Rugby League Today: Clubs snubbed for reserves, Kelly blow & Burgess isn’t dirty
What’s on site
Warrington have confirmed the signing of two-time Super League champion Matty Smith on loan from Catalans.
Wakefield have made their second signing of the week, bringing in Chris Green on loan from Hull, while they have also recalled winger Lee Kershaw from Oldham.
The fall-out from the battle of Perpignan continues, with referee James Child demoted back to the Championship for the weekend, where he will take charge of Widnes against Toulouse.
Meanwhile, the RFL have appointed an independent investigator to look at the incidents of the weekend.
We’ve put together a list of six things we think rugby league should scrap – got any others?
Match winner Danny McGuire is in the latest Super League Team of the Week.
What’s on social
At least two League 1 clubs have been told they will not be able to run reserve teams next season in the revamped Championship.
Without yet seeing the RFL's confirmation or reasons for this decision, this is a devastating blow to Keighley given their admirable commitment to running a reserve team amid huge obstacles in recent years. Sometimes the sport seems to put baffling barriers in front of people https://t.co/N1ZXa7tJhR
— Gareth Walker (@garethwalker) August 6, 2019
Oldham continue to drive their sign-ups to OuRLeague. They say they are 12th out of 26 clubs, with 1,581 registered members. The top League 1 club has 2,023 signed-up.
Oldham's #OURLEAGUE membership continues to grow but the club are keen to encourage all supporters, old and new, to join up https://t.co/vmiQ9HkYWb#Roughyeds #OURLEAGUE #VM
— Oldham RLFC (@Roughyeds) August 6, 2019
Fair play.
How good did the boys look rocking the poppy shirt against Castleford at the weekend ??#HullKR #RugbyLeague #RoversFamily #MatchWorn ?⚪ pic.twitter.com/l7ezM2ZSkQ
— Hull KR Shirts (@HullKRShirts) August 6, 2019
What’s in the papers
Hull’s end of season run-in has been dealt a blow with an injury to stand-off Albert Kelly, reports Hull Live.
Sam Burgess says he is not a dirty player, having copped some flak Down Under this week for his increasing charge sheet at the NRL judiciary over the years.
Catalans-bound James Maloney is hoping to make history before making the switch to the northern hemisphere, as he aims to become the first player to play for four different clubs in Australian Grand Finals.
Kenny Edwards will face a tribunal for inciting crowd trouble at the recent Catalans-Warrington game, and that’s caught the eye of The Guardian.
Birthdays
Castleford back-rower Oliver Holmes turns 27 today.
Also celebrating: Love Rugby League editor James Gordon (31); ex-Oxford and Germany international Andrew Hoggins (31); former Serbia international Radoslav Novakovic (41).
What’s on TV/radio
1pm – Super League Show – BBC Two
4pm – NRL Try Time – Sky Sports Arena
9.30pm – Rugby AM – Free Sports
Trivia
Five players with the surname Green have played in Super League – Blake, Brett, Chris, James and Toby. There have also been five Greenwoods (Brandon, Gareth, James, Joe, Lee), a Greenhill (Craig) and a Greenshields (Clint).