Rugby League Today: Stone sacked, Grady gone, Good Friday tension

Drew Darbyshire

There is good and bad news in the build up to one of the most exciting weekends in the rugby league calendar.

What’s on site

Rick Stone is the first Super League coach to be sacked this year after being axed by Huddersfield.

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Reon Edwards says the board are in talks with NRL clubs over access to players for their mid-season Test against England in Denver.

Mike Grady has been sacked as head coach of North Wales Crusaders.

Wigan beating local rivals St Helens in the last ever Good Friday derby at Knowsley Road will live long in the memory for Joel Tomkins.

The team of the week has been revealed. There were several tackle machines in roud seven of the Betfred Super League.

As Super League looks to grow and the game of rugby league seeks to expand, there are likely to be more candidates to spread the game, so we have decided to take a look at five possible franchises that could shape rugby league’s future.

St Helens star Adam Swift faces at least a month on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

What’s in the papers

Huddersfield Giants sack coach Rick Stone after sluggish start to the season, report The Mirror.

Gary Carter’s ‘set of six’ feature for The Sun is back. He talks the future, the past, the good, bad and ugly within seven days in Super League.

Rick Stone’s replacement as Huddersfield boss has been named ahead of their clash with Leeds, claim the Daily Star.

Mike Critchley says there are more than two points on stake in the Good Friday clash between St Helens and Wigan Warriors in his latest ‘off the ball’ column.

Wigan coach Shaun Wane hopes he will be on cloud nine when he takes his Warriors outfit to St Helens, claim Wigan Today.

What’s on social

Wakefield star David Fifita wants to see the Exiles team make a comeback…

Watch the video. Simply class. That’s all.

What a tackle from Keiron Cunningham.

What’s on TV/Radio

The Super League Show, presented by Tanya Arnold, is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The latest ‘Sport at Six’ podcast by BBC Radio Manchester’s Jack Dearden and Trevor Hunt is available to download now.

The latest League Express podcast is available to download now.

The latest Rugby League show on Proper Sport is available to download now.

The latest Whippets and Flat Caps podcast is available to download now, presented by Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan.

The latest 5 Live Rugby League podcast is available to download now, presented by Dave Woods.

The latest Rugby League on talkSPORT 2 podcast is available to download now.

The Final Hooter podcast by Love Rugby League’s Dave Parkinson and Adrian Jackson is now available to download.