Rugby League Today: Hardaker out, Austin in for GB, Sonny Bill official & wingers on the move
What’s on site
Blake Austin will make his Great Britain debut against New Zealand after being drafted in on the wing in place of the injured Zak Hardaker.
Toronto are already reaping the rewards from their sensational signing of Sonny Bill Williams, with them set to become one of the first club sides to face Australia in more than two decades.
He’s dominated the headlines all week, and last night, Sonny Bill Williams was officially confirmed as a Toronto and Super League player.
Wigan winger Tom Davies has left the DW Stadium to sign a two-year deal with Catalans, following in the foot steps of Sam and Joel Tomkins, Michael McIlorum and Lewis Tierney.
Winger Greg Johnson has left Salford to drop down to the Championship with Bradford.
The latest Rugby League Lunch Hour podcast is now available.
Ben Barba is set to make his rugby league return this weekend. He was banned by the NRL earlier this year on the eve of the season.
What’s on social
Cannot wait for this one…
? We will host one of the three prestigious Tests between England and Australia at our new stadium during next year's Rugby League Ashes series. ??????? ??#RLAshes ⚪️ #THFC
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 7, 2019
How much longer can Bradford fans be expected to put up with this?
New directors of Bradford confirmed on Companies House: Sandra Wood and Mark Kilgallon listed, but nobody else – just a ‘BBBBB Ltd’. That’s one way of hiding who’s really involved, but it hardly screams transparency to supporters pic.twitter.com/J9cVasfcVs
— Aaron Bower (@AaronBower) November 7, 2019
Well…
The marquee signing Australian, pre-season Man of Steel favourite, stand-off Blake Austin is to make his Great Britain debut on the wing on Saturday. You'd have got good odds on that at the start of the season.
— James Gordon (@jdgsport) November 8, 2019
This would fit in well in Yorkshire…
Matt Prior raises eyebrows by rocking up to Sharks pre-season training in hotted up VL Commodore#NRL #RugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/6xf2IV3WOS
— The Roast (@thenrlroast) November 7, 2019
What’s in the papers
There’s an in-depth feature with Alex Walmsley in The Guardian, as the St Helens prop discusses his unprecedented recovery from injury to reach the Great Britain tour.
Semi Radradra is the latest big name to be linked with Toronto Wolfpack, this time in the Sun.
In Wigan Today, there’s an explanation from Wigan surrounding the departure of winger Tom Davies, just a year in to a five-year deal.
Birthdays
Papua New Guinea international Watson Boas, who has recently joined Doncaster from Featherstone, turns 25 today (November 8th).
Also celebrating: ex-Salford half-back Jack Littlejohn (28); former Leeds and New Zealand full-back Brent Webb (39); Widnes and Kiwi legend Kurt Sorensen (63)
Trivia
Mal Meninga played his last ever game of rugby league on the 1994 Kangaroo Tour, in the 74=0 win over France in Beziers.