Rugby League Today: Quick return unrealistic, nostalgic derby tales & plea to save Huddersfield
A wrap up of the latest news in rugby league.
What’s on site
The ARL Commission has confirmed the NRL will get back underway on May 28.
Warrington fan Dave Chapman is the latest guest on My Set of Six. He talks Central Park, Great Britain v Australia and Phil Ford.
We look at six of the best loose forwards who have played in the NRL. Spoiler alert: Sam Burgess is on the list.
Our throwback feature this week is a cracker. We cast our minds back to ‘that’ 2004 Good Friday brawl between St Helens and Wigan.
Ireland captain Bob Beswick believes the nation has a good pedigree of rugby league talent ahead of the World Cup.
What’s in the papers
Plea to save Huddersfield Giants as coronavirus crisis deepens, reports Yorkshire Live.
Luke Gale says his career highlight was followed by his biggest disappointment, reports Yorkshire Evening Post.
Police, fights… and burning shorts! Untold stories from five epic Good Friday derbies, reports Wigan Today.
Paul Sculthorpe tribute to NHS in coronavirus pandemic battle, reports St Helens Star.
St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus counts cost of Easter cancellation but says rapid return unrealistic, reports the Mirror.
What’s on social
Scenes…
What an extraordinary finale and, amid all the jubilation and chaotic celebrations, some might say it's just another game of #RugbyLeague. To me, it’s a diary, it's a memoir, it's life, it’s our lives being lived and for that afternoon it was brilliant. pic.twitter.com/CPaUl3aG6M
— Mick Gledhill 🗣🎙📻 (@TheGameCaller) April 9, 2020
These just get better and better.
Widnes 90s Throwbacks #widnes #rugbyleague pic.twitter.com/OyO2qYbCcd
— Rugby League Designs (@RugbyDesigns) April 9, 2020
The audacity…
"Until then, this [Yorkshire] remains the county that professional rugby forgot" – @OwenSlot
The audacity. It's almost as if Rugby League (the code that has been open and honest about its professionalism for 125 years) literally doesn't exist to these people. 😂 pic.twitter.com/soRNeQaQ54
— Gavin Wilson (@GavWilson) April 9, 2020
What’s on TV/Radio
Fox League LIVE – Fox League (5am)
LIVE Fox League Mornings – Fox League (9pm)
Sky Sports Arena:
Midday: Hull KR v Hull FC (2016)
12:15pm: St Helens v Wigan (2016)
12:30pm: Wigan v St Helens (2017)
12:45pm: Castleford v Wakefield (2017)
1pm-3pm: Wigan v St Helens (2003)
3pm: Hull KR v Hull FC (2018)
3:20pm: St Helens v Wigan (2018)
3:40pm: Hull FC v Hull KR (2015)
4:35pm: Wigan v St Helens (2015)
5:30pm: Hull KR v Hull FC (2019)
5:45pm: Wigan v St Helens (2019)
Birthdays
Great Britain and St Helens prop Alex Walmsley turns 30 today.
Also celebrating; Toronto centre Ricky Leutele (30), ex-Toronto and Widnes prop Jack Buchanan (28) and Widnes reserves prop Jordan Case (27).
Trivia
The first Good Friday derby between Wigan and St Helens was at Central Park in 1906 (stat courtesy of Bilko).
Watch our Last Tackle podcast, featuring a guest, every week. SUBSCRIBE to Love Rugby League on YouTube.