Tag Archives: helens

James Graham pleads not guilty to ear bite charge

Posted on by

England prop Graham pleads not guilty to NRL ear bite charge

|

UPDATED:

22:40 GMT, 3 October 2012

England prop James Graham has pleaded not guilty to an NRL dangerous contact charge.

The Canterbury Bulldog was on Monday cited for allegedly biting the ear of Melbourne full-back Billy Slater during Sunday's Grand Final between the two clubs.

With video evidence appearing to suggest the 27-year-old former St Helens captain had a case to answer, it was reported he would be facing a lengthy ban, possibly of up to 12 games.

Not guilty! Graham has made his plea after being cited for dangerous contact

Not guilty! Graham has made his plea after being cited for dangerous contact

That could still be the case, with his not guilty plea leaving him open to further sanction if the NRL judiciary panel tomorrow decide he has committed an offence.

Graham was named in England's 24-man squad for the autumn international series against France and Wales.

Sam Tomkins named Super League Man of Steel 2012

Posted on by

Wiggins hands Tomkins Man of Steel award as Wigan ace crowned Super League's best

|

UPDATED:

22:56 GMT, 1 October 2012

Man of Steel: Tomkins (right) is presented his award by Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins

Man of Steel: Tomkins (right) is presented his award by Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins

Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins was on Monday night crowned Super League Man of Steel at a glittering awards ceremony in Manchester.

The England international, twice a winner of the young-player-of-the-year award, won the prestigious prize ahead of St Helens hooker James Roby and Warrington second row forward Ben Westwood.

Both Tomkins and Roby, who won the award in 2007, were short-listed for the award last season but lost out to Rangi Chase, the Castleford and England half-back.

This time Tomkins emerged top of a secret ballot of his fellow Super League players as the man deemed to have made the biggest impact on the season.

Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker was named young player of the year after a hugely impressive first full season in Super League in which he will cap an ever-present record in Saturday's Grand Final against Warrington.

The 20-year-old former Featherstone
player was at centre in last year's Grand Final win over St Helens but
has deputised so superbly for injured full-back Brent Webb that he is
set to keep the spot next season.

Star of the future: Leeds full back Zak Hardaker

Star of the future: Leeds full back Zak Hardaker

Hardaker was chosen by a specially-convened panel ahead of Bradford second rower John Bateman and St Helens centre Josh Jones, the others on the shortlist.

Mick Potter's dedication to Bradford was recognised when he was named Super League coach of the year.

The Australian stayed on at Odsal in a voluntary capacity after being made redundant by the club's administrators in July and would have taken the Bulls to the play-offs for the first time in four years had the club not been docked six points for breaching the Rugby Football League's solvency regulations.

Fine form: Tomkins starred for Wigan this season

Fine form: Tomkins starred for Wigan this season

Potter, who has returned home to Australia to seek a new job after turning down the offer of a new contract from the new Bradford club, was chosen by a secret ballot of the other 13 Super League coaches.

Former England captain Jamie Peacock, who will make a record 10th Grand Final appearance on Saturday, received the Mike Gregory State of Rugby League Award for lifetime achievement.

James Graham facing ban for biting in NRL Grand Final

Posted on by

England star Graham in hot water after 'biting rival's ear' in NRL Grand Final

|

UPDATED:

09:32 GMT, 1 October 2012

England forward James Graham is to face a hearing into an allegation that he bit the ear of Billy Slater during Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.

The former St Helens captain, now with Canterbury Bulldogs, could be banned for up to three months if he is found guilty of one of the most 'heinous crimes' in rugby league.

Graham was put on report after Melbourne full-back Slater made the allegation during his side’s 14-4 win over the Bulldogs and, as expected, the case was referred directly to the judiciary after the match review committee met on Monday morning.

Hot water: James Graham has been accused of biting an opponent during the NRL Grand Final

Hot water: James Graham has been accused of biting an opponent during the NRL Grand Final

The case would normally be heard on Wednesday but the Bulldogs have asked for it to be put back to later in the week to avoid a clash with their club presentation.

The general consensus is Graham is staring at a suspension of between eight and 12 weeks.

