RL Today: Greece to face Bradford, Fifita farewells & Super League’s hectic schedule
Stefanos Bastas in action for Greece
Greece to play Bradford
Greece will play Bradford at Odsal in a World Cup warm-up match on October 8. (RLWC2021)
Greece will make their Rugby League World Cup debut at this year’s tournament in England. They are coached by former Warrington player Steve Georgallis; and are likely to have ex-Warrington forward Billy Magoulias and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Lachlan Ilias in their ranks.
DEBUTANTS: How Greece could line-up at the Rugby League World Cup
Super League’s hectic schedule
St Helens forward Morgan Knowles believes Super League’s hectic fixture schedule could have an impact on preparations for anyone taking part in this year’s World Cup. (Yorkshire Live)
The champions have three games in nine days coming up. Knowles told Yorkshire Live: “It’s bound to have some sort of impact. We play more games than they do anyway, and especially with previous years having less games, this has become a really big year…”
Singleton’s World Cup prospects
Wigan prop Brad Singleton says he doesn’t know if he will be playing at this year’s World Cup. (Wigan Today)
The Cumbria-born forward won three caps for Ireland at the last World Cup in 2017. He told Wigan Today: “I haven’t spoken to Ireland since the 2017 World Cup, but I always put them in high regard and enjoy playing for them.”
WOLFHOUNDS: How Ireland could line-up at the Rugby League World Cup
Fifita farewells
Twins Andrew Fifita (Cronulla) and David Fifita (Wakefield) both announced yesterday that they would be leaving their respective clubs at the end of the season. The next destinations for the pair have not yet been announced.
Andrew said: “It was the right time to tell the boys, going into my last home game of the season. I thought they deserved to know more than anyone else. I’ve left on good terms, (but) especially with the good young ones coming through, it’s time to depart. I wouldn’t say retirement, I reckon I’ve still got another year in me somewhere else.”
David tweeted: “This is the end of an era. What a ride it has been! Looking forward to what lies ahead… Sincerely yours, Big Bopper. #LastDance”
Calls to scrap Bank Hol games
Rugby League Players Association representative Garreth Carvell says the union wants to see a minimum five-day rest period between all games to help protect the welfare of the players. (The Guardian)
Carvell told The Guardian: “The bare minimum we want is that bank holiday games are gone. A minimum five-day rest period between all games. We are failing our players.”
King targets trophies
Ireland international Toby King will join Wigan on a season-long loan from Warrington for 2023.
King said: “I’m really excited to meet everyone involved at this prestigious club and compete at the very top for some trophies.”
Birthdays
Former Super League winger and now Brazil women’s head coach Matt Gardner turns 37 today (August 24).
Also celebrating; Jamaica international Ben Jones-Bishop (34), Hull forward Manu Ma’u (34), ex-St Helens forward Joel Thompson (34) and France World Cup hopeful Louis Jouffret (27).
Trivia
Toulouse hooker Nathan Peats needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career (Toulouse 10, Huddersfield 12, Leigh 11, Gold Coast Titans 70, Parramatta Eels 35, South Sydney Rabbitohs 54, Combined Nations All Stars 1, New South Wales 3, NSW City 3).
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