Off the Record: Rugby League Rumours and Gossip #190

Ray Mour 20 Nov 2019 2:14 PM

Which half-back is set to re-sign with Leigh? Is SBW off to France? What is the latest on the Valencia friendly? Find out more in the gossip column.

Leigh to re-sign half-back

Josh Woods is training at Leigh Centurions after not being given a squad number at Wigan Warriors.

Woods spent the whole of last season on loan with the Centurions, and still has a couple of years left on his contract. The Warriors have the likes of Jarrod Sammut, Harry Smith and Jake Shorrocks on their books as understudies to Jackson Hastings and Thomas Leuluai.

Information sparse on Valencia friendly

Details of Featherstone Rovers’ friendly in Valencia remain sketchy, with the stadium hosting the match yet to be confirmed.

Although St Helens and Salford Red Devils have been speculated to be playing as part of a double-header, they too have very little information, just six weeks or so out from the event. Little is known about who would play for Valencia Huracanes, who are due to enter the Spanish National League in 2020.

SBW wanted in France

Retired Warrington Wolves’ Super Bennie Westwood could be tempted out of retirement to play in the French Elite 2 competition for Villegailhenc.

The VARL club is led by Vinnie Anderson, a former team-mate of Westwood, and moves to the south of France are becoming increasingly attractive to players. Former Widnes Vikings winger Patrick Ah Van also had a stint at VARL last season.

Toronto offering players around

Toronto Wolfpack are offering round several of their fringe players as they look to create space on their salary cap.

They have signed just one player, Sonny Bill Williams, since promotion to Super League. The likes of Ryan Brierley, Gary Wheeler and Greg Worthington are being circulated to other clubs. Meanwhile, half-back Josh McCrone has taken a pay cut to remain at the club.

Rochdale eye veteran hooker

Workington Town hooker Sean Penkywicz is on Rochdale Hornets’ shopping list, and is set to be re-united with former coach at Halifax Matt Calland.

A lot is going on behind the scenes at Hornets, with speculation surrounding a takeover involving ex-Swinton chairman Andy Mazey. Calland is looking to build a team capable of promotion from League 1.

RFL to provide update

More information on the review in to the Great Britain tour is set to be provided at a media briefing later this week.

The future of Wayne Bennett is likely to be a major talking point, with the Australian still fancied to retain his job as England coach for the 2021 World Cup.