Off the Record: Rugby League Rumour and Gossip #36
Rammed heads
Word comes to us that a certain Dewsbury outside back won’t be playing for the Rams again this season. Apparently this player had a run-in with club management after he recently directed a big spray at a senior figure. He has been told that he won’t be on the field for Dewsbury again in 2016.
Drinkwater lands
New Leigh signing Josh Drinkwater lands in the UK tomorrow and is in the running to play straight away. The Centurions face Swinton away on Sunday and the Aussie halfback may well be included just three days after arriving, we’ve been told. It all depends on how the Wests Tigers scrum-half adapts with the travel and time difference, but don’t be surprised to see him in action this weekend.
Ross Super League bound?
Newcastle winger Nathan Ross is considering a move to Super League next year, with two clubs interested. St Helens and Wakefield are believed to be in talks with Ross, who has experience playing in France before. The Aussie can play across the backline and at 27 only broke into the NRL ranks last year. It will be interesting to see if Knights coach Nathan Brown plays a role at steering ‘Ross Dogg’ towards his old club.
The myth
Our Gold Coast source tells us that new Bradford coach Rohan Smith has an unfortunate nickname. Smith, the son of veteran coach Brian, was most recently an assistant with the Titans where some called him ‘Myth’. The 35-year old has had a long NRL apprenticeship with several clubs but the Bulls role is his first head coaching role. We’re guessing several people are a tad jealous of the younger smith because of his Dad, with accusations of nepotism.
Foster lined up
Super League’s head of marketing Mark Foster has been filled in as general manager since Blake Solly’s departure for Souths. The grapevine tells us that the RFL want to keep Foster in the role of GM permanently. The recruitment process for Solly’s replacement has been quite of late and Foster is likely to maintain the status quo if he keeps the top job.
Gallen stays
Paul Gallen is set to finish his career with the Cronulla Sharks. Off contract at the end of 2016, there has been speculation that he may finish up in Super League. But we hear that’s not the case and the Sharks skipper will hang them up at the end of next year, in the same place where it all started in first-grade back in 2001. Gal will be 36 in August 2017, wields considerable power in the Shire and is close with coach Shane Flanagan. He is unlikely to receive the same coin he can get at Cronulla elsewhere.
Super League split
Marwan Koukash has set the cat amongst the pidgeons with his move to split Super League from the RFL. According to our sources, there is only two clubs completely opposed to breaking away in any form. Widnes and Leeds are believed to be those two clubs, with Koukash’s advances already finding favour with several disillusioned chairman. As usual, interesting times ahead in rugby league.