RL Today: Wigan’s Brad O’Neill sees ban reduced & Hirst comeback delayed until 2023
Brad O’Neill sees ban reduced
Wigan hooker Brad O’Neill successfully challenged a Match Review Panel decision and saw his initial two match suspension for Grade C contact with a match official downgraded to Grade B. His suspensions therefore has been reduced to one match.
He will miss the club’s clash against Warrington this Friday.
Alex Foster loses appeal
Meanwhile, Newcastle Thunder’s Alex Foster remains suspended for eight matches after losing his appeal. The former Super League forward was handed the lengthy suspension for a Grade F charge for assaulting a match official.
Greek Rugby League gains official recognition
After a ten year fight for recognition as a distinct and separate sport, the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and their General Secretariat of Sports has formally announced that rugby league has the right to be played in the country.
The Greek Rugby League Federation can now legally play matches.
Greece are set to play in this year’s World Cup in England.
Keegan Hirst return delayed
Rugby league registration rules means Keegan Hirst won’t return to the field for Batley Bulldogs this season. (Examiner Live)
Hirst, 34, announced he would come out of retirement to join the Championship club for the rest of the season. He said the decision to continue his career was to “help with visibility and inclusion” in rugby league. However, his return to the field will now have to wait until 2023.
Off-contract Dream XIII
There are still more than 80 players in Super League out of contract at the end of the season so just for a bit of fun, we’ve made a Dream XIII out of them.
FULL LIST: Every Super League player out of contract at end of 2022
Summer Bash suffers new low
The summer event moved to the home of Leeds Rhinos for the first time this year.
Saturday saw a crowd of 6,752 – much thanks to the final game between promotion-chasers Leigh Centurions and Featherstone Rovers.
Sunday registered an official crowd of 4,011 – which is the second lowest day in any year of the event.
Birthdays
Former rugby league superstar and dual-code international Sonny Bill Williams turns 37 today (August 3).
Also celebrating: Toulouse head coach Sylvain Houles (41), Sheffield back-rower Bayley Liu (26) and Hull FC youngster Aidan Burrell (19).
Trivia
Half-back Dec Patton needs just one appearance to reach 150 for his career.