RL Today: Toulouse star wants to stay & Hastings’ World Cup hopes
Jackson Hastings in action for Great Britain in 2019 | Photo: Jeremy Ward/www.photosport.nz/SWpix
Hastings’ World Cup hopes
Wests Tigers star Jackson Hastings still has hopes of representing England at the World Cup despite currently being sidelined with a broken leg. (Fox Sports)
The former Man of Steel suffered a broken leg last month, but is currently on track to be fit to play in the World Cup, which is held in England.
Hastings told The Fox League Podcast: “I’m three weeks post operation. I got told there was a 12-week recovery back to full fitness but there’s a World Cup at the end of the year so I begged the doctor to put me in a moon boot and aim for 10 weeks. At the moment, all going well, we are on target for that.”
Hastings was born and raised in Australia but qualifies to play for England through his grandmother. He won four caps for Great Britain on their tour of the southern hemisphere in 2019.
Toulouse star wants to stay
Toulouse centre Guy Armitage is out of contract at the end of the season – but he has indicated he wants to remain in the south of France next year. (The Guardian)
Armitage, who was 27 when he crossed codes to rugby league, told The Guardian: “We’re talking and it should be sorted pretty soon.”
Hull recruitment update
Hull coach Brett Hodgson hasn’t ruled out making more signings ahead of next season (Hull Live)
The Black and Whites have already signed Brad Dwyer, Tex Hoy, Jake Trueman and Liam Sutcliffe for 2023 onwards. Hodgson told Hull Live: “It’s difficult to say at this stage (whether more new players will be arriving) but we are always working on ways where we can evolve and improve the squad. We’ve got conversations ongoing.”
Warrington wanted to keep Mulhern
Warrington coach Daryl Powell has revealed he would liked to have kept prop Robbie Mulhern beyond this season (Warrington Guardian)
The Ireland World Cup hopeful will depart the Wolves when his contract expires at the end of the season. Powell told Warrington Guardian: “Rob was one we made an offer to, but it ended up not quite working out for him in terms of what we offered and we moved on. Rob’s been really good and one thing I’d say is that he’s been a class fella all the way through.”
New World Cup mascot
Meet RugBee – the Rugby League World Cup’s new mascot!
🐝 What else could it bee?
Our Mascot Challenge received over 2,000 entries but one idea perfectly represented all the teamwork and determination needed in rugby league.
We're buzzing to show the world RugBee, RLWC2021’s new mascot!
More: https://t.co/ecKKY8H6ir#RLWC2021 pic.twitter.com/di20rhKHC1
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) August 24, 2022
Graham turns down England role
England legend James Graham has decided to turn down a role on Shaun Wane’s backroom staff for the upcoming World Cup because he feels he wouldn’t do the job justice. (Yorkshire Live)
Graham told Yorkshire Live: “I don’t have enough runs on the board in a coaching capacity to give Shaun Wane what he needs.”
Birthdays
Papua New Guinea legend and Leigh coach Adrian Lam turns 52 today (August 25).
Also celebrating; ex-Huddersfield and Wakefield hooker Brad Drew (47) and former France international Aaron Wood (38).
Trivia
Leigh winger Krisnan Inu is currently the Championship’s top points scorer with 306 so far. Meanwhile, bottom-club Workington have scored 260 points in total.
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