbered positions three times and even-numbered positions twice – London are counted as finishing 12th having won the Million Pound Game.

With the Magic Weekend fixtures still to be revealed, Wolves are currently slated to face St Helens, Castleford, Wakefield, Catalans, Salford and Hull KR three times.

Warrington Guardian:

The Wire played St Helens four times in 2018, and will face them at least three times in 2019. Picture by Mike Boden

TWO TRIPS TO FRANCE – INCLUDING ONE IN SUMMER!

A summer trip to the South of France has been something Wire fans have craved for a few years now.

Indeed, the last time they played Catalans in the summer months in a scheduled league fixture was in 2014, when tries from both Monaghan brothers, Gene Ormsby and Rhys Evans led The Wire to a 26-24 victory.

They did play them in early September in 2016, but that was a Super 8s fixture arranged at much shorter notice.

Wolves will make their second of two trips to France on Saturday, August 3 – prime time for a summer getaway.

Their first visit to Perpignan of 2019 will be on Saturday, March 2, and the Stade Gilbert Brutus is not the only ground they are scheduled to visit twice.

The Wire will also make two trips to Hull Kingston Rovers (April 22 and June 15) and Castleford Tigers (May 3 and July 21) in 2019.

Warrington Guardian:

Wire fans enjoy a summer trip to Perpignan in 2014. Picture by Mike Boden

LEEDS IN THE OPENER…AGAIN:

Opening day clashes with the Rhinos are becoming the norm for The Wire now.

They will meet at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, February 2 – the third time in four seasons they have faced each other in the first league game.

Leeds won at the same stage at the same place last year, while The Wire went to Headingley and came away with two points in their first game of 2016.

It will be the fifth time in the Super League era that the sides have faced each other first.

Indeed, this fixture was the first Super League fixture either side played way back in 1996, while they also faced off in the 1998 opener.

Warrington Guardian:

Kevin Penny scores for The Wire in their opening-day win at Leeds in 2016. Picture by Mike Boden

A STRANGE GOOD FRIDAY:

A Good Friday fixture against Widnes Vikings had become standard procedure for The Wire…not this year.

With the Vikings being relegated from Super League, Warrington will have to find new Good Friday foes.

This year, their Good Friday fixture will be a home clash with Salford on April 9 before they travel to Hull KR on Easter Monday.

Warrington Guardian:

Last season's Good Friday clash with Widnes will be the last for at least a year. Picture by Mike Boden

MORE DAYTIME FIXTURES:

Plenty of fans have been crying out for more daytime games, and it seems the calls have been answered.

Five of The Wire’s 14 scheduled home games will take place on a Saturday, including the first two of 2019 against Leeds and Hull KR.

Overall, Wolves have nine scheduled daytime fixtures in 2019 – with the potential for one more at Magic Weekend – compared to six in 2018.

Warrington Guardian:

The Halliwell Jones Stadium on a sunny afternoon - a sight we will see more of in 2019. Picture by Mike Boden

A TRICKY FINISH:

In the crucial run-up to the returning top-five play-off system, The Wire’s final group of fixtures look very testing on paper.

Five of their final seven games are away from The Halliwell Jones Stadium, including trips to Castleford, Catalans, Wigan and Leeds.

Home games against St Helens and Wakefield and the short journey to Salford make up the run-in for Steve Price’s side.

Warrington Guardian:

A trip to Wigan is one of five away games in The Wire's final seven Super League games next year. Picture by Mike Boden