Rugby League Wrap #2 - 09/09/2019
Monday 9th September has been another busy day in the world of rugby league. Here’s our wrap of the day’s news!
Richard Agar appointed as Leeds’ Permanent Coach
Rumours have been circulating for a few days that Richard Agar was to be appointed as Leeds Rhinos head coach on a permanent basis. Agar himself hinted that his future would be resolved shortly on Sky Sports on Thursday night.
It therefore was a surprise to no-one when the announcement was forthcoming on Monday morning. What was surprising was that the contract was a 12-month rolling one. Hardly a ringing endorsement from the powers at be at Leeds.
Leeds have been beset by instability in recent years with Brian McDermott, Kevin Sinfield, Dave Furner and Richard Agar all taking the reins since the summer of 2018. A 12-month rolling contract may suggest that there is more instability to come.
There are also on-field playing rumours regarding Leeds. The whispers linking them to Jake Connor and Luke Gale are not going away. Are the Rhinos going to splash the cash to try and climb up the league ladder in 2020.
Salford sign James Greenwood
Salford have followed up their signing of Chris Atkin from Hull KR last week with that of James Greenwood, another player released by the Rovers.
Ian Watson has made a habit of improving players discarded by other clubs in recent years and the Red Devils have acquired a couple of players with great potential. Atkin may realise that if he shakes off his utility tag and Greenwood may do the same should he overcome his injury woes.
Super League Young player of the year nominees revealed
The nominees are:
Matty Lees
· Jack Walker
· Harry Newman
· Jake Trueman
· Morgan Smithies
A fine set of young players who have made a big impact on Super League this season. Lees and Trueman may be the favourite as they were named and but for injury, set to be named in the Great Britain performance squad.
As for the Leeds’ contingent, but for the constant reminders of the Sky Sports commentary team, it would be easy to forget that Jack Walker is still a young player. He has been a regular in Leeds’ starting line up for a while now and won the Grand Final in 2017 at age 17.
Whilst Harry Newman has adopted well to the top-flight, I don’t think he has much chance of winning the accolade yet. Saying that, his nomination in itself shows the progress he has made.
Morgan Smithies has impressed at Wigan, with his performances belying his age. He has played a leading role in Wigan’s revival and it is little wonder why he is rated so highly.
Brian McDermott’s fury at Leigh’s tactics
We are used to rather bland soundbites from coaches and players after matches. But Brian McDermott, as he often does, broke the mould with his post-match comments following Toronto’s victory at Leeds.
This was far from the usual “credit to the boys” or “they’re a quality team”. Just take a look at his explosive comments below, he hasn’t held back!
“I’m having blokes with nearly-broken jaws and blokes being taken off the ball and people getting hit late and people grabbing at other men's testicles and people gouging throughout the whole game.
We're all up for a tough game. More credit to our guys for finding their way to deal with it offensively.
I don't like bullies and I don't like hypocrites. And I don't have much good to say about how Leigh played today."
St Helens new coach?
The favourite for the vacant head coaches’ job at St Helens is the soon to be ex-Tongan head coach, Kristian Woolf.
In their statement relieving Woolf of his duties, the Tongan governing body said:
"We wish him [Woolf] well especially on his recent coaching appointment of the St Helens Rugby League team in the English Super League."
Has the cat been let out of the bag or have the Tongan NRL just made an assumption?
Tony Gigot’s Australia adventure?
The writing was on the wall for Tony Gigot at Catalans when he was on the end of some fervent criticism from his chairman, Bernard Guasch. Unsurprisingly, Gigot was absent for Catalans defeat against Wigan and he may have played his last game for Catalans.
Newspaper reports suggest that Gigot may be playing for St George Illawarra in 2020. Gigot will hope to make an appearance this time, unlike his forgettable spell at Cronulla in 2013, where he failed to appear for the first team.
With Gigot and potentially Matty Smith on the way out at Catalans, Steve McNamara has a decision to make as to who will partner James Maloney in the half backs next year. Will he move Samisoni Langi back to 6, or give Lucas Albert an overdue chance? Or, will he be tempted to sign free agent and former player Josh Drinkwater?
Woolford’s stark admission
If you were in any doubt as to how important Super League’s Friday 13th relegation battle is on Friday, then Simon Woolford’s recent comments to BBC Sport highlight it.
“If we go down we are all out of a job and if that happens, I’ll be going back to Australia.
My focus is on staying in Super League and finishing the job I’ve come here to do. There’s a lot of things in place on the proviso we are safe.
We’ve got 20-30 odd players whose livelihoods are on the line.”
There is more than just a Super League place at stake on Friday. We will be releasing a two-part preview on Tuesday and Wednesday looking at Super League’s final round.
Featherstone to play behind closed doors?
Featherstone Rovers have unfortunately encountered another instance of crowd trouble over the weekend in their defeat to Toulouse.
A fine of £10,000 does not seem to have put off the small, idiot element of the Rovers support. It may lead to the club taking drastic action…
Chief Executive David Longo told BBC Radio Leeds:
“We’re zero tolerance for this now…We’ve banned three of the fans and I’ve threatened the supporters that if it was to continue we’d look at playing games behind closed doors or banning alcohol.”
The concussion headache
League Express today reported that the RFL are investigating concerns that clubs are cheating concussion protocols in order to get a 'free' interchange.
There has been surprising little comment on this in the rugby league world, over what on the face of it, will prove to be a significant development if proven.
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