Unless you’re very old like me you won’t remember ever seeing live rugby league on terrestrial, free-to-air television. I have very fuzzy memories of Clive Tyldesley commentating on Saturday afternoon games broadcast regionally. Tyldesley went on to be a top football commentator for both BBC and ITV. Meanwhile television coverage of rugby league - although far more ubiquitous in these times of multi-channel digital and satellite systems - has now regressed to the point where it falls on Terry O’Connor to describe the action.
Like just about every no-talent sixth-former with access to YouTube, rugby league is absolutely desperate for exposure. As much as O’Connor tries, even he can’t persuade the entire nation to part with enough of their hard earned to acquire a subscription to Sky Sports. Great swathes of the nation have been missing out on the greatest game these last 25 years. That’s partly because even Tanya Arnold couldn’t tell you what time The Super League Show will be broadcast by the BBC on any given week, but also because the live action has been behind a paywall.
Finally, this is being addressed for the coming season. Super League today announced a two-year deal for Channel 4 to screen live matches. They will show 10 in 2022 including two end of season playoff games. It will all kick-off on Saturday February 12 when Leeds Rhinos host Warrington Wolves at the sponsors vacuum that is Headingley;
“The opportunity to offer live Super League action to fans on a free-to-air platform across the whole season is fantastic and one that we hope will continue to serve our current fans, as well as attract many new fans to the sport.” Said Super League Chairman (for now) Ken Davy.
I’d like to end this section with a pithy put-down of the geriatric Tory. But on this I can’t fault him. Bravo Ken. Good job. You Tory f**k!
To France now where Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara has delved into the contact book as he continues his Dick Dastardly-like pursuit of those pesky Saints. The headphone-wearing motivational speaker has called on a friend from his time as the Sydney Roosters assistant coach in the shape of prop-forward Dylan Napa. The 29 year-old has played State Of Origin for Queensland as recently as 2019, but has rather less impressively spent the last three seasons with the NRL’s whipping boys the Canterbury Bulldogs;
“I'm very excited for the opportunity.” Napa said, though it is not clear whether he was talking about joining Catalans or getting away from Canterbury;
“I have a great relationship with Steve McNamara from my time at the Roosters and can't wait to get over to France, put in the work and earn respect from my team-mates and coaching staff.” He added;
“Having worked closely with Dylan at the Roosters, I know first-hand the impact he can have in this competition.” Reckoned McNamara;
“I spoke many times with him throughout the negotiations and his will, desire and enthusiasm to get back to his best form was overwhelming.”
Touching 30, suffering from a dip in form, a slightly dodgy personal history involving leaked videos and revenge porn? Can’ say he doesn’t fit the profile for a Dragons overseas recruit.
There’s a vacancy in the Dragons prop group partly due to the departure of everyone’s second favourite Tomkins brother. Former Wigan, Hull KR and England kick & clap merchant Joel had been due to sign for Leigh Centurions. However, the female bar staff of Leigh can breathe a collective sigh of relief now that Tomkins has instead decided to retire;
“I thank Leigh for their understanding of my situation.” He began;
“I wish them every success for the future. I wanted to do the right thing by the club, and they respect that.”
Another largely forgotten ex-Wiganer - Leigh Head Of Rugby Chris Chester - put aside his annoyance at having to spend more time thinking about recruitment to comment;
“Joel's had a great, great career and he's a person I've a huge amount of respect for. He always comes across as humble and we'll miss his leadership which was one of the biggest reasons we recruited him.”
Over at Chester’s old club Wakefield there have been moves made to shed any suggestion of a negative attitude to diversity which may have arisen from their players’ very public aversion to taking the knee. Chairman Michael Carter enabled that stance, but has nevertheless led Trinity to becoming the first Super League club to sign the Muslim Athlete Charter;
“I am delighted to launch this charter with a commitment to becoming a more socially diverse and inclusive club” parped Carter, to the consternation of those blurts on Twitter who think being nice to people is ‘woke’:
“I want people of the Muslim faith to feel that they can become a part of Wakefield Trinity.” He continued.
“Whether that is as a player, coach, staff member or fan, and (I) look forward to working progressively together on this charter.”
And on that note, having seen both Davy and Carter engaging in initiatives which I whole-heartedly support, I’m going for a lie down in a dark room. See you next week.
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