Rugby League Today: Wayne Bennett, Sam Tomkins and Warrington promise action
League One is underway, we’ve had our first draw of the season and there’s been so much rugby league to watch over the weekend, today is going to feel empty.
What’s on site
You can check out our new column, Rugby League Weekender, which wraps up everything from the weekend – results, reports, stats and the good, the bad and the ugly.
With it being World Club Challenge weekend just gone, we’ve had a look at 10 of the best tries from the past few decades of the competition.
On the subject of Australia, Sam Tomkins reckons Super League sides will be queuing up to go Down Under next year following the success of Wigan and Hull’s trip.
Read why Catalans can’t use the World Cup excuse any longer, following their drab defeat at Hull KR on Thursday.
In case you’ve not seen already, our weekly competitions with Batchelors Mushy Peas are back – first up is a pair of tickets for Huddersfield v St Helens this Friday plus a signed Giants shirt.
What’s in the papers
Wayne Bennett is set to be confirmed as England coach for the next two years, with Daryl Powell turning down an offer to join the national team set-up, according to The Guardian.
Warrington have vowed to take action against fans who caused trouble during the win at Widnes on Friday night. The Warrington Guardian had photos and videos from a smoke-filled concourse, with one also being thrown on to the pitch towards the end of the game.
Look out for our extended Monday morning Paper Talk column later.
What’s on social
Billy Slater made it a trip to remember for one Leeds fan, handing him his World Club Challenge medal.
Thank you Billy Slater for making my sons trip – handed over his winners medal #stormRhinos #billyslater #leedsrhinos pic.twitter.com/ZC6EBuqFoP
— Neil Robinson (@rhinorobinson) February 16, 2018
Esteemed Australian journalist Steve Mascord is banging the drum for international rugby league and calling out the NRL for their apparent refusal to release players for the planned mid-season test between England and New Zealand in Denver, USA.
And if NRL won’t uphold RLIF bylaws by sanctioning clubs who refuse to release players, Australia should be suspended from international competition for a year.
— Steve Mascord (@therealsteavis) February 18, 2018
It's not America's problem that this form of rugby's top players mostly live in Australia. It's rugby league's problem if it wants to have a successful World Cup in 2025. And rugby league can't be stuffed addressing this MASSIVE flaw in its own makeup. It doesn't care.
— Steve Mascord (@therealsteavis) February 18, 2018
Check out this touch of class from Wigan, as ever.
A man by the name of Matt Barton recently contacted us to say his neighbour, ex-pat and former Wigan player Jim Hooper (HN 564) was heading down from Brisbane for our game today. We couldn’t let the opportunity pass without meeting Jim and presenting him with his very own jersey. pic.twitter.com/IKD1uHPfEY
— Wigan Warriors ?⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) February 17, 2018
What’s on TV
You can watch a full repeat of Halifax against Toronto on FreeSports TV at 9pm.
If you fancy watching the drama unfold between York and Bradford again, you can view the second half here. All Bradford’s games home and away this season are being live streamed for free.
And you can listen again to our Championship show, including full match commentary on Swinton v Batley over the weekend, on our Facebook page.