Off the Record: Rugby League Rumours and Gossip #91

As always in the off-season, speculation is rife in Super League, Championship and League 1 and there are a couple of juicy rumours this week.

 MCGILLVARY IS A MAN IN DEMAND

Huddersfield Giants winger Jermaine McGillvary is attracting a lot of interest from Super League and the NRL.

The 29-year-old has been one of the stand-out players in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup so far, due to his impressive work rate and finishing ability.

Four NRL clubs are believed to be closely monitoring McGillvary while Warrington Wolves are understood to be lining up an offer for his services.

DJALOUT TO STAY IN SUPER LEAGUE

France back-rower Nabil Djalout is wanted by a number of clubs in Super League.

The 28-year-old made his Super League debut for Catalans Dragons in 2017 but was released by the club at the end of the season.

Djalout came off the bench for France against England last weekend and is known to be a hard-working back-rower. At least two clubs, who finished in the bottom half of Super League last season, are understood to be interested.

SHEFFIELD ATTRACTING PAPUA NEW GUINEANS

A couple of Papua New Guinea internationals have reportedly made contact with Sheffield Eagles head coach Mark Aston over possible moves to the club for 2018.

The Kumuls’ stars have seen what good the Eagles did for winger Garry Lo, who has signed for League Leaders’ Shield winners Castleford Tigers for next season, and now what a slice of the cake that Lo has tasted in the last two years.

Lo scored a staggering 50 tries in 46 games for the Eagles and Aston has actually revealed that some of the Papua New Guinea players want to follow in the footsteps of Lo.

HADLEY GOING NOWHERE

Hull FC forward Dean Hadley is going nowhere, despite rumours of him departing the KCOM Stadium in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old spent the back end of last season on loan at Wakefield Trinity, where he impressed in his stint with the club.

And he was linked with a move away from hometown club FC for 2018 and beyond but it looks like he will stay, with him retaining his No. 11 shirt for next year. 

SHARP TO BECOME BRADFORD BOSS 

Jon Sharp is set to become the next head coach of Bradford Bulls, according to Rugby League journalist Matthew Shaw.

The former Featherstone Rovers and Huddersfield Giants boss has reportedly agreed to take over the Bulls, with Australian Geoff Toovey deciding not to return to the club for 2018.

Sharp has not been in a coaching role since his contract with Featherstone was not renewed when it expired midway through last term, with the Rovers making John Duffy his successor. 

NO CHANCE OF BAPTISTE JOINING WARRINGTON 

Warrington Wolves head coach Steve Price has confirmed that Canberra Raiders hooker Kurt Baptiste will definitely not be joining the club for next season.

Price has revealed that the Wolves made an approach to sign the Papua New Guinea star but it was pretty clear from the start that the move wasn’t going to go ahead.

Apparently, Wigan Warriors were interested in Baptiste, though nothing has come of the link.

With Brad Dwyer having joined Leeds Rhinos, Warrington will turn to youngster Morgan Smith who will be the interchange hooker for Daryl Clark.

Also, the club are still understood to be keen on signing Sale Sharks winger Josh Charnley for the 2018 campaign and the deal looks like it can go ahead.

THE RFL TO WORK WITH SALFORD ON ATTENDANCES

The Rugby Football League are working closely with their nearest neighbours from its MediaCity base, Salford Red Devils, to help the club increase its attendances.

Salford’s struggles with attendances, despite their excellent first two thirds of last season at least, have been well documented and both parties are desperate for an improvement, especially given the positioning of the Sky Sports cameras often out to an empty stand.

It’s not just Salford who are struggling at the AJ Bell Stadium though. Rugby Union outfit Sale Sharks are having to re-arrange from Friday nights due to the dreadful traffic situation around the ground, which it is hoped will be eased in the coming months by a new road running alongside the stadium, though that is currently being held up by a dispute between the landowners and the local council.

What do you think of these rumours? Let us know in the comments below.