Mid Week Round Up; Wednesday 25th May 2011.

So, this is my first mid week round up of #rugbyleague on the blog. I love writing and seeing as I have some (if only a little) time off over the next few weeks I thought it would be a good time to start it. I’m going to do a run down over the top stories in rugby league. The majority will be from Super League but I'll try and add some other stuff too! 

We had the Challenge Cup 5^th Round this weekend and as I didn’t get the chance to do a review here are the Challenge Cup quarter final matches.

Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors - BBC 4:30pm 230711

Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants

Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos - BBC 3:30pm 240711

St Helens v Hull KR

They’re to be played the weekend of the 23^rd and 24^th July. 

I have finally seen the infamous Sam Tomkins - Gareth Raynor incident . I am 99.9% sure that he was unconscious, his eyes were so scary. In my opinion, all those comments that were made saying things along the lines of “he had it coming”, “he deserved it”, etc were out of order. I know some of the comments were made spur of the moment and on retrospect a lot of them realised and apologised. No matter how much you dislike someone you shouldn’t wish harm on them! Gareth Raynor was given a two match ban.

Talking of Sam Tomkins, him along with his fellow Wigan teammates have been banned from their new favourite past time, planking. Although they weren’t really doing anything dangerous it is a risk to them, and anyone doing it as there has been at least one publicised death from it. 

It was announced yesterday that Keith Senior will miss the rest of the season through a serious knee injury. He has played in every Super League season and still plays as though he is in his teens! I wish him best of luck with his operation and I hope he’s playing Super League next season! Get him re-signed Leeds, even if it’s only for one year!

Willie Mason has gone to Rugby Union after being released by Hull KR last week. What a joke that was. He was named in the Barbarians team yesterday and also signed for Toulon, the team he was linked with during his short stay in East Hull. Good luck to him.

Warrington’s Chris Riley, who has seemingly lost his place in the first team this season, has gone to Harlequins on loan. It’s for a month and he should add some pace to their wing, as well as being able to play first team rugby. Fellow Warrington player Lee Mitchell's contract has been extended for a month. 

Crusaders’ half back Rhys Hanbury has signed a 3 year deal which will keep him in Wales until 2014.

Catalans have a new player to add to their injury list; that being Cyril Stacul who broke his ankle during their loss to Huddersfield on Sunday. He went down unchallenged after collecting a kick. 

Match official appointments for the weekend were released like usual yesterday, if you are interested in referees, touch judges, etc for non Super League matches, visit the RFL website  where they are all listed in full.

Friday 27^th May;

Leeds v Warrington – J Child  (VR- R Silverwood)

St Helens v Crusaders – B Thaler

Sunday 29^th May;

Castleford v Harlequins – R Hicks

Hull FC v Huddersfield – T Alibert (VR- P Bentham)

Wakefield v Catalans – T Roby

Bradford v Salford – R Silverwood

Monday 30^th May;

Wigan v Hull KR – P Bentham (VR- B Thaler)


Queensland have just beaten their rivals New South Wales in the first State of Origin match of the series. The final score was 16-12, Billy Slater scoring the match winning try! 


Huddersfield Giants have just announced that Nathan Brown will be their coach for at least another year as he has signed a one year contract extension. 

Thank you for reading the new feature, I hope you’ve enjoyed it! Friday’s match previews will be up tomorrow, probably in the morning as I have an exam tomorrow afternoon!

Hannah x