Paper talk: £500k for Nigel Wood, RLIF to sue World Cup promoters and McGillvary future

It feels like the busiest week of the year as we gear up to the start of the new season, with even more controversy hitting the headlines.

Nigel Wood agrees RFL pay-off
League Express report that outgoing RFL chief executive Nigel Wood will take home £500,000 in compensation in a severance deal for losing his job. He’ll also act as a consultant to the RFL and was recently in New York to discuss their application to join the RFL structure.

RLIF to sue World Cup promoters
Money, money, money. Another one from League Express is that the RLIF are to sue World Cup promoters IMG for withholding payments. The issue revolves around the three games played in Papua New Guinea.

Hardaker to Wigan?
A somewhat left-field story in League Weekly has banned Castleford full-back Zak Hardaker linked with a switch to Wigan. This comes just days after Daryl Powell said they will stick by the England man, who has landed a job with a main club sponsor, as he faces two years on the sidelines.

Loyal McGillvary
England winger Jermaine McGillvary says he will stay loyal to Huddersfield, despite interest from the NRL and other Super League clubs. He told the Daily Star: “I was a nobody working at B&Q when I was 18 but Huddersfield let me train with them and gave me a chance.”

Saints’ selection headaches
Finally attention can turn to on the pitch this weekend and there are coaches aplenty with selection headaches, nonemoreso than St Helens boss Justin Holbrook, say the St Helens Reporter. He has to figure out how he can fit Ben Barba, Jonny Lomax, Matty Smith, Danny Richardson and Theo Fages in his side and keep the ones who miss out happy.

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