Paper Talk: Moves to welcome back fans, Maloney linked with NRL & the Cumbrian connection
We’ve had a flick through the morning papers.
Fixtures moved to welcome fans
More fixtures are set to be moved to Monday May 17 to enable fans to attend, reports League Express. Restrictions over attendances are lifted at midnight on the morning of May 17, and Leigh have already made the move to switch their derby against Wigan. Warrington’s home game with Huddersfield is also being lined up to move, while the Championship games between Bradford and Newcastle, and Swinton and Dewsbury, have already been moved.
Johnstone on Cumbrian connection
Some nice quotes from Cumbrian hooker Jordan Johnstone, also in League Express, who reveals the Kiwis at Hull have started to call him “marra”. He said: “All I wanted to do as a kid was play for Whitehaven. If there was ever a Cumbrian Super League franchise, of course I would be interested in playing for it. After every game you play against another Cumbrian, you have a conversation. Wherever theres a Cumbrian player in the opposition I always look out for him.”
The Super League billboards
Something you couldn’t avoid on the opening round of Super League was the sheer number of sponsor logos on the kits. In many ways, you have to praise the creativity of commercial teams in finding space for five separate logos, plus the club logo, on a pair of shorts. Let’s not even start on the shirts. As Jon Wilkin said in the latest Forty20 Magazine: “Could we find any more spots on rugby league shirts available for sponsorship of the cringe variety? ‘Sponsor the inner armpit of the Red Devils’ third kit for £19.75 ex VAT’?”
Richardson doubt for Castleford
Danny Richardson is facing a race against time to be fit for the weekend’s game against Leeds, reports the Yorkshire Evening Post. With Gareth O’Brien sidelined with concussion, hooker Paul McShane may have to step in as an emergency half-back. Coach Daryl Powell said: “Danny injured a wrist three or four weeks ago and he’s been in a cast.”
Maloney linked with NRL return
Reports Down Under have once again linked Catalans half-back James Maloney with a return to the NRL, this time with Sydney Roosters. He had to brush off speculation linking him to Brisbane last season and despite being on contract with the Dragons until the end of 2022, his name is being thrown around as the Roosters look to address the injuries suffered by Luke Keary and Lachlan Lam at the weekend. Fox Sports also reports that Jackson Hastings may request a release from Wigan on compassionate grounds to return to his family in Sydney.
Support rugby league in the media and subscribe to League Express, as well as checking out the regular coverage of the sport in The Mirror, The Sun, The Guardian and other national newspapers; the more you read, the more there’ll be.