TONIGHT'S Super League opener marks the end of an era - and a start of a new one with the traditional match day programme axed and replace with an official e-programme.

It is a sad day for that dwindling band of programme collectors, but the shift to a solely digital version will please the fans who do most of their reading online.

The move away from print on a matchday recognises that.

Saints announced: "The club has switched to a digital version of the programme to keep pace with the changing trends in the sports industry and to allow increased access to the programme’s content to a wider audience of Saints fans.

"The e-programme will be emailed out to all Saints Members and is also available to download on the day of each home match, in advance of the fixture, and it’s completely free."

Fans can scan one of the many QR codes displayed on posters around the Totally Wicked stadium this evening and the club Superstore.

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The club added: "We advise fans to download the programme before coming to the ground to avoid any data issues.

"However if you do wish to download at the ground via one of our clearly visible QR codes – just hover your camera app over the QR code.

"We recognise supporters still wish to have ‘something to take away’ and so the e-programme can also be printed if you wish.

"The world of programmes has remained largely unchanged for many years and as we move into a new decade, we, like many other professional sports club’s across the world, hope to spread the readership and coverage of the new programme to a much wider audience than could be achieved with a paper version.

"Not only this it will massively reduce the amount of paper and energy used to produce the traditional printed programme, which is of course better for the environment as a whole.

Given the magnitude of the World Club Challenge a special A4 printed programme will be produced for this fixture but all other programmes across the Betfred Super League season are to be available in digital format only."