6 Rugby Leaguer & League Express a71 www.totalrl.com 28th September 2009
WIGAN IN
TREBLE BID
MORLEY SLAMS AUSSIE GOULD
By PAUL ENGLISH
WIGAN WARRIORS took
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE an outright winner. Teams can finish
the first step in what could be
bottom one year then win it the next, so I
a treble-winning season as
ADRIAN Morley has hit back at
think it has the edge over Super League in
their Reserve side defeated St
Australian TV pundit Phil Gould,
competition.”
Helens 34-6 in the reserve-
who recently labelled the Super
Morley went on to discuss his career
and a range of issues away from Rugby
grade Grand Final on Sunday.
League “park football”.
League with Jones-Buchanan, who
Over 2,500 fans turned up at the
Speaking on the ‘Sunday Roast’
interviews a Super League star every
DW Stadium to see Shaun Wane’s
programme earlier this month, Gould, the
month for the magazine.
side demolish St Helens after racing
most successful coach in State of Origin
The former Leeds and Sydney Roosters
into a 22-point interval lead.
history, was scathing of English Rugby
hitman is likely to line up in England’s
The same two clubs will meet on
League, comparing it to the NRL’s
pack alongside Gareth Ellis, who has
Saturday at first-grade level, when
reserve-grade.
returned from his debut season in the
Brian Noble’s Super League side
But in an interview with the Leeds and
NRL with Wests Tigers, where he won the
England forward Jamie Jones-Buchanan
take on their arch rivals knowing
club’s player-of-the-year award.
in the new issue of ‘Rugby League
that they are just one step away
And Ellis told the magazine that he
World’, Morley (left) said: “Phil Gould is
from Old Trafford.
expects to benefit from having played far
known for shooting his mouth off.
And earlier that day John
fewer games this year due to the
“He’s one of those people who gets
Pendlebury’s Academy side travel
Australian domestic season being shorter.
paid to make outlandish comments just to
to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the
Ellis has played 22 NRL games this
sell papers and make people watch TV. I
Academy Grand Final for a
season, compared to the 31 he figured in
wouldn’t pay much attention to him. for Leeds in 2008 - a difference of over
12.00pm kick-off.
“There’s a little more strength in depth two months’ worth of Rugby League
Victory for Pendlebury’s side
in the NRL, but all the hits are the same, matches.
would leave Wigan on the verge of
and I think Super League is more exciting “The main difference is that the NRL
a spectacular end of season treble.
to watch.” starts in March, so you’re not using the
But the Warrington captain, who is on first four weeks of the season getting fit,”
Purdham faces
the shortlist of three to win this year’s he said.
Man of Steel award next week, also “You start the season fully match-fit. I
uncertain
admitted: “I think the NRL is a little more feel fresher. I feel pretty good, even
evenly contested. though I play 80 minutes a game in
future
“From game to game, it’s tough to pick Australia.”
By CHRIS JONES
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE
WAKEFIELD winger Luke
Luke ready to make his mark
The career of the Harlequins
George has signed a new two-
and England loose forward,
year contract with the Wildcats,
that George has the potential to be one Cup winners’ medal in 1987, is keen to “Even getting as far as he did would
Rob Purdham could be over if
as revealed in ‘League Express’
of the competition’s most lethal prove himself more regularly next be a great achievement, and he is 100
he suffers a repeat of the blood
last week. wingers. season. percent behind me.
clot that saw him sidelined for
George, 21, joined Wakefield in 2007 “It has been a very frustrating two “People have only really been able to “But strange situations arise. For
from Huddersfield Giants, but he has years for Luke, with a major knee see half of what I can do, and with the example, a couple of years ago Joe
several weeks this season.
suffered a series of frustrating injuries injury at the start of 2008 and then lots quality of players we’re bringing in Vagana elbowed me in the face and got
A training ground accident with
since then. of niggling injuries that have hampered next year I’m hoping that I and the team sent off. But my father had to stand
the club’s player of the year, David
Nonetheless, in the latter stages of his progress,” explained Kear. can have another good year,” George down from the disciplinary panel
Howell, resulted in blood clots the Super League season he shot to “But you only have to look at his said. because of the potential conflict of
appearing in his arm - a condition prominence, scoring a succession of statistics to see he knows his way to the The youngster admits that his interest, making a judgement on a case
that almost cost him two fingers. tries and being nominated as this line. With a full pre-season under his father’s career is an inspiration, and that involved his son.
