RL Today: Niall Evalds facing time out & two Championship departures

Steven Hughes
Niall Evalds Castleford

Niall Evalds needs surgery on bicep injury

Castleford Head Coach Lee Radford has confirmed Niall Evalds will need surgery on a bicep injury.

Evalds picked up the injury during their win over Leeds on Easter Monday. He then missed their win over St Helens.

St Helens could welcome back key trio

St Helens Head Coach Kristian Woolf says the club could welcome back Sione Mata’utia, Will Hopoate and Regan Grace for Friday’s match against Salford.

He told the pre-match press conference: “Will will 100-per-cent be back, Sione will 100-per-cent be back as well. Regan is a possibility at this stage, but not a definite.”

Ryan Hall backs former teammate to be a success at Leeds

Hull KR winger Ryan Hall has backed former teammate Zak Hardaker to be success following his return to Leeds. (Yorkshire Evening Post).

Hall told Yorkshire Evening Post:”It’s not going to happen overnight but he’s first up against us and we’ll see how it goes.

“He’s an England international and won the Man of Steel at Leeds. He’s a very dangerous player and makes any team a more dangerous side.”

Leigh sign former Salford forward

Leigh Centurions have signed former Salford Red Devils prop Ben Nakubuwai until the end of the 2022 Championship season.

Read More: Leigh Centurions sign former Salford Red Devils prop

Two Head Coaches depart Championship clubs

Bradford Bulls have announced the departure of John Kear from the club following Monday’s defeat to Featherstone.

Read More: Six Potential candidates to become Bradford Bulls Head Coach

As well as that, Widnes announced the departure of their Head Coach Simon Finnigan as well. He leaves the club after a run of six straight defeats in all competitions.

Konrad Hurrell to make NRL return

Love Rugby League understands that St Helens centre Konrad Hurrell will return to the NRL for the 2023 season.

The Tonga international looks set to join NRL’s newest side in the Dolphins for their inaugural season in 2023. The Dolphins will compete as the NRL’s 17th side next season under head coach Wayne Bennett.

Birthdays

Former South Sydney and Widnes centre Shane Wilson turns 50 today. (27th April).

Also celebrating; former Salford and Hull half-back Daniel Holdsworth (38), former Hull KR, Wakefield and London forward Mitch Allgood (33), Canterbury forward Luke Thompson (27) and North Queensland forward Peter Hola (23).

Trivia

Zak Hardaker won the Man of Steel with Leeds in 2015, as the Rhinos lifted the treble. No team has done it since.

Disciplinary: Jack Cogger has ban increased on appeal

Features Ben Nakubuwai