RL Today: NRL half-back rejects Toulouse Olympique, Jarryd Hayne wins appeal & Danny Ward plots coaching return
NRL half-back rejects Toulouse Olympique
NRL half-back Sam Williams has rejected a move to Toulouse Olympique. (Examiner Live)
Toulouse Olympique are still on the look out for a replacement for Johnathon Ford, who left the side on the eve of the 2022 Super League season.
The new Super League side fell to a 42-14 defeat to Huddersfield in their opening game of the season at home.
Jarryd Hayne wins appeal
Jarryd Hayne has won an appeal against his sexual assault convictions (BBC)
The former Australian star was found guilty of attacking a 26-year-old woman in her New South Wales house on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final.
He was jailed for a maximum of five years and nine months last May.
But the state’s court of criminal appeal has quashed his convictions and ordered a retrial.
Tony Smith praises forward on debut
Hull KR coach Tony Smith has praised forward Frankie Halton, who made his debut against Wigan. (Hull Daily Mail)
The former Swinton and Featherstone back-rower made his first appearance from the bench on Friday night.
Derrell Olpherts tells fans not to panic
Castleford winger Derrell Olpherts has told fans to be patient with his side following their opening defeat to Salford. (Yorkshire Evening Post)
The winger scored two tries as Tigers fell to a 26-16 defeat to Paul Rowley’s side in front of a sell-out home crowd.
Impressive Channel 4 figures
Channel 4 and their opening Super League game between Leeds and Warrington received impressing viewing figures on Saturday afternoon.
The 12:30pm kick-off clash saw an average audience of of 531,000. It had a peak audience of 735,000.
For comparison the Man Utd match on BT Sport at same time averaged 642,000 and the Chelsea match later on Channel 4 averaged 1.1 million. Roughly 200k would be a very good Super League figure on Sky. https://t.co/Ganf20T1nz
— RugbyLeagueonTV.com (@rugbyleagueontv) February 13, 2022
Danny Ward plots coaching return
Former London Broncos head coach Danny Ward is eyeing up his return to coaching. (Examiner Live)
Ward is open to a return to either league or a career in rugby union.
He hasn’t coached since leaving the Broncos mid-way through the 2021 campaign.
Birthdays
Former player and coach Brian Noble celebrates his 61st birthday today (February 14).
Also celebrating: Former Newcastle Knights, Huddersfield and Sydney Roosters Women coach Rick Stone (55), former NRL and Super League player Vincent Anderson (43), ex-Super League centre Chris Nero (41) and former forward Lee Jewitt (35).
Trivia
Three teams remain unbeaten in the Championship three games in – Widnes, Featherstone and Barrow. The Vikings sit at the top of the table on points difference.
READ MORE: Championship round-up: Widnes remain top of table, Barrow stun Newcastle & first Dewsbury victory