Knock On 8 with Jonny Bell

Back with a bang. I’ve missed a few things since I jetted off some three weeks ago but it seems that the same issues are still plaguing our game. Find out what’s caught my eye recently inside today’s Knock On.

Farce of the Week – Leigh deducted points

Now, it’s not so much that they’ve been deducted that is a farce, but the deduction has only gone to highlight the deeper problems we find within rugby league (well, outside of Super League). Top of the Championship, and playing great rugby by all accounts, but for what?

They’ve breached a salary cap regulation but for why? No matter how well the team plays, they won’t be going to Super League for many seasons – if ever – so that puts fans off. Knowing that the team won’t be relegated but can’t be promoted sort of takes the fun of it away.

Not only does this put fans off supporting their team, there are no investors either. In many ways, this has opened the debate more about the glass ceiling of the Championship than anything else. The prioritisation of Super League is slowly killing the game from the bottom up.

It seems that in the quest to appeal to a bigger market by having more money in the top of the game, the RFL are driving away those who have been brought up with the game, who genuinely love it.

Well, what do I know? Our man at the top puts his views down; he might be a more credible source than me. Check it out here.

Team of the Week – Workington

Workington kept the title race in Championship One wide open by dispatching of Swinton Lions at Derwent Park. The Lions fell to their first defeat of the season as braces from Scott Kaighan and Jack Pedley inspired Town to bounce back from a derby defeat and cut Swinton’s lead at the top to just four points.

There are four teams in the main promotion mix-up, with Keighley and Doncaster sniffing around but Whitehaven are probably out of reach now as they succumbed to a surprising 40-20 defeat at Oldham at the weekend.

Honourable mentions go to Hull KR and Featherstone who annihilated Wakefield and Toulouse respectively. Love Rugby League is your number one resource for super league news and views.

Transfer(s) of the Week – King goes Down Under, Waterhouse comes up

29th June was a big day for Warrington, they lost one of the best players in Super League and then signed a high quality international which softened the blow somewhat. Matt King, 30, has been plying his trade in England since 2008 but has decided to move back to his homeland with his young family.

The Australian centre has established himself as one of the best in the world from his home in the north of England and it was always likely that he’d head back to Australia at some point. A big loss for the Wolves, but as is the norm within professional sport as one top player leaves, another comes.

Super League fans will be buzzing with excitement to see second rower Trent Waterhouse line up next season. The Penrith Panther stalwart will leave his homeland to try his hand in England. Having represented Australia, New South Wales and City Origin he comes with great calibre.

There was one other story from Warrington this week as they also announced a friendly with South Sydney in close season. Find the story and more by clicking the following link for Warrington Wolves rugby league news.