Paper Talk: The Hearns, Hanbury future and big pay-offs

The new season is back underway and there are a range topics to talk about.

RFL make contact with the Hearns

The Rugby Football League have made contact with the Hearns and Matchroom, League Express claims. RFL interim CEO Ralph Rimmer has already said that the organisation would be happy to hold talks. Eddie Hearn as ruled out replacing Nigel Wood as the CEO of the RFL, though.

Hampshire on his career revival

Ryan Hampshire has told League Express that he thinks his move to hometown club Wakefield Trinity could prove to be best move to get his career back on track. He told League Express: “I’m determined to get back to what I know I can do and there’s no better place to do it than here.”

Draper to receive huge pay-off

League Weekly report that Super League chief Roger Draper will receive a severance payment of up to £300,000 after leaving his dual role of Super League executive director and chief commercial officer. The RFL declined to comment on the topic when asked about it by League Weekly, insisting severance payments made to employees were ‘absolutely confidential’.

Widnes reject Hull KR bid for Hanbury

Hull Kingston Rovers have not only had a bid reject from Salford Red Devils for Robert Lui, but also from Widnes Vikings for Rhys Hanbury, League Weekly report. The 32-year-old has been a fan favourite at the Vikings for a number of years now and Dave Parker says he was told the reason why Widnes turned it down is because they are 800 season tickets down on last year and did not want to infuriate fans like they did last season, selling star player Kevin Brown to rivals Warrington Wolves. It looks like Hanbury will remain a Widnes player in 2018.

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