Off the Record: Rugby League Rumour and Gossip #53
Titaning Douglas
St Helens are after Luke Douglas, but it is far from certain that they will get their man. We’ve been told Douglas’ preference is to remain in the NRL and his wife is expecting a baby in the next week. He also has a year to run on his contact at the Gold Coast, complicating things further. So Saints will have to make an attractive offer indeed to land him at Langtree Park
Marshall dollars
Benji Marshall won’t be coming to Super League – and we can understand why. Benji is on huge money off the field, with sponsorshp and media deals making it very tough for him to leave Australia. We hear Marshall gets $300,000 from Fox Sports alomg, as well a decent sum from sports brand Asics and other partners. Apparently the Kiwi earns at least $400,000 without even lacing on a boot, meaning his price tag is well out of Super League‘s reach.
The penny drops
Will Kevin Penny be at the Halliwell Jones Stadium next year? There’s talk that Penny is well and truly out of favour at Warrington with the club looking to offload him. Apparently there was a disagreement about the winger’s weight that did not good down too well. We’ll stay on this one.
Season delay
It looks like the 2017 Super League season will start a week later to accomodate Wayne Bennett’s controversial England camp. Talks between the clubs and the RFL is underway, with Bennett’s camp set to be staged somehwhere in Europe now not Dubai, as had previously speculated.
Randall axed
Former London hooker Chad Randall has been coaching Manly’s Under-20s side, but that won’t be the case next year. We’ve been told Randall will be moved on, possibly to another role with the Sea Eagles. The new coach of the Manly Under-20s is likely to be high school coach Wayne Lambkin.
Squad disassembled
Sheffield’s playing squad are up for grabs for any club who wants them. The Eagles roster have been told they are all free to look elsewhere, with the club struggling to stay afloat. If Sheffield are around in 2017 they will certainly be a part-ime club with a much different-looking squad.