RL Today: Featherstone victims of robbery & Castleford’s Westerman selection call 

Josh McAllister
Featherstone Post Office Road. News Images

Featherstone victim of robbery

Championship club Featherstone have been the victims of a robbery at the stadium earlier this week.

The club are urgently seeking any information that could help them resolve the situation that has seen them lose thousands of pounds worth of equipment.

Castleford’s Westerman selection call

Castleford are left with a decision to play starting loose forward Joe Westerman for the club’s opening game against Hull FC on Sunday. (Yorkshire Live)

Yorkshire Live has reported that the 33-year-old trained with the squad on Monday.

He was handed a “substantial” fine by the club and ordered to do community service following a video that was shared online.

Penrith duo out of World Club Challenge

NRL champions Penrith Panthers will be without duo Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin for their World Club Challenge tie with St Helens. (Canberra Times)

The Panthers decided not to risk the pair ahead of the NRL season, with both recovering from respective injuries. Meanwhile, star players Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and captain Isaah Yeo have been named for the clash. 

Tee Ritson leaves selection headache

Tee Ritson has given St Helens head coach Paul Wellens a selection headache ahead of their clash with Penrith according to Paul Sculthorpe. (St Helens Star)

The talented winger, on loan from Barrow for the 2023 campaign, scored in the pre-season friendly win over St George Illawarra Dragons.

Wellens wrote in his St Helens Star column: “Tee Ritson has certainly made an impact since his arrival on a year-long loan from Barrow.

“The Thailand-born speedster proved yet again that you don’t have to come through an academy system to make it in the top-flight.

“He will have certainly given Wello something to think about as he ponders his team to face the back-to-back NRL Premiers.”

Adam Hills compares coverage to having sex

Presenter and comedian Adam Hills has compared Channel 4’s inaugural season of covering Super League to like having sex. (Mirror)

Australian Hills, presenter of The Last Leg since 2012, fronted Channel 4’s coverage in 2022 and will do so again in the upcoming season, with their season kicking off on Saturday as Hull KR host Wigan.

Hills told the Mirror: “Covering Super League for us is a bit like having sex. Last year we did it for the first time, we didn’t really know what we were doing but we had fun. This year hopefully we will get a bit better at it!”

League 1 fixture to be streamed live

Cornwall RLFC’s opening League 1 tie against Midlands Hurricanes will be streamed live by The Sportsman this Sunday.

It will also be the first competitive fixture for Midlands Hurricanes at their new ground at the Alexander Stadium – the venue for last year’s Commonwealth Games.

The coverage starts at 2:45pm, with the game kicking off at 3pm.

Birthdays

Former St George Illawarra, Newcastle Knights and Widnes forward Chris Houston turns 38 today (February 15).

Also celebrating; Barrow’s Jarrod Sammut (36), ex-NRL prop Tim Mannah (35), Featherstone full-back Mark Kheirallah (33), ex-Italy and Huddersfield prop Shannon Wakeman (33), Batley forward Adam Gledhill (30) and Dolphins prop JJ Collins (27)

Trivia

No current Penrith Panthers player has previously featured in a World Club Challenge.

Verdict: Another disappointing Sky Sports rugby league promo

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