Canterbury’s Brad Morrin was banned for eight games in 2007 for biting Timana Tahu, while Titans utility back William Zillman copped a month for the same offence in 2009.

Ear we go: The incident is alleged to have happened during a touchline brawl

Ear we go: The incident is alleged to have happened during a touchline brawl

Both those players were biting into arms whereas Graham’s is considered more serious due to the fact he is alleged to have attacked Slater’s ear.

Graham is due to link up with England next week for their high-altitude training camp in South Africa and, if suspended, will miss their autumn international matches against France and Wales.

The skilful prop, who captained England in the 2010 Four Nations Series, had created a big impression on his first season in the NRL but his reputation is now in danger of being tarnished.

Warrington Wolves turn attention towards first Grand Final

Posted on by

Wolves keeping emotions in check as they turn sights on first Grand Final

|

UPDATED:

13:31 GMT, 30 September 2012

Warrington are through to their first Grand Final but the champagne is staying on ice for now.

The Challenge Cup winners came from behind to secure an impressive 36-18 semi-final victory over St Helens to set up a Wembley rematch with defending champions Leeds at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The celebrations at Langtree Park were muted, however, as the Wolves quickly turned their thoughts towards becoming the first team to achieve the double since St Helens won the Cup final and Grand Final in 2006 and pulling off their first league championship for 57 years.

Whoosh: Trent Waterhouse scores a try

Whoosh: Trent Waterhouse scores a try

'We're made up that we've got there but we've still a lot of hard work to do,' warned hooker Mickey Higham.

'Fair play to Saints, they had a real strong start and got us in an arm wrestle but we stuck in there and turned it around.

'We got back to something like (acceptable) with the ball and defensively and hopefully we can take that into next week.

'We won't be satisfied with just getting there. We've earned the right to get there now and we want to kick on and finish it off.

'It would be just reward for a long, consistent season.'

Tries from wings Tommy Makinson and Francis Meli and skipper Paul Wellens put Saints into a 14-4 lead and on course for a seventh successive Grand Final appearance, but Warrington crucially pulled a try back just before half-time through Simon Grix.

The Wolves then dominated the second half, with Australian second-rower Trent Waterhouse clinching victory with two tries in a decisive three-minute spell.

Gunning for silverware: Ryan Atkins celebrates at full time

Gunning for silverware: Ryan Atkins celebrates at full time

Waterhouse was an NRL Grand Final winner with Penrith Panthers in 2003 while Higham has to go back even further for his last showpiece victory, a nailbiting 19-18 success with St Helens over Bradford in 2002.

'It's my 10th anniversary,' he said. 'Personally it's been long overdue. I've been striving to get back there and I've finally done it.

'Hopefully I can have a repeat of the last one, but not as close as the last result. I'd take a one-point win but hopefully we can get the job done a bit before that.'

Warrington beat Leeds 35-18 in last month's Challenge Cup final – they were also 30-6 winners over the Rhinos at Wembley in 2010 – but the Yorkshiremen have a proud record at Old Trafford, where they are aiming for a fifth success in the last six years.

Leeds have once more defied all logic by reaching the final from fifth place and Higham admits he did not expect them to get past league leaders Wigan in Friday's first semi-final at the DW Stadium.

On the ball: Chris Riley dives into score a try

On the ball: Chris Riley dives into score a try

'Truthfully, probably not,' he said. 'I did fancy Wigan. It could have gone either way at the end but it went for Leeds.

'That's why they are a champion team, they've been there the last six or seven years.

'They had a defeat in the Challenge Cup so they have quite a few things to motivate them this week.

'It's going to be a tough one but, if we can stick to our strategies and our guns, hopefully we can get them again.'

Leeds will have half-back Danny McGuire back for the final after he sat out the Wigan tie through suspension while Warrington will also be at full strength.

England second-rower Ben Westwood, who is on the Man of Steel award shortlist, made his comeback from a knee injury sustained at Wembley and coach Tony Smith also has the option of recalling prop Garreth Carvell.

The former Leeds front-rower has recovered from a back injury but was surprisingly left out by Smith for the semi-final.

