Rugby League Today: Ottawa latest, new podcast & Cas in the clear

James Gordon

What’s on site

Castleford have been cleared to play in the Women’s Challenge Cup final, despite being found to have played an ineligible player in their semi-final thumping of Wakefield.

One of the women they will go up against, Leeds half-back Courtney Hill, is one of the guests on the latest Final Hooter Podcast.

There’s chatter on Ottawa and Championship expansion in the latest Off the Record gossip column.

There was a bonus Paper Talk too, as Justin Holbrook and Adrian Lam pulled no punches in telling the press what they thought about the Saints-Wigan game not being televised.

The State of Mind tent will be present at the League One game between Oldham and North Wales Crusaders, if you want to show support to the charity.

Tonight’s televised game sees Hull host London, as the Broncos look for another crucial two points in their fight for survival. Read the preview.

What’s on social

Thanks to Warrington Wolves Foundation for an enjoyable night of bowling last night.

Given rugby league’s struggle for exposure, the least it could do is lead the way in terms of accessibility and make it as easy as possible to be a fan.

The debate still rumbles on about the Saints-Wigan game – imagine the meltdown if it’s a thriller.

Yet bizarrely, this season, it’s going to be held at the home team of the top seed in it. What a nonsense decision. Hopefully it’s changed for future seasons.

What’s in the papers

Albert Kelly is out of Hull’s game against London as a precaution, says coach Lee Radford to Hull Live. Gareth Ellis is in despite 40 stitches to a head wound, while Andre Savelio has a foot injury.

Sheffield’s Anthony Thackeray says there is not much to choose between the Championship’s top sides, and that the Eagles can still seal a play-off spot, reports the Sheffield Star.

Josh Griffin is the latest player to open up and tell his story ahead of this week’s Wellbeing Round in Super League, as reported in the Yorkshire Post and others.

Scott Taylor tells The Mirror that his former team-mate, Hull KR bound Jordan Abdull, will be out to prove a point when he returns to his old club on Thursday night.

Birthdays

Brisbane and Queensland superstar Anthony Milford turns 25 today.

Also celebrating: Huddersfield hooker Adam O’Brien (26); Castleford forward Nathan Massey (30); ex-Hull KR playmaker and captain James Webster (40); Warrington cult hero Graham Appo (45), former Great Britain, St Helens, Hull and Warrington wingman Alan Hunte (49).

What’s on TV/radio

9am – Live NRL: Penrith v Gold Coast – Sky Sports Arena

7pm – Live Super League; Leeds v Hull KR – Sky Sports Arena

Trivia

Graham Appo scored 32 points – with three tries and 10 goals – in Warrington’s final Super League game at Wilderspool, a 52-12 win over Wakefield back in 2003.

Warrington did play another “official first class match” at the ground again, in the October against a New Zealand A side, while the scorer of the last ever try on the ground was youngster Ryan Johnston for the Wolves’ Under 16s side before it was shut to be bulldozed in 2014.

Features Castleford Tigers