Paul March will begin his reign as Cougars player-coach with a trip to Batley in the opening game of the 2013 Co-operative Championship season.

March has been appointed as successor to Jason Demetriou and his men will face the Bulldogs on their infamous sloped pitch on the weekend of February 2/3.

That is followed by the first home game of the season against Whitehaven on Sunday, February 10.

The full fixture list is due to be published on Monday morning.