Rugby League Today: Saints in for Lussick, ‘farcical’ re-structure proposals & Wakefield honour Chester deal

James Gordon

What’s on site

In this week’s Paper Talk, the rumours of scrapping relegation from Super League this season aren’t yet true, plus Garry Schofield has his say on the damage the switch to summer has done to the sport.

Wakefield have parted company with coach Chris Chester, after winning just four league games this term. He was the second longest serving coach in Super League.

Three fines have been dished out for criticism of the RFL match review panel, including to Leeds coach Richard Agar and Wakefield chief Michael Carter.

What’s on social

St Helens are looking at former Salford hooker Joey Lussick, as they prepare for life possibly without James Roby.

We need some more wall space in the office.

Positive steps.

What’s in the papers

Whitehaven CEO Andrew Canavan says some of the proposals put on the table for re-structuring are “farcical” and says the constant tinkering of the sport has to stop. He told the News & Star: “How many of the other top five sports have seen the same amount of restructuring to its main show piece as we have seen in rugby league? Is yet another change to the structure of the game the answer to the problem? Some may say it is, likely those who will benefit from it, while others who will be a loser in any potential restructuring would say no.”

Luke Gale still hopes to play for England at the World Cup, despite it being put back a year. Writing in his Yorkshire Post column, he said: “It is always a great honour to pull on the England jersey and I’d love to be involved in 2022, but I’ll have to see how the old legs are. I wish it was happening this autumn, but the postponement might be for the best.”

And here is the full story in the Mirror on St Helens’ interest in Joey Lussick.

Wakefield chief Michael Carter says the club will honour a verbal agreement made with now departed coach Chris Chester for 2022. They parted company with Chester on Tuesday and his deal was due to run out at the end of the year. (Yorkshire Post)

Birthdays

What’s on TV/radio

7pm – NRL Try Time – Sky Sports Arena

Trivia

Daryl Powell is the longest serving coach in Super League, a run that will end when he leaves Castleford for Warrington at the end of the season. Chris Chester was next in line, so following his departure from Wakefield, the longest serving coach will be Steve McNamara.

Features Andrew Canavan