Rugby League News

First topic message reminder :

The dates and venues of the 4 nation's have been announced. They are -

Fri 28th Oct - Scotland v Australia - Craven park Hull.

Sun 30th Oct - England v New Zealand - John Smiths stadium Huddersfield.

Sat 5th Nov - England v Scotland & Australia v New Zealand - Ricoh Arena Coventry.

Fri 11th Nov - Scotland v New Zealand - Derwent Park Workington.

Sun 13th Nov - England v Australia - Olympic Park London.

Sun 20th Nov - final at Anfield Liverpool.

Shocking news Zane Tetevano has undergone heart surgery following a stroke suffered whilst training with Leeds. Best wishes to him for a quick recovery.

Widnes have parted ways with Head Coach John Kear. Sadly I have to question if this is his last coaching appointment.

Castleford, now bottom of the table following a defeat by Huddersfield sack Head Coach Andy Last. I am sure they will be nervously checking the resurgent Wakefield's result at Hull before a massive game on Friday night against them at Belle Vue on 18th August.

Widnes announce that their new coach from 2024 is Allan Coleman moving from Swinton Lions.

Oldham have sacked Head Coach Stuart Littler

Eventful Monday.

Warrington have named Sam Burgess as Head Coach from 2024. Must admit I did not see that coming, not for a minute. Good luck to Sam however.

Featherstone Rovers following defeat to Halifax sack coach Shaun Long. This I am slightly less surprised over. Yes they are top but given their squad there have been a few unconvincing performances this year.

Sean Long is rumoured to be off to be a number 2 at Warrington. Which may explain the decision slightly.

Foe the next 2 years the challenge Cup final will be in June.

An international calander of sorts has been announced.

2023
will see an inaugural Pacific competition (featuring Australia,New Zealand, Samoa etc).
And Tonga will be touring England for 3 tests.

2024
Pacific Cup.

2025
Will see an ashes tour down under. Both men and women

2026
World Cup (somewhere in the southern hemisphere), very disappointingly in Mt opinion this will only be a 10 team tournament. With the qf from the last World Cup already qualified.

2027
New Zealand tour of England.

Luke wrote:Foe the next 2 years the challenge Cup final will be in June.

I have mixed views but can see the logic. Certainly having the CC final on the day the soccer season starts is a tough ask for marketing dept.

Personally I think having more distance between challenge/grand finals is needed. But also think make it a bank holiday weekend.

There are new proposals from Sky Sports regarding a new TV deal. ANY game could potentially shown live with all games needing Video Ref facilities. This does add in with apparent IMG/Franchising requirements being for LED lights/Large Screens.

Will this result in more money coming into the Sport.....no, of course not.

The Beast wrote:There are new proposals from Sky Sports regarding a new TV deal.  ANY game could potentially shown live with all games needing Video Ref facilities.  This does add in with apparent IMG/Franchising requirements being for LED lights/Large Screens.

Will this result in more money coming into the Sport.....no, of course not.

Be interesting, as in my opinion your stopping the late/I can go to that fans. Who will just stay at home and watch it, plus it tends to lend that again clubs will be playing Fri, which stops people.

Some good news on the international front. After the bad news of a 10 team we.
On all fronts.

In the Men's.
France will travel to Belgrade to face Serbia on sept 24.

Woman's
England will play Wales before the final England/Tonga test at Headingley on November 4th.

WHEELCHAIR.
England men's will play France at first direct arena on Nov 5th.
But the biggest news, is the USA have arranged 5 games for the start of next year. Playing Wales in 2 games (2nd&3rd of feb) in South Carolina. And then 3 games v Australia (2 on 28th feb & 1st march) in Las Vegas.

In depressing news,

London Skolars have dropped out of League 1. They will continue in the southern conference.
This leaves 9 clubs in league 1, the sooner they put 2/3 clubs in SL and join league 1 with the championship the better in my opinion.

Luke wrote:In depressing news,

London Skolars have dropped out of League 1. They will continue in the southern conference.
This leaves 9 clubs in league 1, the sooner they put 2/3 clubs in SL and join league 1 with the championship the better in my opinion.

Yes, agreed.

The Beast wrote:

Luke wrote:In depressing news,

London Skolars have dropped out of League 1. They will continue in the southern conference.
This leaves 9 clubs in league 1, the sooner they put 2/3 clubs in SL and join league 1 with the championship the better in my opinion.

Yes, agreed.

Apparently talks this week in relation to combining the Championship & League One. Sounds positive but unless SL allow 2 sides in I don't see a 23 team Championship working. Some talk of having a top tier of (for example 12) and lower of 11 but this strikes me as too many games or too few?

If your going the tier route, might as well just not promoted anybody. Way to do it in my opinion,  put all teams in a list down, have evens play each other twice, and odds once and vice verser.

And then the year afterwards sort it out, with sl upto 14.

In even more terrible news for the game. 

