FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

In just three weeks’ time we will all be getting ready for the opening round of Super League 2019 and round one weekend in the Challenge Cup. This week we’ve had financial wrangling for Salford and Catalans, a long suspension for Thomas Minns, and Luke Gale being ruled out for the season through injury.

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.

Thursday 3rd   

It is understood that Salford Red Devils have approached Super League and requested a six figure loan to assist them over immediate cash flow problems. It is believed that they request was turned down after the club failed to meet some of the stipulations laid down by the other Super League clubs.

Friday 4th   

Rugby League will be using the Steeden ball for the next three years after they were chosen to replace the Rhino balls which have been used over the last four seasons. This move brings northern hemisphere rugby into step with Australia. Steeden balls are being used in pre-season and for all matches in Super League, Championship, Championship One and cup competitions.

The Catalans Dragons may not defend their Challenge Cup title after being asked for a £500,000 bond by the RFL to cover any losses through poor attendances at the final should they repeat their success of 2018. It is understood that Toronto and Toulouse have also been requested for bonds  but the RFL has been asked to reconsider its position.

Saturday 5th     

York City Knights and the Dewsbury Rams progressed in the opening round of the newly resurrected Yorkshire Cup. York beat Hunslet Club Parkside by 34-4 while the Rams took the scalp of the Featherstone Rovers

Sunday 6th

It is becoming apparent that Luke Gale will miss the entire 2019 Super League season after rupturing an Achilles during training on his return from a knee injury which kept his out for a substantial part of last season. It is understood that Gale had been progressing well but that this is a massive setback both personally and for his club.

Batley Bulldogs put Hunslet to the sword in the Yorkshire Cup and recorded a 36-0 victory while Bradford Bull had a harder afternoon as they beat Halifax by 26-16. Bradford will face Dewsbury in the semi-final next Saturday while Batley will take on York in the other game on Sunday afternoon.

Monday 7th

Former Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR star Chris Clarkson is back in West Yorkshire after being given a trial with the Castleford Tigers ahead of the 2019 season. Clarkson has a chance to earn a full playing contract with Daryl Powell’s side after being released by the Robins at the end of last season.

The BBC will live stream the opening round Challenge Cup fixture between Millom and Red Star Belgrade at 13:30 on the 27th January as they begin their coverage of the great old competition. Last year the early round games attracted an online audience approaching 100,000 people.

Tuesday 8th  

As we speculated last week, James Donaldson has been given a one year playing contract with the Leeds Rhinos after impressing in pre-season training and friendly games. The former Hull KR forward had been without a club but made an impression on new Rhinos coach David Furner.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has pledged his immediate future to St Helens by signing a contract extension which will see him plying his trade at the Totally Wicked Stadium until the end of the 2020 season, which will be his tenth at the club since joining from London.

Wednesday 9th

Thomas Minns has been handed a sixteen month suspension from the game after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine after Hull KR’s game against the Huddersfield Giants on the 15th March 2018. The suspension is backdated to the offence meaning that Minns can return to training from the 15th May 2019 and will be available for selection from the 15th July.

Following the loss of Luke Gale it is believed that the Castleford Tigers are looking to apply to the RFL for salary cap relief to allow them to recruit a replacement while retaining Gale on the books through his injury.

Only Hull FC and St Helens showed any improvement in their average home attendances in 2018 over 2017 in a depressing analysis of Super League attendances. The Leeds Rhinos were the best supported side but their average home attendance fell by over 2,000 per game, a symptom of a poor season and ground disruption. Wigan Warriors were also down over 2,000 per game while Castleford Tigers dropped an average of 1,700 per game. Salford Red Devils average home attendance almost halved from 4,703 to 2,748.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Wed 9th Jan 2019 7:14 PM | Views : 51993 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
4m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Hullrealist
116
12m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34254
13m
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
55968
13m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
wrencat1873
20
16m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Uncle Rico
11
33m
Rd 6 I Cas A
Rockinhorse
21
33m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Uncle Rico
11
33m
Saints a
Cherry_Warri
13
35m
TV Games - Not Hull
Steve0
1378
44m
Fevround 2
Wildthing
86
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
23s
The Bulls away
Brew
7
27s
Saints a
Cherry_Warri
13
38s
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Uncle Rico
11
42s
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
44s
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
wrencat1873
20
50s
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
1m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
taxi4stevesm
23
1m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
bonaire
345
1m
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
1m
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
Brew
7
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Uncle Rico
11
TODAY
Saints a
Cherry_Warri
13
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
BigTime
5
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
wrencat1873
20
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
Rockinhorse
21
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Uncle Rico
11
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
Azul
3
TODAY
RL Podcast
AgbriggAmble
1
TODAY
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
TODAY
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Final Draw
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
472
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
587
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
523
Warrington Demolish London For..
640
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
691
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
661
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
913
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
894
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1043
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1011
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1068
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1056
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3830
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1178
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1058
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist