Rugby League Today: Makinson’s video nasty, Saints still the team to beat & classy Wigan

What’s on site

Wigan are top of Super League after beating Leeds 28-10 on Sunday night.

Champions St Helens still look like the team to beat though, keeping a clean sheet for the second successive week in beating Castleford 10-0.

Unfortunate Huddersfield lost by a single point for the second game running, as Blake Austin’s drop goal earned Warrington a 19-18 win.

The only blow out of the weekend was in its first game, as Catalans ran in 10 tries in thumping Wakefield 58-0.

The Lebanon rugby league has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the people affected by the explosions in Beirut.

What’s on social

Plenty of examples of classy gestures from Wigan over the years, here are a couple of favourites:

A man by the name of Matt Barton recently contacted us to say his neighbour, ex-pat and former Wigan player Jim Hooper (HN 564) was heading down from Brisbane for our game today. We couldn’t let the opportunity pass without meeting Jim and presenting him with his very own jersey. pic.twitter.com/IKD1uHPfEY

— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) February 17, 2018

🎂We'd like to wish a very happy 100th birthday to lifelong Wigan fan Mrs Hilda Mason! There is no way to fully reward such lasting support, but we tried our best by having @JoeBurgess1 and Exec Director Kris Radlinski deliver a very special shirt on her big day! 🍒⚪️ pic.twitter.com/nzCjvZw9NK

— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) August 24, 2018

Unsavoury incident in the NRL over the weekend.

That position is common and players lying to get people sent off needs to stop. Shaun Johnson needs to be banned for false claims what else can u do when someone’s forearm is in your mouth, farrah got mcgilvary banned in World Cup too with the same thing, absolute grub tactics https://t.co/7urXu7VfsD

— Tom Spencer (@TSpenner8) August 16, 2020

Shaun Wane’s on Twitter. This was tweet number four.

Congrats to James Roby on achieving 500 games today. A great competitor and a great bloke. To play such a physical game like Rugby League in the middle of the field and play consistently well for 500 games is absolutely outstanding. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #rugbyleague #500games #jamesroby

— Shaun Wane (@Shaun_waney) August 16, 2020

What’s in the papers

Tommy Makinson was placed on report for inappropriate contact with Castleford’s Liam Watts on Sunday, reports The Sun.

Sonny Bill Williams has started training with Sydney Roosters, reports The Guardian, ahead of his high-profile return to the NRL.

St Helens prop Alex Walmsley tells the Daily Star he is happy where he is, amidst reports linking him with a move to the NRL and Canterbury Bulldogs.

Birthdays

New Zealand international Dallin Watene-Zelezniak turns 25 today (August 17).

Also celebrating: Kiwi and Cook Islands centre Esan Marsters (24); Featherstone utility Jack Bussey (28); Toulouse stand-off Jonathan Ford (31).

What’s on TV/radio

Super League Show is on BBC One (if you’re in the north, that is) at 10 past midnight.

Trivia

Wigan and Leeds have now met 75 times in Super League since its inception in 1996 – with the Warriors winning 42, with four draws and 29 Leeds wins.