Newcastle are the latest club to drop out, leaving league 1 with 8 teams now.

Luke wrote:In even more terrible news for the game. 

Newcastle are the latest club to drop out, leaving league 1 with 8 teams now.

Yes, terrible news and baffling a club seemingly heading in exactly the right direction certainly pre-Covid.

I see Hunslet have released a statement suggesting League One as it stands is unsustainable, with 8 teams it is hard to argue unless they play each other 3 times. I like the idea of an expanded Championship but unless 2 go up to SL I don't see it, too many games.

The Beast wrote:

Luke wrote:In even more terrible news for the game. 

Newcastle are the latest club to drop out, leaving league 1 with 8 teams now.

Yes, terrible news and baffling a club seemingly heading in exactly the right direction certainly pre-Covid.

I see Hunslet have released a statement suggesting League One as it stands is unsustainable, with 8 teams it is hard to argue unless they play each other 3 times.  I like the idea of an expanded Championship but unless 2 go up to SL I don't see it, too many games.

 Apparently the championship clubs voted against joining divisions, so was going to continue as was. Now, don't know. But don't think there will be any changes next year.

Luke wrote:

The Beast wrote:

Luke wrote:In even more terrible news for the game. 

Newcastle are the latest club to drop out, leaving league 1 with 8 teams now.

Yes, terrible news and baffling a club seemingly heading in exactly the right direction certainly pre-Covid.

I see Hunslet have released a statement suggesting League One as it stands is unsustainable, with 8 teams it is hard to argue unless they play each other 3 times.  I like the idea of an expanded Championship but unless 2 go up to SL I don't see it, too many games.

 Apparently the championship clubs voted against joining divisions, so was going to continue as was. Now, don't know. But don't think there will be any changes next year.

I think (could be wrong) that there was a proposal to change the Championship into 2 conferences which to be honest I don't think the clubs were ever going to agree to. League One with teams playing each other 3 times to my mind is the most realistic outcome.

I don't want to be negative but.....

Sky to show ALL SL games

I have concerns,

1. They are paying less money to the sport

2. by showing all games are they going to change the regular kick off times? Will this result in a loss of income via reduced ticket sales?

IMG Gradings have been announced which makes interesting (if not somewhat in parts troubling reading).

I am not surprised in relation to the teams receiving the highest Grade A status however the story is the B grades. As it stands Castleford will be relegated albeit they appear to have made errors in their own submissions with London who appear to have close to no chance of staying in SL in 2025 irrespective of their on-field performance in 2024.

I suspect Wakefield's score will rise as they finish the new stand at Belle Vue so I think they are safe, it feels ridiculous to think that IF there is a vulnerable side in the 12 it could be Leigh???

IMG Gradings

The Beast wrote:IMG Gradings have been announced which makes interesting (if not somewhat in parts troubling reading).

I am not surprised in relation to the teams receiving the highest Grade A status however the story is the B grades.  As it stands Castleford will be relegated albeit they appear to have made errors in their own submissions with London who appear to have close to no chance of staying in SL in 2025 irrespective of their on-field performance in 2024.

I suspect Wakefield's score will rise as they finish the new stand at Belle Vue so I think they are safe, it feels ridiculous to think that IF there is a vulnerable side in the 12 it could be Leigh???

IMG Gradings

Always a problem when you take things from onfield to make other things more valuable.  London being so low, And other b placings are just baffling.

And just when I thought we might see some positive International news Samoa refuse the chance to play a 3 match series in England next Autumn

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/67372025

I have to say we are looking somewhat isolated at the moment

After what has been happening in league 1, the format for next year has been reveled. 

The championship is staying the same, League 1 is looking at a 9 member league (Newcastle reforming in some shape). Will play every one home and away, and some loop fixtures. If Newcastle don't reform then they play everyone 3 times.

Now the interesting part is the 1895 Cup. Where other than Toulouse and Cornwall (not sure why Cornwall aren't involved). It will now be groups of 3, if championship are against a league 1 side they will be away, play each other 1. Winners and runners up go through to quatre finals. This in my opinion should have been how it was from the start.

Sadly it appears that Bradford are not the only club hammered by stadium issues.

Salford Red Devils Statement

It is believed that magic weekend next season will be at Elland Road. It won't be known till Thurs/Fri when the SL fixtures are announced which weekend it will be on. 
Strange choice, with nit alot around Elland Rd.

Luke wrote:It is believed that magic weekend next season will be at Elland Road. It won't be known till Thurs/Fri when the SL fixtures are announced which weekend it will be on. 
Strange choice, with nit alot around Elland Rd.

It is at Elland Road, on the weekend of the 17/18th Augest.
Sat games will be, Hull v London, Wigan v St Helens & Warrington v Leeds.
Sun games Leigh v Salford (could be best game of the rd), Catalans v Hull KR & Castleford v Huddersfield in that order.

Elland Road smells a bit like the concept about to be put out to pasture.

