the Valentine's Day spirits have seemingly spilt over into this week, as the weekdays are once again filled with action from around Yorkshire and across a variety of leagues. All with high-stakes drama ready to unfold.

Monday 16th February Sky Bet Championship: Coventry v Middlesbrough 20:00

Today the Championship's top two teams square off in one of the season's most significant matches.

Last week, we featured Boro’s match against fellow Yorkshire side Sheffield United, which ended in a 2-1 win for the Teessiders. That result helped lift Kim Hellberg’s side into the top spot, a place they will be hoping to keep with a result in the Midlands.

The two-point gap that separates the two sides is under threat, but only if Coventry can see an uptick in their form. Prior to the new year, Lampard’s men looked imperious, but since 2026 began, the Sky Blues have only managed two wins in eight matches.

After back-to-back losses to strugglers Norwich and QPR, Coventry were still only able to earn a point at home to second-bottom side Oxford in a less than stellar 0-0 draw.

Middlesbrough have had no such form issues with just two losses in 2026, a record that has seen them take Coventry’s spot as nailed on champions for the time being. A run of five wins in a row takes them into the top two battle in fine spirits and with plenty of confidence.

A win for either could be the catalyst for a champion’s run-in and breed confidence for either Coventry to turn the tide and kick on or for Middlesbrough to cement themselves as favourites. A draw would suffice to maintain Coventry's pace behind Boro and set the stage for clear predictions for the remainder of the season.

Date: 16/02/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry

The match will be shown on ITV4, Sky Sports Main Event, and Sky Sports Football. 

Tuesday 17th February Skybet League One: Bradford City v Stockport County 19:45

League One has its own top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday, with fourth-placed Stockport looking to extend the gap on Bradford, who sit just one point away from them.

Newly promoted Bradford are having a season to remember since their return to the third tier after a six-year absence and finally look to be on track to push for a spot back in the Championship for the first time since the 2003/04 season.

Manager Graham Alexander has taken Bradford from a side that looked cursed to remain in League Two to one that has shown its pedigree at a higher level, to a point now where back-to-back promotions could be a real possibility. But, for that to happen, City will have to keep pace in a playoff picture that is littered with huge clubs with recent top-flight experience.

Huddersfield are hot on their tail in sixth, with just three points keeping them at bay. In fact, Bradford and Huddersfield are the only teams in the top six that are not unbeaten in their last five matches, with Bradford suffering three losses alone in a run that has seen them shift down the playoff standings.

A much-needed home victory over Peterborough at the weekend has given them some wiggle room, but the visit of Stockport to Valley Parade will be a harder test for a side that has one of the best home records in the division.

Stockport have the third-best away record and will arrive in West Yorkshire in the midst of an eight-match unbeaten run. County have already beaten top-six colleagues Huddersfield and drawn with league leaders Cardiff in this run, but a 0-0 draw with 18th-placed Leyton Orient in their last match is not what they would have wanted before such a bumper fixture this midweek.

A victory for the Hatters would also put them level on points with Bolton as well as create a four-point gap to Bradford. But returning from Valley Parade with all three points is no easy feat; just two sides have managed to secure maximum points there.

When the two sides met in August, Bradford emerged victorious as Stockport squandered a one-goal lead, ultimately losing 2-1 at Edgeley Park.

Date: 17/02/2026

Time: 19:45

Venue: Valley Parade, Bradford

The match will be shown on Sky Sports+.

 


Thursday 19th February World Club Challenge: Hull KR v Brisbane Broncos 19:30

One of the biggest games in Rugby League is almost upon us, the battle between the best of England and Australia to determine who takes the bragging rights and pride, knowing that they have bested their respective league’s counterparts.

This year, Hull KR represents the Super League, a side that won a historic treble of the League Leaders Shield, Challenge Cup, and Grand Final in a campaign that saw them lose just five matches.

The Robins defeated current World Club Challenge champions Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final, which was the pinnacle of the best season the club has played in their over 140-year history.

A repeat of their heroics was predicted prior to the start of the 2026 campaign, but those expectations may have been quelled for now due to their shock 19-18 defeat to newly appointed Super League side York Knights in round one.

Hull will be hoping that defeat is not a sign of things to come as the challenge is ramped up with the visit of NRL champions Brisbane Broncos.

The Broncos finished fourth in the NRL table last year and won a hard-fought battle 26-22 against Melbourne Storm in the final. They come to the MKM Stadium looking to test themselves before their regular season starts.

But if their finish to last year is anything to go by, they will be fearsome opposition, and it will be up to the Robins to leave the pain of the opening round loss behind and extend the record of English sides winning the Club Challenge to three on the spin.

Date: 19/02/2026

Time: 19:30

Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull

The match will be shown on BBC Three and Sky Go.


 
Friday 20th February Betfred Super League: Bradford Bulls v Catalans Dragons 20:00

The Bulls continue their return to Super League this week with the visit of French side Catalans Dragons, who come to the Odsal while occupying top spot.

A 26-10 win for the Dragons over Huddersfield has given them a positive starting point to build on in a campaign where they look to improve on a disappointing 9th-place finish in 2025.

Their Challenge Cup campaign also got off to a roaring start against Batley Bulldogs of the Championship, where the Dragons showed their first-tier status with a 56-4 thumping.

If the good times in Perpignan are to continue, they will have to do the business against a Bradford side now more eagerly searching for their first victory following their 27-20 loss to Hull FC, a match Bradford were leading multiple times.

The Bulls certainly have positives to take from their first Super League match since 2014. Racking up 20 points against a Hull side that narrowly finished outside the playoffs last season is an achievement in itself.

But the three-time Grand Final winners will no doubt have higher expectations and be hungry for a maiden win in a season that could prove to be very fruitful for all those associated with the club.

A club that has been sorely missed from the top flight after a long journey of liquidation, relegations and administrations.

Date: 20/02/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: Odsal Stadium, Bradford

The match will be shown on Sky Sports+.