RL Today: David Fusitu’a shines, Connor blow & Roby on likely last year

Drew Darbyshire
David Fusitu'a Leeds

David Fusitu’a hailed

Former NRL top try scorer David Fusitu’a made his first appearance for Leeds on Sunday as he helped them thrash Hull 38-6 in Tom Briscoe’s testimonial. The Tonga winger impressed in the 50 minutes that he played. (Yorkshire Evening Post)

On David Fusitu’a, Rhinos assistant Sean Long told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “He carried the ball back pretty well. He showed some good touches and his fitness was there – he got through the game unscathed, which was fantastic.”

Jake Connor blow

Hull full-back Jake Connor left the action against Leeds with a suspended broken hand. (Hull Daily Mail)

The Black and Whites won’t know the full extent of Connor’s injury until he’s had a scan, but coach Brett Hodgson said after the game it is a suspected broken hand. He told Hull Daily Mail: “It looks like a potential broken hand. We don’t know the extent of that until we get him scanned. It just seems to be our luck at the minute, he was just trying to push off and it was so innocuous, for what’s at stake today in terms of a friendly we thought it was best to get him straight off.”

Toulouse injury concern

Toulouse centre Mathieu Jussaume suffered an ankle injury in their 26-10 defeat to Catalans Dragons in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The France international will undergo examination in the coming days to discover the extent of his injury. Toulouse host Huddersfield at the Stade Ernest Wallon in their first-ever Super League fixture on Saturday, February 12.

Wigan strength in depth

Wigan coach Matt Peet is pleased with the competition for places in his side following their two pre-season friendlies (Wigan Today)

The Warriors have beaten full-time Championship side Newcastle and Super League rivals Warrington in trial games. Peet told Wigan Today: “We’ve learnt a lot about our strength in depth across these two games. We’ve got competition for places and a group who are enjoying their work at the moment, which will hopefully continue.”

WARRIORS: Prop Ollie Partington on his hunger to win and making family proud

James Roby on probable final season

St Helens captain James Roby is raring to go for his 19th season in Super League – but it is likely to be his last. (St Helens Star)

Roby, who has made more than 500 career appearances, told St Helens Star: “I am pretty sure in my mind that it’s going to be my last and I am ready and preparing as if it is, mentally. But obviously we don’t know what is going to happen down the line and you never know what is going to happen. I have never officially said ‘I am 100 per cent retiring’ but I am 90 odd per cent sure that it is my last season.”

Adrian Lam delighted with Leigh show

Leigh coach Adrian Lam was over the moon with his side’s performance as they thrashed Whitehaven 50-4 in their opening game of the Championship season.

Lam said: “I’m very proud of the boys. It has been an off-season that has gone pretty quickly. We’ve built the squad week in, week out, so we haven’t had all of the players for the majority of it but I was very proud of their efforts. You could see they are connected together as a group which was a priority.”

ROUND-UP: Leigh Centurions put on a show as Batley beat Halifax

Birthdays

Former Bradford and London Broncos centre Adrian Purtell turns 37 today (January 31).

Also celebrating; former Warrington, Salford and London Broncos hooker Dave Highton (42).

Trivia

Tonight will see regular league-wide live coverage of the Championship returns to TV screens for the first time since 2013 thanks to Premier Sports. York welcome Featherstone to the LNER Community Stadium.

PLAY: Our free Fantasy Rugby League competition is back for 2022

Features Adrian Lam