Off the Record: Rugby League Rumours and Gossip #179

Ray Mour 04 Sep 2019 11:50 AM

Where does Steve McNamara’s future lie? Which Widnes player are Warrington speaking to? Who is on their way out of Leigh? Check out all of the latest rumours and gossip…

McNamara to get new deal

Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara is going to be given a new contract by the club.

Love Rugby League’s French partners Treize Mondial report that Dragons owner Bernard Guasch is going to extend McNamara’s contract. McNamara’s current contract only expires at the end of next season, but reports from France suggest that he will extend his stay by a further one or two years in Perpignan.

Warrington in talks with Widnes star

Warrington Wolves are currently speaking to Widnes Vikings half-back Joe Lyons ahead of a proposed move in 2020.

The 21-year-old is currently on a full-time deal in the Championship but with the Vikings going part-time from next season, Lyons is currently exploring his opportunities elsewhere. He is currently in discussions with neighbours Warrington, but rumour has it that he is currently asking for too much money from the Wolves. It’s expected that there’ll be a lot of changes at Widnes over the off-season.

Holbrook offered to resign

The latest rumour doing the rounds on the terraces is that St Helens head coach Justin Holbrook offered to resign from his role following their defeat to Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

The Australian will leave the Saints at the end of the season to take up a two-year contract with Gold Coast Titans in the NRL, and current Newcastle Knights interim coach Kristian Woolf is expected to be appointed as the new Saints boss. There have been a couple of whispers that Holbrook offered his resignation after the final defeat but the board didn’t accept it.

Woolford staying put

Huddersfield Giants coach Simon Woolford is not going anywhere, despite a report in League Weekly linking him with a return to the National Rugby League for next year.

There are a couple of NRL clubs who are making a couple of coaching changes in 2020, with Woolford’s name being mentioned as a possible assistant coach Down Under. However, Woolford has reiterated his commitment to Huddersfield and he will be the club’s coach next year.

Duo to leave Leigh

Martyn Ridyard and Gregg McNally are set to leave Leigh Centurions at the end of the season.

The pair have not played for John Duffy’s side in recent weeks. Half-back Ridyard, 33, has played 27 games for the Centurions this season but hasn’t featured since August 18 while full-back or winger McNally, 28, has scored 17 tries in 24 appearances for Leigh this year but has not played since August 4. The next destinations for the pair are unclear.

Radradra wants league return

Former NRL star Semi Radradra would like a return to rugby league ahead of the 2021 season.

The Fiji rugby union international would like to play in the Rugby Union World Cup later this month and the Olympics in Japan next year. He is contracted to French rugby union club Bordeaux until the end of 2020, but Radradra would like to return to rugby league in 2021. The 27-year-old and his representatives have already been in talks with Canterbury Bulldogs.