Some bad news Salford Red Devils have been placed into Special Measures, if they cannot resolve the stadium issue pretty quickly I very much fear for them.

News to catch up on;

Big changes coming (not just IMG), the tackle height will be lowered in Academy/Reserve and Grassroots in 2024 that will be extended to Professional leagues in 2025. It appears to have been poorly received in some quarters including former and current players, certainly some tackling technique changes will be required to prevent games turning into a complete farce.

Lowering Tackle Height

St. Helens coach Paul Wellens has been fined for making critical comments made post Leigh cup game in July. Not massive news (except for him losing £2k) but why did this take so long???

Two pieces of good news, Salford sign a new tenancy agreement for the AJ Bell Stadium. Hopefully this will enable breathing space to agree a longer term deal and secure the club's future.

Newcastle Thunder have had an application to return to League 1 accepted. Great news, having done so much work in their local community over the past years it was terrible to see them initially withdraw from the competition.

Whilst on Best Wishes to all for the Festive Season and New Year.

Dion Aiye (Whitehaven) has been banned for 8 games following a conviction for assault.

Following a number of reports in relation to non-payment of wages Mark Campbell is set to stand down as Chairman of Featherstone.

No big surprise but Tony Smith has left his role as Hull FC Head Coach.

The Beast wrote:No big surprise but Tony Smith has left his role as Hull FC Head Coach.

No. Other than the covid year at Rovers, he's looked out of his depth for a while now.
Interesting to see what Hull FC do now, thanks to img no chance of going down. So do they go Australian,  or promote from within, or championship coach.

Luke wrote:

The Beast wrote:No big surprise but Tony Smith has left his role as Hull FC Head Coach.

No. Other than the covid year at Rovers, he's looked out of his depth for a while now.
Interesting to see what Hull FC do now, thanks to img no chance of going down. So do they go Australian,  or promote from within, or championship coach.

They go Australian,  with John Cartwright becoming coach from next year.

Applications for League 1 from next year are now open.

Carcassonne are thought ro have already applied (hope not, French league rugby does not need to lose another big name of a club).
Others,  Bedford are thought to have applied.  Goole and Bramley (who were in the league before finances forced them out), have both definitely applied. 
In my opinion,  go with all 3 if there Applications are financially secure, and get as many clubs in.

From next year, the challenge Cup will have the SL clubs join in rd3 instead of 6 that it now is. Much needed in my opinion and will hopefully give the company and lower clubs a much needed boast.

Luke wrote:Applications for League 1 from next year are now open.

Carcassonne are thought ro have already applied (hope not, French league rugby does not need to lose another big name of a club).
Others,  Bedford are thought to have applied.  Goole and Bramley (who were in the league before finances forced them out), have both definitely applied. 
In my opinion,  go with all 3 if there Applications are financially secure, and get as many clubs in.

And the final 3 have been announced (no idea why only 3, but there you are. Goole,Bedford and Anglian Vipers ate the 3 that are now being looked more deeply into.

Anglian Vipers, not as far out as Cornwall but I had until recently family out near Wymondham where they were formed, it is pretty well a 3 hour drive from South of Leicester.

Some news to catch up on an potentially discuss.

Keighley (Top of League One) have sacked coach Matt Foster. The Directors seemingly frustrated by some comments have released a statement, I don't recall ever seeing so much detail being released.

Keighley Statement


Huddersfield sack Coach Ian Watson following a run of 8 defeats, last weeks' humbling by Warrington seemingly the final straw.

Next seasons Las Vegas games have been announced.  
On Saturday 1st March 4 games will be played as Penrith v Cronulla,  Canberra v New Zealand warriors,  Australia v England women international,  Wigan v Warrington. 

I fully applaud the inclusion of both a SL and Women's game. And hopefully it will be a great success following on from this years success.

International News, We have a World Cup.

2026 in Australia & PNG which is no surprise and sensible, only 10 teams though (from 16).

Very sad news, Sky Sports commentator BIll Arthur has passed away.

Excellent commentator and moreover always a positive voice for the sport.

RIP, best wishes to his family and friends.

Sheffield suspend coach Mark Aston due an RFL.inquiry into a medical compliance issue.

After (considering the circumstances) an outstanding win v Doncaster Jonty Gorley resigns as Whitehaven coach.

Kyle Amor has stepped in.

2 retirements. 
Danny Houghton will retire from Hull FC. His only side, after 450 odd games. Been outstanding for them, and will be remembered fondly especially for his tackle in the 2016 challenge Cup final. 
Paul Mcshane will retire after 9 years at Castleford,  and Wakefield before hand. Great player.

Luke wrote:2 retirements. 
Danny Houghton will retire from Hull FC. His only side, after 450 odd games. Been outstanding for them, and will be remembered fondly especially for his tackle in the 2016 challenge Cup final. 
Paul Mcshane will retire after 9 years at Castleford,  and Wakefield before hand. Great player.

100% agreed.