RL Today: Warrington eye Drinkwater, Proctor latest & French club sign Fiji star

Drew Darbyshire 27 Oct 2022 7:00 AM

Josh Drinkwater Catalans Dragons SWpix — Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix

Drinkwater to Warrington

Warrington appear to be closing in on the signing of Catalans half-back Josh Drinkwater. (Warrington Guardian)

Talks over a deal to bring the Australian to the Wolves are progressing, according to Warrington Guardian.

Proctor latest

Wakefield coach Mark Applegarth is hopeful of completing a deal for former New Zealand international Kevin Proctor. (The Yorkshire Post)

Applegarth told TYP: “He’s a player we’ve spoken to and hopefully we can get something sorted. Having spoken to him a few times, he’s definitely the sort of person that you’d want in your team.”

St Helens’ new No. 5

St Helens will have a new number five in 2023 following the departure of Welsh speedster Regan Grace.

Saints head coach Paul Wellens has given rising star Jon Bennison the number five shirt from 2023, having worn 27 last season.

He joins an impressive list of names to wear the number five at Saints, with the likes of Anthony Sullivan, Darren Albert, Francis Meli and Adam Swift wearing the jersey before Grace took it on in 2019.

Wardle signing 10 years in the making

Wigan coach Matty Peet says he has been determined to sign England international Jake Wardle for almost 10 years. (Wigan Today)

Peet told Wigan Today: “Hopefully we left a good enough impression on him back then to make Wigan an option for him. We’ve kept in touch over the years, and were always hopeful that he would come over.”

French club sign Fiji star

Fiji international half-back Netane Masima has joined Villeneuve for the upcoming French Elite 1 Championship season.

The 24-year-old, will link up with his new club after Fiji’s World Cup campaign. He previously played for Western Suburbs Magpies in Australia.

🇫🇯 𝐔𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐣𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚̀ 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐯𝐞

Netane Massima arrivera à l'issue de la Coupe du Mondehttps://t.co/R4NyJ5mOv7

— Villeneuve XIII Rugby League (@VilleneuveXIII) October 26, 2022

Ireland blow

Ireland will be without starting front-rower Jaimin Jolliffe for Friday night’s clash against New Zealand at Headingley.

The Gold Coast Titans powerhouse will serve a one-match ban following an unsuccessful appeal last night. The Wolfhounds will also be without prop Liam Byrne due to a two-match ban.

Ireland must beat the Kiwis if they are to reach the quarter-finals.

Birthdays

Wales legend and current Huddersfield head coach Ian Watson turns 46 today (October 27).

Also celebrating; ex-Scotland international Daniel Heckenberg (43), Germany international Ben White (28) and former Leeds hooker Robbie Ward (27).

Trivia

Leeds forward Rhyse Martin had to settle for a share of the world record for successive goal kicks on 41 goals after he miss one in Papua New Guinea’s 32-16 win over the Cook Islands on Tuesday night.

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