Rugby League Today: Mayor pushes for Burrow award, we got issues & streaming key for SL

James Gordon

A television camera ready to capture the action at the Totally Wicked Stadium

What’s on site

We’ve looked at a number of the issues being raised by rugby league fans as to why the game is struggling – and it remains to be seen if the warnings are heeded.

Salford’s future home still remains a mystery, though current stadium-mates Sale Sharks have said they won’t press on with plans to purchase the AJ Bell Stadium until the Red Devils have found somewhere to move to.

There’s plenty of player movement at the moment as clubs finalise their retention plans and players announce their intentions to move on or retire from the game – check out the latest gossip.

One player on the move is prop Greg Richards, who will leave London Broncos to join Hull KR. He is the second Broncos player to confirm their exit since the club announced it would be going part-time, following Matty Fozard’s move to Widnes.

The European Rugby League has revealed its strategy for the next four years, which includes more international competition.

What’s on social

Well said.

Some good news.

Hard to imagine just how tough it is for the custodians of these storied and proud clubs.

What’s in the papers

Wigan supremo Ian Lenagan has come out fighting this week, and makes an interesting point in Wigan Today about the possible impact Super League securing streaming rights could have on revenues. He said: “We’ve got the ability to put 10 games a year on terrestrial TV, we’ve got the ability of 65 other games which can be streamed – that’s an area we need to build in the next two years.”

Coventry chief Alan Robinson has warned the upcoming central funding cuts could kill off rugby league in the Midlands, in an open and honest interview in The Mirror. He said: “This sort of blow is catastrophic, there’s no way to sugar coat it or beat around the bush. I don’t want to be negative because I’m not that sort of person, but it’s extremely frustrating when this is happening to such a new club doing everything the right way.”

Castleford assistant Ryan Sheridan has opened up about his battle with COVID, saying he was in bed for two weeks. He told the Yorkshire Post: “The scary thing for me was that my brother had it and he came within hours of dying. That’s what was in the back of my mind; I was really conscious of that. It was difficult.”

Birthdays

Well-travelled former Leeds, Hull and Sydney Roosters utility back Jordan Tansey turns 35 today (September 9).

Also celebrating: New Zealand’s England heartbreaker Shaun Johnson (31); Astralian forward Shannon Boyd (29); Halifax winger Zack McComb (26).

What’s on TV/radio

Nothing, sadly.

Trivia

Newly-crowned Championship League Leaders Toulouse were founded in 1937 and have won the French Championship six times, most recently in 2015.

Features Ian Lenagan