Paper Talk: Folau and Sonny Bill on NRL radar, Magic Weekend to be postponed & RFL praised
There is a bit of transfer talk in the latest papers.
Folau and Sonny Bill on NRL radar
At least one NRL club will make inquiries with Israel Folau about a NRL return this season as teams prepare to raid dormant competitions for stars such as Sonny Bill Williams, Quade Cooper and All Blacks star Ardie Savea, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
One NRL club is preparing an approach to the Folau camp in the coming days, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Magic Weekend to be postponed
Magic Weekend looks set to be officially postponed this week, but it could still take place in a different guise, reports League Express.
There is a desire for Summer Bash to remain on the calendar once place resumes, though it remains to be seen how, when or where that will be, according to League Express.
Ellis on three games a week
Hull FC forward Gareth Ellis says players are willing to do their bit for the game – but not at expense of health, reports The Yorkshire Post.
Ellis told The Yorkshire Post: “I’m not sure what the answer is to how the game carries on after the coronavirus – but I was annoyed by the comments made by Gary Hetherington recently.”
Wakefield chief on coronavirus impact
Wakefield Trinity chief executive Michael Carter believes it could take years for rugby league to fully recover from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, reports League Express.
Carter told League Express: “If we could get back on an even keel in a couple of years that would be good.”
Last on Hull FC contracts
Andy Last has called for the anti-tampering deadline to be pushed back to account for the Super League’s suspension, reports Hull Live.
Last told Hull Live: “You might have to push that anti-tampering deadline back a little bit later because we can’t make a judgement on players.”
McManus pays tribute to RFL
St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus says that the RFL and its chief executive Ralph Rimmer deserve praise for the way they have dealt with the coronavirus pandemic to date, reports League Express.
McManus told League Express: “They identified the likely level of the problem very early in the piece and put together a pretty comprehensive case that we’re waiting for the outcome of.”
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