Rugby League Today: Saints celebrate, our verdict on THAT try & Wigan sign trio

James Gordon

Young St. Helens fans celebrate their sides win

What’s on site

Wigan have announced three signings for next year, including two from the NRL, and London Broncos’ Lebanon international winger Abbas Miski.

Yes, we know it was Sunday’s chip wrapping – but we’ve had another pore over James Roby’s controversial try at the start of second half of the Challenge Cup final as part of our look back at Saturday’s St Helens victory. Let us know what you think.

World Cup organisers have bravely battled on with plans to stage the tournament at the end of the year, but this week’s editor’s column highlights just why the worries simply won’t go away – and the same applies for Super League too.

Leon Pryce has opened up about his own personal struggles, and says he will ensure that son Will won’t make the same mistakes he did, as the youngster continues to catch the eye at Huddersfield.

There’s plenty in this week’s Paper Talk, as GB legend Garry Schofield says Australia should be banned from the next two World Cups if they don’t send a proper team over to the 2021 edition in England.

Is Aidan Sezer the man to lead Leeds back to the top of Super League? We take a look at how he might change the Rhinos side after they confirmed his capture from Huddersfield for the 2022 season and beyond.

What’s on social

This is what it means to rugby league communities.

Forget football’s coming home, that was so last week.

Classic.

What an occasion for St Helens’ women’s side in particular. Deserved recognition for their efforts.

This is a pretty decent line-up of all stars, for a good cause too.

What’s in the papers

The Challenge Cup final is set to be played in May in 2022. Previously played on the August Bank Holiday, a deal was struck with Wembley to bring it forward gradually over a three year period. More than 1.1m viewers tuned in to the game on BBC on Saturday. (Yorkshire Live)

Hull’s enforced COVID break may lead to their advantage when it comes to the Super League run-in, according to coach Brett Hodgson. He told the Yorkshire Post: “We can use it in a way that can regenerate us and really give the next month of rugby league a good challenge. But that’s on us; if we’re willing to work hard enough to do that it will be beneficial.”

The Guardian columnist Gavin Willacy has trumpeted Featherstone’s promotion credentials, after their 1895 Cup final win over York. He wrote: “Those folk who bizarrely mock the notion of a club that regularly attracts 20% of the town’s whole population getting into the top flight, should ask themselves whether Super League would really be worse off with Fev than some of the current crop of also-rans.”

Birthdays

Controversial former Hull KR and Wakefield full-back Ben Cockayne, who helped the Robins to Super League in 2006, turns 38 today (July 20).

Also celebrating: former Australia and Wigan centre Jamie Ainscough (49); ex-Catalans hooker Luke Quigley (40); Samoa and Penrith prop Moses Leota (26).

What’s on TV/radio

11pm – Women’s Super League Highlights – Sky Sports Arena

Trivia

Although 2021 was the first time St Helens had won the Women’s Challenge Cup, Thatto Heath Crusaders had won it four times before Saints took them over and re-branded the women’s side to enter Super League in 2017.

Features Aidan Sezer

Related Articles