Rugby League Today: Kirmond backs furlough plans, Hetherington’s rallying call & NRL wage concerns
A wrap up of the latest news in rugby league.
What’s on site
It’s 24 years since Super League kicked-off with the historic game between Paris Saint-Germain and Sheffield Eagles. We’ve decided to look back at the rest of the games in round one.
Former Widnes and Great Britain centre Frank Myler has died after a long illness at the age of 81.
Super League may be suspended but we’ve cast our minds back to when the action was on and have selected a Team of the Season before the coronavirus outbreak.
Ellery Hanley celebrated his 59th birthday last Friday, so we have paid tribute to one of Great Britain’s finest ever players.
We’ve got a Q&A with 2021 Rugby League World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton. He talks schedule, tickets, possible delays and the coronavirus impact.
What’s in the papers
Wakefield club captain Danny Kirmond backs Trinity’s ‘furlough’ plans, reports The Yorkshire Post.
Hull FC’s Ligi Sao embracing life in lockdown despite being 11,200 miles from home, reports Hull Live.
Josh Hodgson fears being left without wages as NRL shutdown bites at Canberra Raiders, reports The Sun.
Gary Hetherington issues rallying call on the 24th anniversary of Super League, reports the Mirror.
How Warrington forward Jason Clark is coping with the coronavirus pandemic, reports Warrington Guardian.
What’s on social
Party over at Konrad Hurrell’s house!
House party with DJ BigDawg? 🤣🤣 #QuarantineLife pic.twitter.com/RXG0X5a8ww
— Konrad Hurrell (@konmanhurrell) March 29, 2020
Good effort, Liam Marshall…
This is a very solid 'Isolation XI'… 😄️⚽️
📹 @LiamMarshall20 pic.twitter.com/gEuLVGnxhX
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) March 27, 2020
This is good.
Right @Sargmiester @LiamMarshall20 you’ve inspired me. Here’s an isolation RL Xlll – with apologies to @pwello80 @martinoffiah @josh_drinkwater @BAILS168 @JZTaia @BenoCurrie – and @NadaFarhoud’s wellies, socks and gown. Warning: contains 1970s Playboy content pic.twitter.com/vnKDfmVLTw
— Nigel Wiskar (@nigelwis) March 27, 2020
What’s on TV/Radio
Fox League LIVE – Fox League (5am)
LIVE Fox League Mornings – Fox League (9pm)
Former Super League and NRL forward Keith Mason is this week’s guest on The Last Tackle. He talks about his switch to the NRL at 20 as well as his new rugby comic – Rugby Blood.
Super League’s Out Of Your League podcast is back, featuring Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan.
Sky Sports’ Golden Point podcast is available to download now.
Tanya Arnold hosts the Super League Show.
Podcast: The Final Hooter #4 – featuring rugby league royalty Ellery Hanley.
The latest Forty20 LIVE podcast is out now.
The latest 5 Live Rugby League Podcast is out now, hosted by Dave Woods.
Birthdays
Queensland full-back Kalyn Ponga turns 22 today.
Also celebrating; Batley’s Joe Taira (31), ex-Great Britain international John Devereux (54) and former St Helens man Andy Leathem (43).
Trivia
France international Frederic Banquet scored the first ever try in Super League, when his Paris Saint-Germain side beat Sheffield 30-24 in the opening game of the competition in 1996.
Watch our Last Tackle podcast, featuring a guest, every week. SUBSCRIBE to Love Rugby League on YouTube.
