Salford,
Have suffered a serious injury blow at the start of the new season. As Manu Vatuvei has sustained an achilles injury.

Etene Nanai-Seturo....signed 5 yr deal with the NZ warriors when he was 15yrs old.....3 years later he's playing for the AB7's in Union and apparently there's not a lot that the Warriors can do........
rlhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/101149810/etene-nanaiseturo-shows-the-warriors-and-league-what-they-will-be-missingrl
....this kid looks like the real deal.

The RLIF are suing the the tournament promoters of the world cup for over $500,000.
The issue arise from the games played in Papua new Guinea. IMG are arguing that the initial contract for the tournament didn't involve a venue outside of Australia/New Zealand. With a heavy additional cost coming as a result of the 3 games in PNG.

Sky are showing all 4 games involving SL sides in Australia live. The Wigan/Hull games this week is on SKY Action in think. Then on Friday morning will be the Leeds/Melbourne game. Then on Saturday morning will be both the Wigan/Souths and Hull/St George. Hopefully sky will send at least 4 of there colour commentators on a 1 way ticket.

For the first time a SL club will face the 2 refs system. As it's been announced that this Fridays WCC will have the system.

Will be intresting to see how Leeds cope with it.

Especially Carl Ablett

They managed fine with Sinfield + 1 other ref on the field for years.

Don't understand Brian's concerns with two refs.
Professional rugby players should be able to just get on with playing rugby within the rules surely.

He hasn't had the opportunity to prepare for it. I'd be very surprised if the top coaches don't instil into the players what they are and aren't likely to get away with under a one ref system. Could see Leeds getting penalised left, right and centre. Correctly, I hasten to add, before I get accused of paranoia. Same would apply to all SL sides under similar circs. The kind of wake up call the UK game needs IMO though it'll be a shame if it spoils what should be a showpiece occasion.

Isn't so much concerns about two refs it's how it been switched at such late notice. They agreed to international rules (which is one ref) when the game was arranged a couple of months ago and now they've switched it just a few days before the game. That is poor and shouldn't happen. Had they had decided 2 refs 2 months ago then fine, but they didn't.

Spot on AG.

Widnes forward Chris Houston has been given a 2 games ban for his accidental/Deliberate (depending on your point of view), push of Phil Bentham.
Depressingly this story has been on most Talksport news bulletins. Very little about the Australia games was mentioned, but this is!

Sebastine Ikahihifo has signed a 3 year contract extension with Huddersfield.

Keith Galloway has left Leeds, and retired from the professional game.

Galloway who's recovering from his 2nd ruptured ankle, has gone home and joined amateur club oakdale.

The RFL have confirmed that they are moving to the Etihad complex in Manchester. For there new base of operationsome.

Surely we've not become so apathetic as for that news to not warrant its own thread?

Dec Patten has been handed a 5 game ban for his tackle that resulted in his sending off, in Friday's game v Hull.