Off the Record: Rugby League Rumour and Gossip #37
Toronto tap up
Toronto Wolfpack have been keen on Leigh centre Tom Armstrong. Toronto coach Paul Rowley had Armstrong at Leigh and the outside back would certainly offer some strike out wide next year. But Armstrong isn’t keen on the Canadian club and is, our source tells us, attracting interest from a number of Super League clubs.
Tommy’s choice
The battle is heating up for New Zealand Warriors playmaker Thomas Leuluai. Wigan and St Helens are both keen on the Kiwi half, but it looks like the red vee are in the hot seat. Saints are offering double what the Warriors can and so despite Leuluai’s links to the DW Stadium, we’re tipping that he’ll head to Langtree Park.
Hardaker departs
A few whispers are emerging that suggest Zak Hardaker will be playing in the NRL next year. It would be simply stunning news if it comes off, with Hardaker Man of Steel in 2015 but one of many Leeds stars struggling for form in 2016. For some reason Hardaker has even been shunted to the wing at times this season. The talented fullback is under contract for a few more years at Headingley and surely the Rhinos want him to stay. But the rumours won’t go away that he will be soon off to the big brown land.
Greener pastures
Another NRL-based half attracting admirers is Storm number 6 Blake Green. The five-eighth is demand in both Super League and across the NRL, with a number of Aussie clubs a fan of him. But it appears as though Green is happy in the Victorian capital and is very keen to stay. The Storm have been on fire this season and remain one of the premier sides down under.
Bulls luck out
Leigh wasn’t the only Championship club in the hunt for Wests Tigers scrum-half Josh Drinkwater. The Centurions have signed him for the rest of 2016, but word is that Bradford were also after the former London playmaker but missed out. They continue their hunt for a proper number 7. As we told you last week, Drinkwater was thrown into the deep end and played for Leigh just three days after arriving in the UK.
Salary cap breachers
Super League has been awash with talk on exactly who the club is that breached the cap and had it allegedly ignored by the RFL in 2015. It was Marwan Koukash’s revelation about this in his explosive presser a week ago. We can’t name them specifically, but let’s just say the club laughed off Koukash’s claim as nonsense and may explore legal avenues of their own if the allegation becomes public.
Wallace stays
Peter Wallace will snub Super League offers and stay with Penrith next season. The halfback has re-invented himself as a hooker and buried the hatchet with his former Broncos coach Anthony Griffin, who is now in charge at the Panthers. Wallace has been in great form in 2016 and the Chocolate Soldiers have had a change of heart on the Scottish international.
