Rugby League Today: Folau keen on Catalans stay, Bateman to leave Canberra & Sonny Bill’s test return

Correspondent

A wrap up of the latest news in rugby league.

What’s on site

We look back at the time when Australian dual-code legend Wendell Sailor came close to joining Wigan. Imagine if he made the move to Super League!

Wayne Godwin is our latest guest on My Set of Six. He talks Terry Newton, representing his town of Castleford and his wish for the future of rugby league.

We have revisited 2005 when Wests Tigers won the NRL Grand Final. Benji Marshall, Scott Prince, Brett Hodgson and Pat Richards were phenomenal that year.

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus says the sport has to look at every way of cutting costs – and believes playing multiple games at one venue could be done.

The RFL has set up two working groups with Championship and League 1 clubs to explore playing opportunities in 2020.

What’s in the papers

Catalans would like to retain Israel Folau for next season and Dragons owner Bernard Guasch believes Folau is interested in staying, reports L’Independant.

Sonny Bill Williams opens discussions over a test comeback with New Zealand, reports The Sun.

Canberra prop Luke Bateman will take some time away from the game after battling a knee injury for the past year, reports The Canberra Times.

Sky Sports to agree to honour the remainder of their £40m-a-year TV contract with the Super League to allow clubs to complete the season behind closed doors, reports Daily Mail.

Leeds half-back Luke Gale reveals his personal Super League Dream Team, reports Yorkshire Evening Post.

What’s on social

Who am I?

The Serbian league will return on June 6 – and Red Star Belgrade’s games are streamed!

What’s on TV/Radio

Our partners at Football365 have made a cool YouTube channel. Check it out!

Super League Retro: Huddersfield v Leeds from 2015 – Sky Sports Arena (8pm)

Former Super League and NRL forward Keith Mason is this week’s guest on The Last Tackle. He talks about his switch to the NRL at 20 as well as his new rugby comic – Rugby Blood.

Super League’s Out Of Your League podcast is back, featuring Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan.

Sky Sports’ Golden Point podcast is available to download now.

Podcast: The Final Hooter #4 – featuring rugby league royalty Ellery Hanley.

The latest Forty20 LIVE podcast is out now.

The latest 5 Live Rugby League Podcast is out now, hosted by Dave Woods.

Birthdays

Wests Tigers winger or full-back Corey Thompson turns 30 today.

Also celebrating; Hull FC prop Masi Matongo (24), London prop Rob Butler (22) and London half-back James Meadows (21).

Trivia

Wigan hold the record for longest winning run of league matches and longest unbeaten run of league matches with 31 – last 8 matches of 1969-70 and first 23 of 1970-71.

Hull won all of their 26 Division Two matches in 1978-79 while Huddersfield were unbeaten in their 28 Northern Ford Premiership matches in 2001-02, but drew one match.

Watch our Last Tackle podcast, featuring a guest, every week. SUBSCRIBE to Love Rugby League on YouTube.

Listen to The Final Hooter podcast, featuring exclusive interviews, every week. SUBSCRIBE to Love Rugby League on Apple Podcasts.

More on site

Throwback: When Wendell Sailor nearly joined Wigan

My Set of Six: with Wayne Godwin featuring Terry Newton & representing town of Castleford

Features Barrow Raiders