“The specialist has said this is my newspaper’s Player of the Week for his belt next year he can be competing with that he gets a lot of parental support, “Apart from that he gives me a lot of
last chance, and if it happens again, two-try performance in a losing team the top try scorers in the competition.” although because of Wilf’s role as a advice, but he recognises that the game
he won’t know what else to do,” the against the Catalans Dragons. George, whose father Wilf was a member of the RFL disciplinary has changed a lot from when he
former Whitehaven player told the Wildcats coach John Kear believes Halifax stalwart, winning a Challenge committee, some difficulties can arise. played.”
‘News and Star’ newspaper in
Cumbria.
“From a team perspective, I can’t
play a few games and then have a
FEATHER LEAVES TIGERS
few months off. I wouldn’t do that
to the club. I’d rather pack in and
find something else to do. I’m paid
FOR LEOPARDS
a wage to play.”
After making his senior
By CHRIS JONES of the season, making 27 appearances this
international debut in last year’s
year.
World Cup, Purdham has been
CASTLEFORD Tigers announced
He will now take up a contract with
overlooked for selection this time last week that Chris Feather, Ryan
French club Villeneuve Leopards until the
around, as England try to regain Boyle and Ryan Clayton will leave
end of the French season.
some pride in this autumn’s Four
the club when their contracts come
“I know Julien Rinaldi, who will be the
Nations tournament involving
to an end at the end of November.
Villeneuve coach this season, and he
France, New Zealand and Australia.
Prop forward Boyle, 21, is a local
invited me to sign for them,” explained
“It doesn’t bother me after the
product who joined the club in 2005,
Feather (pictured).
season I’ve had,” he said.
making 58 appearances, although making
“I am looking forward to the experience.
“It could all be over for me if
just the one start in 2009.
“I had been planning to go to Australia,
there’s another clot, and the main Clayton, 26, has had two spells with the and I may still do that when my contract in
thing for me is to keep fit for the club, firstly in 2004, and then from 2007, France expires, although of course I would
start of next season. As long as I can making 76 appearances in total. be interested in talking to another Super
play again, that’s the main thing.” Feather, 27, joined the Tigers at the start League club.”
Peel extends
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE
Robins not
“Justin’s still a young coach, and he’s The 26 year-old was due to be
doing a great job,” Hudgell continued. released from hospital today (Monday)
Reds
NEIL Hudgell, the Chairman of
Hull Kingston Rovers, has denied
after Moa
“He started out with us in National after undergoing three operations to
League One, and he’s now the longest correct the compound fracture to his
sponsorship
that his club is chasing the
serving coach in Super League. He’ll left tibia, and the two breaks to his
signature of Hull FC’s Tongan
those two players,” he said.
be a better coach for this year’s fibula that he sustained in an innocuous
forward Sam Moa.
“We also looked at Joel Clinton, but
experiences.” tackle by Rhinos’ Keith Senior in last
THE Trafford Centre has
Local reports last week suggested
won’t be pursuing that.”
Hudgell also explained the club’s week’s play-off game at Headingley.
renewed its team and shirt
that Rovers may offer a two-year deal
Rovers’ season ended on Saturday
decision to allow Nick Fozzard to Walker admits that he was moved by
for the out-of-contract star, in order to
night with a play-off defeat at home to
return to St Helens. the reception he received from both
sponsorship with Salford City
better the Airlie Birds’ one-year offer to
Wigan, but Hudgell claims that the
“We were keen to lower the average Leeds and Hull KR fans as he left the
Reds, which will see the
the player.
season has been full of positives,
age of our squad, and have released a pitch on a stretcher.
shopping and leisure
“The story isn’t true,” said Hudgell.
despite that disappointment.
couple of players over the age of 30,” “I was overwhelmed by that
destination remain as the
“We’re not in for him and we never
“We don’t want to be too keen to
he said. chanting,” he said.
Reds’ shirt sponsor until 2012. have been.”
bash ourselves up over the flat end to
“Saints wanted some support for “Those fans were great to me while I
The two year deal will see The Hudgell, however, admitted being
the season,” he said.
James Graham, so it’s worked out well was there as a Leeds player, and they
Trafford Centre embark on its sixth interested in North Queensland
“We did what we set out to do, and for all parties.” just confirmed what a good bunch they
year of sponsorship with the Reds
forwards Antonio Kaufusi, who has that was to make progress. Eleventh
Meanwhile Hull KR centre Chev are.
in 2010, and will include The
played for Australia, and Manase place to seventh to fourth is obviously
Walker has targeted a return to action in “I know a lot of other teams say
Trafford Centre logo going on both
Manuokafoa. progress. around six months following his they’re the whingeing Rhinos, but for
the home and away shirts.
“We are looking at front-row “We’ve got something to build on for horrific leg break against Leeds them to do that it was a great gesture
forwards, and we have an interest in next year. recently. and meant a lot to me and my family.”
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36