It’s been a week of the Australian Schoolboys, collapsing floodlights, Jarrod Sammut finally picking a club and a flurry of signings at Leigh Centurions. Wigan will travel to Barcelona rather than Perpignan in 2019 and journeyman Ryan Bailey gets a trial at a Championship club.
We’ve had a look back at the news over the last week to pick up on stories which you might have missed to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening inside the greatest game.
Wednesday 28th
It was a brave effort from Yorkshire Academy against the Australian Schoolboy tourists when they two sides met at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle in Castleford. Yorkshire led 12-4 at the interval but a second half fightback from the young Kangaroos saw them run out as 30-22 winners.
Thursday 29th
After much speculation it was confirmed that the Catalans Dragons home game against the Wigan Warriors on the 18th May 2019 will take place at the world famous Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. The game has been arranged for the 99,354 all-seater stadium after Barcelona made the offer to the Dragons and it will be the first ever fixture at the venue.
Ryan Bailey has been given a six week trial at Featherstone Rovers as he links up with his old mate Brett Delaney for a second time. Rovers are still to recruit a new coach after the departure of Jon Duffy to the Leigh Centurions.
There was a scare at Hull KR’s KCOM Stadium after strong winds blew over one of their floodlight pylons. The ground was closed while contractors carries out safety tests on the other pylons which were installed just five years ago.
Friday 30th
Journeyman Jarrod Sammut is back in Super League after signing for the Wigan Warriors on a two year contract. After leaving the London Broncos at the end of the 2018 season there had been plenty of speculation about where the thirty-one year old utility back would end up.
Leeds Rhinos marquee signing Konrad Hurrell has arrived in the UK ahead of pre-season training after signing a three year contract. Hurrell joined new team mate Tui Lolohea, who arrived earlier in the month, and the third Leeds signing Trent Merrin will touch down next week.
Saturday 1st
The Australian Schoolboys registered their third win of their 2018 tour with a 24-12 victory over Lancashire. This was the final warm-up game before the tests against England at Leigh Sports Village on the 8th December and at Emerald Headingley on the 14th December.
Monday 3rd
Wakefield Trinity ladies are joining the Women’s Super League for 2019 after announcing that they will be fielding a side in the growing top-flight competition, increasing the number of participants to eight. Wakefield will be holding a trial on the 8th December for any ladies interested in taking part.
The UK arm of the Toronto Wolfpack has been served with a winding up order over unpaid legal fees relating to the defence of Ryan Bailey over his refusal to take a drugs test earlier in the year. Bailey successfully argued that the water he was given prior to the test could have been tainted and was found not guilty. The Canadian operation of the Wolfpack in unaffected.
It is rumoured that Catalans hero Josh Drinkwater is on the verge of signing for Hull KR as they look to strengthen ahead of the 2019 season.
Talks are underway between Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants over a swap deal which would see Joe Wardle returning to the Giants while Seb Ikahihifo travels in the opposite direction.
St Helens are concerned for the welfare of rising academy star Joe Sharratt who was hospitalised in serious condition after an incident outside a Manchester nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning. Sharratt and a friend were involved in a fracas with night club security which left the player with a serious head injury.
Tuesday 4th
Following the series win over New Zealand, England have moved into second place in the RLIF world rankings, pushing their opponents in the Autumn test series into third place. England still trail Australia, the world number one.
The Leigh Centurions contracts department has been extremely busy with the capture of eleven players ahead of the 2019 season. The Leythers have secured the services of; Iain Thornley, Luke Adamson, Stefan Marsh, Declan O’Donnell, Andy Bracek, Jonny Pownall, Andy Thornley, Sam Brooks, Jack Higginson, Toby Adamson and Mitch Cox.
