Rugby League Today: New stadiums, Win signed England shirt & NRL kicks-off
What’s on site
You can win a signed England shirt in our latest competition with Batchelors Mushy Peas.
The end could finally be in sight for Castleford’s stadium ambitions to come to fruition – a target date of 2022 has now been set up for the community stadium as part of the AXIOM development at Glasshoughton.
The NRL kicks-off this morning, and we’ve had a look at 13 players to keep an eye on. There are three games live on Sky Sports this weekend.
Super League takes us to Huddersfield this Thursday night, as the Giants look to repeat their win over Wigan last week against last season’s League Leaders’ Shield winners St Helens. Read the preview.
There’s more on what non-Super League clubs are having to do to earn their central funding as they face an uncertain time ahead of the next broadcast deal.
And Garry Schofield is the guest on the latest Final Hooter podcast.
What’s on social
You wait for one stadium for ages and then two come along at once? Apparently so, as Wakefield take a positive step to their new ground coming to fruition.
Council approves £3.15million loan to Wakefield Trinity to buy freehold Belle Vue stadium and surrounding areas. Club says its the 1st stage in their redevelopment plans. https://t.co/W4SOwkzIAO @WTrinityRL #rugbyleague pic.twitter.com/1sNRSBvbcX
— Wakefield Council (@MyWakefield) March 13, 2019
Armchair referees, you know what to do…
Do you have what it takes to be a Rugby League Match Official? Check out our upcoming course in Leeds ?https://t.co/o6kyX3tkCY pic.twitter.com/EXOew7RKFw
— RFL Referees (@RFLReferees) March 13, 2019
Enjoyed this tweet from our friends at Forty20 following the Challenge Cup draw
ICYMI: The 4th round draw for @TheChallengeCup has been made…#RugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/UI1yfj3VPG
— Forty20LIVE (@Forty20LIVE) March 12, 2019
What’s in the papers
Adam Walker is now free to play rugby league again, for new club Salford, following the end of his two-year drugs ban, and there’s a nice feature interview with him in The Sun.
There’s a very interesting piece with Barrow chairman Steven Neale in the North West Evening Mail, which reveals some worrying details surrounding the Summer Bash, 1895 Cup and Challenge Cup sponsor.
Hull KR held a fans forum on Wednesday evening and amongst a load of interesting information, revealed that their season ticket sales are just shy of 6,000. Read full details on Hull Live.
Birthdays
Kiwi Awen Guttenbeil, who spent two seasons at Castleford including one in National League 1, is 43 today.
Also celebrating: old Bradford and Wakefield coach Brian Smith (65); ex-Scotland international winger Jonathan Steel (39); former Australia, Queensland, Canterbury, Parramatta and Hull playmaker Jason Smith (47)
What’s on TV/Radio
9am – LIVE NRL: Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos – Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
5pm – Rugby League Back Chat – FreeSports
7pm – LIVE Super League: Huddersfield Giants v St Helens – Sky Sports Main Event/Arena
The Final Hooter podcast by Love Rugby League’s Dave Parkinson and Adrian Jackson is now available to download.
The latest 5 Live Rugby League podcast is available to download now, presented by Dave Woods.
The Full Eighty Minutes podcast by Proper Sport is available to download now.
The Forty20 Rugby League podcast is available to download now.
The Total Rugby League Show is available to download now.
The Betfred League 1 podcast is available to listen now on the Our League channel.
Trivia
Two non-Super League sides are set to play at Wembley this year in the 1895 Cup final – the last current non-Super League side to play at Wembley were Sheffield Eagles, in their famous Challenge Cup final win over Wigan in 1998. Bradford have reached three cup finals since, but they were played in Edinburgh and Cardiff during the re-development of Wembley.