Paper Talk: Hampshire future, Hull KR coaching changes & swap deal falls through

Drew Darbyshire 22 Jul 2019 8:58 AM

We’ve had a scan through the latest trade newspapers.

Hampshire wants Wakefield stay

Ryan Hampshire doesn’t know what his future will be, but he insists he would like to stay with Wakefield Trinity if possible, report League Express.

The full-back – who is out-of-contract at the end of the season – is in the dark about his future at Trinity. He told League Express: “I don’t really know. We’ll see. It’s been a crazy week with things going on but I love this club and it means a lot to me coming from here. Hopefully we can get something sorted and I can stay here, but the main thing is winning as many games as possible.”

Coaching changes at Hull KR

Tony Smith will be Hull KR’s coach next season and Chris Thorman will be his assistant, report League Weekly.

The Robins may well be parting company with James Webster and David Hodgson to allow for Thorman, 38, to come in and work with Smith who he played under at Huddersfield Giants back in 2000-02, according to League Weekly. Thorman joined League 1 side Workington Town as head coach in May and they are currently mid-table in the third-tier.

Huddersfield and Wakefield swap falls through

A swap deal that would have seen back-rower Oliver Roberts and full-back Ryan Hampshire switch clubs collapsed at the eleventh hour last week, report League Express.

Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity were close to agreeing a deal that would have seen the two players move across West Yorkshire on a short-term deal. However, the deal fell through late on as Hampshire had second thoughts on the move and backed out, according to League Express.

Why Hastings missed out on England squad

Salford Red Devils star Jackson Hastings has been told the door is still open to an England call-up – if he proves he can play, report League Weekly.

Australian-born half-back Blake Austin was last week named in the England squad but Hastings was not. League Weekly has learned Hastings was not included because neither he nor the Red Devils produced the required paperwork in time. Hastings says he is eligible for England through a grandmother who was born in Plymouth, however, the RFL and RLIF need evidence.

Salford forward attracting interest

Salford Red Devils prop Josh Johnson’s impressive return to Super League has already seen him attract plenty of interest from top-flight clubs, report League Express.

The 24-year-old made a surprise move to the Red Devils earlier this month after he had been combining a day job with a part-time contract at Championship club Barrow. Salford are interested in retaining him for next year but League Express suggest “five or six” top-flight clubs have already made enquiries about him.

Championship could be divided

Talks have taken place about setting up a new Championship competition away from the control of the RFL, report League Weekly.

Several Championship clubs have been in discussions about potentially following Super League’s lead and wresting control of their own futures to create a new division, according to League Weekly. This would possibly include the likes of Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Bradford, Leigh, Dewsbury and Featherstone.

Support rugby league in the media and subscribe to League Express or League Weekly, as well as checking out the regular coverage of the sport in The Mirror, The Sun, The Guardian and other national newspapers; the more you read, the more there’ll be.