Rugby League Today: New stadiums, Win signed England shirt & NRL kicks-off

James Gordon

What’s on site

You can win a signed England shirt in our latest competition with Batchelors Mushy Peas.

The end could finally be in sight for Castleford’s stadium ambitions to come to fruition – a target date of 2022 has now been set up for the community stadium as part of the AXIOM development at Glasshoughton.

The NRL kicks-off this morning, and we’ve had a look at 13 players to keep an eye on. There are three games live on Sky Sports this weekend.

Super League takes us to Huddersfield this Thursday night, as the Giants look to repeat their win over Wigan last week against last season’s League Leaders’ Shield winners St Helens. Read the preview.

There’s more on what non-Super League clubs are having to do to earn their central funding as they face an uncertain time ahead of the next broadcast deal.

And Garry Schofield is the guest on the latest Final Hooter podcast.

What’s on social

You wait for one stadium for ages and then two come along at once? Apparently so, as Wakefield take a positive step to their new ground coming to fruition.

Armchair referees, you know what to do…

Enjoyed this tweet from our friends at Forty20 following the Challenge Cup draw

What’s in the papers

Adam Walker is now free to play rugby league again, for new club Salford, following the end of his two-year drugs ban, and there’s a nice feature interview with him in The Sun.

There’s a very interesting piece with Barrow chairman Steven Neale in the North West Evening Mail, which reveals some worrying details surrounding the Summer Bash, 1895 Cup and Challenge Cup sponsor.

Hull KR held a fans forum on Wednesday evening and amongst a load of interesting information, revealed that their season ticket sales are just shy of 6,000. Read full details on Hull Live.

Birthdays

Kiwi Awen Guttenbeil, who spent two seasons at Castleford including one in National League 1, is 43 today.

Also celebrating: old Bradford and Wakefield coach Brian Smith (65); ex-Scotland international winger Jonathan Steel (39); former Australia, Queensland, Canterbury, Parramatta and Hull playmaker Jason Smith (47)

What’s on TV/Radio

9am – LIVE NRL: Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos – Sky Sports Main Event/Arena

5pm – Rugby League Back Chat – FreeSports

7pm – LIVE Super League: Huddersfield Giants v St Helens – Sky Sports Main Event/Arena

The Final Hooter podcast by Love Rugby League’s Dave Parkinson and Adrian Jackson is now available to download.

The latest 5 Live Rugby League podcast is available to download now, presented by Dave Woods.

The Full Eighty Minutes podcast by Proper Sport is available to download now.

The Forty20 Rugby League podcast is available to download now.

The Total Rugby League Show is available to download now.

The Betfred League 1 podcast is available to listen now on the Our League channel.

Trivia

Two non-Super League sides are set to play at Wembley this year in the 1895 Cup final – the last current non-Super League side to play at Wembley were Sheffield Eagles, in their famous Challenge Cup final win over Wigan in 1998. Bradford have reached three cup finals since, but they were played in Edinburgh and Cardiff during the re-development of Wembley.

Features Barrow Raiders

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