Rugby League Today: Minikin injured, coronavirus hits Super League & players react to Radford chop
A wrap up of the latest news in rugby league.
What’s on site
Catalans’ home game against Leeds, which was due to be played behind closed doors, has been called off due to a Rhinos player showing symptoms of possible coronavirus.
Warrington comfortably beat a poor Hull FC side 38-4 at the KCOM Stadium on Thursday night.
And Hull coach Lee Radford was sacked just minutes after the full-time hooter.
Warrington boss Steve Price said he felt for his counterpart Lee Radford, who has been sacked as Hull FC coach.
Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney says he will “swim to New York towing a barrel of shark food”, if any of the plans outlined by the city’s new rugby league team for 2021 come off.
What’s in the papers
Hull FC players react to Lee Radford parting ways with the club, reports Hull Live.
Jackson Hastings helped Joey Lussick to Salford – by exchanging action clips, reports The Sun.
Greg Minikin set for lengthy lay-off after Hull KR receive bad news on knee injury, reports Hull Live.
RFL gives update on weekend’s fixtures in light of coronavirus, reports St Helens Star.
Castleford coach Daryl Powell says rugby league could not “financially cop it” if the coronavirus forced all games to be played behind closed doors, reports Yorkshire Evening Post.
What’s on social
There is a way of sacking a coach of seven years, and this isn’t it.
BREAKING: Hull FC and Lee Radford part company.
✍️Live blog: https://t.co/yfbxkqRIsA
📺Sky Sports Arena & Mix pic.twitter.com/kHUVy8P0lv— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) March 12, 2020
Ben Murdoch-Masila will be missed in Super League.
100th #SuperLeague game celebrated with a @BMMasila11 trademark 💪🔥🥳#SLHulWar pic.twitter.com/xMmr6grihj
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 12, 2020
True.
“The consequences of this decision on the match, and any sanction, will be determined by the RFL Board.”
They’ll tell you that this is ‘standard protocol’ to make a comment like this at this time.. but this is unchartered territory for us all. Completely needless public comment https://t.co/LJy9s4XoBP
— Aaron Bower (@AaronBower) March 13, 2020
What’s on TV/Radio
Friday Night Footy – Fox League (6am-10:50am)
LIVE NRL: Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans – Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Arena (7am-8:55am)
LIVE NRL: North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos – Watch NRL (9am-10:55am)
LIVE SL: Salford Red Devils v Wigan Warriors – Sky Sports Arena (7pm-10:15pm)
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 Brian McDermott.
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
Australia and New South Wales representative Aaron Woods turns 29 today.
Also celebrating; Wigan prop Mitch Clark (27), former Leeds player Eddie Rombo (53) and ex-England international Wayne Godwin (38).
Trivia
Kevin Sinfield holds the record for most Super League points with 3,443 for Leeds between 1997-2015.
Watch our Last Tackle podcast, featuring a guest, every week. SUBSCRIBE to Love Rugby League on YouTube.