Rugby League Today: Final excitement, the envy of rugby league & Black History Month

catalans-fans-PA-55874728 — Photo: Clementz Michel/Maxppp/PA Images

What’s on site

It was a storyful weekend of Challenge Cup action, as Salford reached their first final for 51 years with a late win over Warrington.

And Leeds produced a masterclass in wet weather rugby to upset Wigan in the other semi-final, to set up a Wembley date on October 17.

Catalans breezed past Wakefield in Super League on Sunday, the third time they have beaten Trinity since the restart in front of 5,000 fans in Perpignan, who are surely the envy of all rugby league supporters right now.

Wigan’s recent gesture to Rob Burrow, where players wore special embroidered shirts with a personal word in tribute to the Leeds legend, has raised £16,500 for the Rob Burrow fund.

We caught up with Warriors youngster Kai Pearce-Paul after he made his debut in the Super League defeat to St Helens last week.

Have a go at this one on your lunch break or your way home – how many Super League Dream Team players can you name since the competition started in 1996?

What’s on social

A contender to lead Salford out at Wembley, perhaps?

I’d be delighted to make a generous donation to @SalfordDevils to allow my Grandad, John Wilkinson, long-serving club Chairman the chance to attend @TheChallengeCup final.

— Ryan Wilkinson (@RyanWilky91) October 4, 2020

It will sure be a special occasion, sadly without fans.

Would be magnificent if not only could Rob Burrow lead out the Rhinos at Wembley but Mose Masoe could present the trophy #rugbyleague #stories

— Phil Caplan (@scratchingshed2) October 4, 2020

Rugby league is doing its bit for Black History Month.

The first black captain of a national team in Great Britain and revered on both sides of Hull's rugby league divide.

As part of #BlackHistoryMonth we celebrate the life and career of Clive Sullivan.

👇👇👇

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) October 4, 2020

Here are the details from Super League’s announcement on Friday.

Betfred Super League to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth

READ 👉 https://t.co/AqBfjn3Bkx pic.twitter.com/JDk5zeM6GN

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 2, 2020

What’s in the papers

The Police and the NRL are investigating the extraordinary allegations in The Australian newspaper over the weekend about Sam Burgess, who has since resigned from his roles with South Sydney Rabbitohs and as a TV pundit Down Under, reports The Guardian.

Hull Live have had a go at explaining why Hull’s play-off hopes aren’t yet over, especially after their win over Castleford on Thursday.

Birthdays

Toulouse forward Joe Bretherton turns 25 today (October 5).

Also celebrating: former Hull KR forward Jason Netherton (38); ex-Celtic Crusader Adam Peek (43).

What’s on TV/radio

Not a jot.

Trivia

Leeds have now reached 26 Challenge Cup finals – winning 13 and losing 12, while Salford have won just one of their seven previous final appearances.

I like the idea of Rob Burrow and Mose Masoe perhaps jointly awarding the trophy to the winning side at Wembley. As much to honour them as the winning side, and also to Rugby League in general, we’re a sport of the people, the sport grew out of class oppression, we’ve endured and continue to endure a one-sided war of hostility, bigotry, and hatred from the Establishment and the RFU. One hundred and twenty five years of the sport and still the BBC in every single commentary talks about “if you’re new to the sport of Rugby League”, they do this for no other sport. For all of this and more, I’d like to see heroes of Rugby League, those who are fighting tremendous battles, have overcome terrible adversity, shown undying love for the sport, for them to hand over the trophies! Find the oldest and longest serving season ticket holder, the unsung hero who irons the kit, the groundskeeper who lovingly tends the pitches, the scouts who’ve unearthed world beaters, Legends of the game, an ordinary fan from the terraces, a steward who has attended hundreds of games and not seen a minute as they’re in the car park, let’s have these people picked to award the trophies, not an ex Royal who’s a Union fan, not some Z list celebrity, not some politician on a jolly, real people who do something for the game! I’ll get off my soapbox and have a cup of tea now.

Eric T Cat
5th October 2020 at 9:46 AM

I like the idea of Rob Burrow and Mose Masoe perhaps jointly awarding the trophy to the winning side at Wembley. As much to honour them as the winning side, and also to Rugby League in general, we’re a sport of the people, the sport grew out of class oppression, we’ve endured and continue to endure a one-sided war of hostility, bigotry, and hatred from the Establishment and the RFU. One hundred and twenty five years of the sport and still the BBC in every single commentary talks about “if you’re new to the sport of Rugby League”, they do this for no other sport. For all of this and more, I’d like to see heroes of Rugby League, those who are fighting tremendous battles, have overcome terrible adversity, shown undying love for the sport, for them to hand over the trophies! Find the oldest and longest serving season ticket holder, the unsung hero who irons the kit, the groundskeeper who lovingly tends the pitches, the scouts who’ve unearthed world beaters, Legends of the game, an ordinary fan from the terraces, a steward who has attended hundreds of games and not seen a minute as they’re in the car park, let’s have these people picked to award the trophies, not an ex Royal who’s a Union fan, not some Z list celebrity, not some politician on a jolly, real people who do something for the game! I’ll get off my soapbox and have a cup of tea now.