RL Today: Jai Field heading to Wigan, game off due to COVID & Magic 9s?
There’ll just be the one game this Thursday night, with St Helens taking on Wakefield. It’ll be like just how life used to be. Just without fans, or the ability to invite your friends round to watch on TV. There’s news in the papers of Wigan’s new half-back for next season too, plus a Nines competition coming to Summer Bash and maybe even Magic Weekend.
What’s on site
Perhaps the most telling coronavirus outbreak of the Super League restart so far, as Wigan’s game with Catalans on Thursday night is postponed – leaving the prospect of the Dragons completing the 20-game season looking slim.
Could next year’s Magic Weekend be a Nines competition? That’s the speculation in this week’s gossip column.
Veteran forward Grant Millington will play in to a tenth year at Castleford after signing a new deal.
In a typically frustrating rugby league development, the French Federation has decided against adopting the six-again rule – which means France, Super League and the NRL are now all playing under different rules.
A welcome boost for Salford ahead of the cup final, as co-captains Mark Flanagan and Lee Mossop are cleared to play at Wembley.
Ryan Hall and Sonny Bill Williams have both left Sydney Roosters, and both will now be waiting to see what happens regarding the future of Toronto Wolfpack.
What’s on social
Give this a follow.
Please follow @BurrowSeven be part of this exciting adventure #RLFamily
— Barrie McDermott 🏉 (@RLBarrieMc10) October 14, 2020
We should all do one of these.
Dear Emma…@leedsrhinos and Great Britain star and @RugbyAM presenter Jamie Jones-Buchanan pens a special letter to his wife outlining why she's the most important person in his life.
Have you shared your gratitude? @TheRFL @SuperLeague @RLWC2021 #shareyourgratitude pic.twitter.com/uj8yr7uzMr
— RL Cares (@RLCares) October 14, 2020
Great to see so many young players getting their Super League chance.
Surreal feeling to make my @SuperLeague debut. Thanks to everyone @SalfordDevils for the opportunity. Dream come true 👹 pic.twitter.com/Kp8IgwN4SM
— Connor Aspey (@connor_aspey) October 13, 2020
Martin Offiah acknowledged by BT Sport for Black History Month.
– Scored over 500 tries
– Top try-scoring English player of all time
– Inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2013
– One of five rugby league legends immortalised in Wembley statueA king of the game 👑#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/pMXDgOiNMi
— BT Sport (@btsport) October 14, 2020
What’s in the papers
Australian half-back or full-back Jai Field has confirmed he is on his way to Wigan for 2021, in a report in the Aussie press. He told the South Coast Register: “Wigan is a very prestigious club in rugby league circles and I feel honoured to get the chance to pull on their jersey.” He will move on a two-year deal after leaving Parramatta.
In the Wigan Today report on the same news, they hint that Jackson Hastings is on his way out of Wigan at the end of the season, while Thomas Leuluai is yet to decide whether to play on.
Where does the St Helens team of 2006 rank alongside the all-time greats? St Helens Star poses the question as they look back on the successes of 14 years ago.
Birthdays
USA international Mark Offerdahl, who played for North Wales, London and Sheffield, turns 33 today (October 15).
Also celebrating: ex-Australia and Bradford man Daniel Gartner (48); Ian Sibbit (40); former Widnes captain Hep Cahill (34); Huddersfield prop Owen Trout (21).
What’s on TV/radio
7.45pm – Live Super League: St Helens v Wakefield – Sky Sports Arena
0:15am – Super League Show – BBC One
You can watch the Rob Burrow: My year with MND documentary on the BBC iPlayer
Trivia
Leeds have been in more Challenge Cup finals this century (eight) than Salford have been in their entire history (seven).