Off the Record: Rugby League Rumour and Gossip #68

Izzy he coming back?
Talk is growing that Israel Folau may make a return to the game that made him, rugby league, in the very near future. Folau has just gotten married and with his wife based in New Zealand doesn’t want to be travelling the world everywhere with the Waratahs and Wallabies. Folau has been a sensation in rugby union after leaving AFL. The former Broncos and Storm winger has been linked with both the Warriors and Bulldogs, if he decides to come back to the NRL. It would be fantastic to have him back in our game.

In like Flynn
Salford are keen on bringing Paddy Flynn to the AJ Bell this season. We’ve heard that the Red Devils are considering him in to help plug their backline hole. There’s also been chatter that Bradford centre Kris Welham is a target for Salford as he is now a free agent. Salford need to strengthen their outside backs with Daniel Vidot’s recent departure.

The Coffs cost
Coffs Harbour is a popular beachside town on the NSW far north coast, a favourite of tourists and holidaymakers. It’s also popular with NRL clubs, with South Sydney frequenting the area but with some unfortunate consequences in the past. Now it seems like Manly has joined that list, with a Sea Eagles pre-season camp in the town coming unstuck. We’ve heard some Manly players got into a bit of a ruckus at a pub with locals while staying there. The mess has been kept fairly quiet, for now.

Barrie and Tez shut down
Barrie McDermott and Terry O’Connor are rugby league player agents no longer. Our spies tell is that their management company Front Row 1895 has shut down. We’re unsure why they have closed their business, but their website is no longer working and it appears as though the pair, who are pundits on Sky, won’t be wheeling and dealing players anymore.

Bull rush
The hunt is on for Bradford’s squad. Already Jason Walton has gone to Featherstone, Tom Obilson to Widnes and James Clare is off to Leigh. It looks like Adam O’Brien could be on hs way to Hull FC. There’s also talk of Adam Sidlow to either Hull KR or Toronto, while Jacob Trueman and Alex Mellor are also attracting significant interest from rival clubs.