Rugby League Today: Newcastle’s Super League bid, Wayne Bennett in quarantine & happy birthday to a legend
What’s on site
We catch up with Warrington forward Joe Philbin on life outside of rugby and his new business venture.
Widnes have signed Castleford forward Matt Cook for the 2021 season.
Blake Green is set for his Newcastle Knights debut this weekend – read all about what to expect in the NRL with our weekly preview.
It’s been the big talking point of the week – and now Sky Sports presenter Barrie McDermott has said that Israel Folau got it wrong by not taking the knee ahead of the Super League restart at the weekend.
What’s on social
If you don’t follow rugby league historian Tony Collins on Twitter, you ought to.
Starting tomorrow until publication on 29 August, I’ll tweet a daily quote from ‘Rugby League: A People’s History’ to tell the story of the sport in the words of the people who made it (and some that didn’t). You can pre-order the book here: https://t.co/uoyuQqo2LH pic.twitter.com/0cFwZcTiVy
— Tony Collins (@collinstony) July 31, 2020
M62 sport.
We are happy to announce our new name, our new branding and our new Provincial Masters team. We've changed this to reflect our evolution as a league and bring a new era of League to BC. You can find the full details of our Press Release here: https://t.co/P7MrSgidPo pic.twitter.com/llpgTFMc01
— Rugby League BC (@RugbyLeagueBC) August 3, 2020
Suppose it’ll depend on who wins it…
Ok #rugbyleague fans, with the first full round after the break coming this weekend, lets get this sorted nice and early…
With everything thats happened this year, will you be ‘counting’ the 2020 @superleague title?
Vote and RT.— Max Holland (@MaxHolland18) August 5, 2020
What’s in the papers
Newcastle Thunder have launched an audacious bid to replace Toronto Wolfpack in Super League, according to a report in the i newspaper. Thunder could buy out the struggling Wolfpack and take their place in Super League.
Toronto are facing legal action from players who are due pay, according to The Mirror. The players’ union has asked for a decision on Toronto’s future to be delayed while the players get their issues resolved.
Former England coach Wayne Bennett must stay in quarantine for 14 days, after the South Sydney Rabbitohs coach admitted dining out, a breach of the NRL’s coronavirus protocols. He will miss their game against his former side Brisbane on Friday night.
Hull KR coach Tony Smith says in The Sun, he hopes his players learn lessons from the NRL, ahead of their return to action at the weekend.
Wakefield have confirmed the departure of George King, reports the Yorkshire Post, but still have five other players whose futures remain uncertain.
Birthdays
Great Britain and Wigan legend Billy Boston celebrates his 86th birthday today (August 6).
🍾 PENBLWYDD HAPUS / HAPPY BIRTHDAY from #WalesRL to Billy Boston who's 8⃣6⃣ today.
👏 This vid shows just one of his 5⃣7⃣1⃣ #rugbyleague tries! No other Brit has scored more.@WiganWarriorsRL @NeathRugby @ciacsRFC @PontypriddRFC and GB international
👉 https://t.co/8dljj2j254 pic.twitter.com/1lI2o5fGmz
— Wales Rugby League (@WalesRugbyL) August 6, 2020
Also celebrating: Wigan and Great Britain centre Oliver Gildart (24); ex-Huddersfield and Wakefield forward Troy Slattery (47);
What’s on TV/radio
10.50am – Live NRL: St George-Illawarra v Sydney Roosters – Watch NRL
Jon Wilkin is the guest on this week’s BBC 5 Live Rugby League podcast, talking about the Toronto fall out and his career.
Trivia
Billy Boston scored a total of 571 tries in his career, making him the second highest try scorer in rugby league history.