Image source, Reuters

The 21 host venues for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England were revealed on Tuesday and the most glaring omission was that of Wigan.

There will be no games at the DW Stadium, and leaving the town - home of the sport's most successful club - out "will resonate with all across the rugby league world, according to Wigan Council leader David Molyneux.

Matches will be held at nearly Leigh and Bolton as some compensation, while one of the semi-finals is heading for Arsenal Football Club's Emirates Stadium.

You can find the full list of venues here.

Image source, Getty Images

Amazingly, reigning champions Wigan find themselves bottom of the Super League table before a game kicks off - and not because of alphabetical order.

It's because of a 2017 season salary cap breach which was punished by an independent tribunal after they were charged for a rule breach by the Rugby Football League.

They begin this season with a two-point deduction, putting them in the negative. They can get back to zero with a big victory tonight.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Wigan Warriors have a 'new' man at the helm at the DW Stadium, although, he's not strictly new.

He has a tough seat to fill, having succeeded multiple Grand Final winner Shaun Wane, but Adrian Lam is a man who knows all about the club.

Lam spent three years at Wigan as a player, a popular import from the Australian NRL side Sydney Roosters, and is fully aware of what these derbies mean too.

"It's the right way to start the season with two of the biggest teams in the world," Lam told BBC Radio Manchester.

"They were the in-form team last year and went out on terms they didn't want to, and we're the premiers. We have to defend our premiership.

"I've had plenty of self-talk about not being nervous. There's no need to be nervous. I feel confident in the players and we've done everything we can to put ourselves in a position to get the right result."

Super League is back with St Helens hosting Wigan this evening, and I've got an idea where Johnny Vegas will be.

The comedian is a massive Saints fan and is looking for Justin Holbrook's side to start the new season with a victory over their fiercest rivals.

Andrew Henderson
Warrington Wolves assistant coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I'm very excited for the new season. The players are chomping at the bit and I want to see them in action now.

When I look across the Super League competition there is some exciting homegrown and overseas talent, and with the rule changes I believe it's going to be a cracking season.

I know there are a couple of stand-out squads in St Helens and Warrington but it is wide open - there are so many quality teams out there. And write Wigan off at your peril!

Image source, Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

St Helens were fantastic during 2018. Few teams gave neutrals as much pleasure to watch than Saints.

However, at the end of it they weren't even bridesmaids. After two semi-final defeats - they weren't even invited to the wedding.

It was even tougher for big prop Alex Walmsley, who missed all but five games of the season with a neck injury.

So, plenty to make up for then in 2019.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

St Helens hand starts to winter imports Lachlan Coote and Kevin Naiqama at full-back and centre, while skilful back-rower Junior Paulo will come off the bench. Big prop Alex Walmsley makes his first appearance since March 2018.

Wigan have Zak Hardaker at full-back for his first appearance since serving a drugs ban. Joe Bullock, back at Wigan after a successful spell at Barrow, is on the bench.

St Helens: Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Knowles.

Replacements: Paulo, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Lees.

Wigan: Hardaker; Davies, Sarginson, Gildart, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Flower, Powell, Navarrete, Greenwood, Farrell, O'Loughlin.

Replacements: Hamlin, Clubb, Bullock, Isa.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a winter of change on and off the pitch in rugby league since Wigan won the Grand Final as the sport tries to attract new fans to the 13-man code.

The introduction of shot clocks to cut time-wasting at the scrum and drop-outs, and fewer interchanges are all designed to speed up the game and make it more exciting to help capture a new audience.

But they aren't all that's new for 2019, as BBC Sport's rugby league correspondent Dave Woods has explained....

Image source, Swpix.com

Good that wasn't it? I love the Beastie Boys almost as much as I love rugby league, so that was a bit special.

Super League's strapline for 2019 is 'New Beginnings'. New stars, a new team and new rules are just a few of the things to look out for.

And what better way to kick off the new season than with one of the biggest derbies in sport? St Helens against Wigan.

Welcome to the 2019 season. It's good to be back.

Rugby league is back. Super League is back.

Take it away.