Wigan choose Leeds in Super League semi-final

Posted on by

Wigan choose Leeds in Super League semi-final… leaving Warrington for St Helens

|

UPDATED:

12:19 GMT, 23 September 2012

Wigan have chosen to play reigning Super League champions Leeds in Friday’s semi-final at the DW Stadium.

The Warriors had the right to pick their opponents under the controversial Clubcall rule and opted to avoid Challenge Cup winners Warrington, the only other choice open to them, when they announced their decision at lunchtime on Sunday.

The double-chasing Wolves, therefore, will play St Helens in the second semi-final at Langtree Park on Saturday.

Can we play you this week Leeds were picked by Wigan

Can we play you this week Leeds were picked by Wigan

Warrington, who beat Hull 24-12 in Saturday’s preliminary semi-final, suffered a 28-6 home defeat by Saints in the opening round of the play-offs and as a consequence lost home advantage at the last-four stage.

Leeds, who were chosen by Warrington in last year’s semi-finals, are aiming to win the title once more from fifth place and have started to look in ominous form with impressive wins over Wakefield and Catalan Dragons so far.

Table-toppers Wigan have done the double over the Rhinos this year and will have the chance to avenge their surprise 39-28 Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Brian McDermott’s men, who went on to lose to Warrington at Wembley.

Leeds coach Brian McDermott says his side’s Cup defeat will count for little on Friday.

'It may count more for Wigan in terms of motivation but we won’t ready much into it,' he said. 'They beat us twice in the league and it wasn’t a great day for us at home when they put 50 points past us.'

Warrington 24 Hull 12: Grand Final in sight as Wolves keep the double dream alive

Posted on by

Warrington 24 Hull 12: Grand Final in sight as Wolves keep the double dream alive

|

UPDATED:

20:03 GMT, 22 September 2012

Warrington kept alive their hopes of the double with a hard-fought Super League play-off victory over Hull that takes them to within 80 minutes of a maiden Grand Final appearance.

Veterans Brett Hodgson and Lee Briers once more led the way as the Challenge Cup winners secured only their third victory in 11 play-off ties to bring Hull's season to an end.

With Wigan almost certain to choose Leeds as their semi-final opponents in the Clubcall announcement, Warrington will be handed the chance to avenge last week's home defeat by St Helens, although this time they will have to go to Langtree Park.

Fighting spirit: Stefan Ratchford goes over for the Warriors' third try

Fighting spirit: Stefan Ratchford goes over for the Warriors' third try

Warrington sorely missed injured England forwards Ben Westwood and Garreth Carvell but still had enough firepower to cruise into a 24-0 lead after an hour before their opponents produced a late rally.

Hull looked a pale shadow of the side that had piled up 152 points in their last three matches as they rarely threatened the Warrington tryline until the final quarter.

Warrington were not much better but in stand-off Briers they had a man capable of causing no end of problems with his tactical kicking.

There was a sign of things to come when Hull full-back Richard Horne spilled one of Briers' towering kicks five minutes into the match and, when centre Jordan Turner failed to diffuse one of his 'bombs' on 13 minutes, second rower Trent Waterhouse was the first to reach the ball to record the opening try.

Briers was also the architect for the Wolves' second try seven minutes before half-time, this time with a perfectly-timed pass that enabled his half-back partner Richie Myler to slice through a gap in the visitors' defence.

Full-back Hodgson, another constant threat for the hosts, added both conversions to make it 12-0, which was the least the home side deserved for their first-half dominance.

Hull's best chance came four minutes into the second half when England winger Tom Briscoe collected Brett Seymour's kick to the corner before offloading to Aaron Heremaia but he was easily bundled into touch.

There was no way back for Hull when centre Stefan Ratchford demonstrated his exceptional talent in scoring the Wolves' third try on 53 minutes.

There seemed nothing on when the utility back got the ball 20 metres out but he fended off two defenders before kicking ahead and gathering a ricochet off a post to touch down for an opportunist score.

Hodgson kicked his third goal to make it 18-0 and, with the game effectively gone, Hull produced their best spell of the match.

Heremaia dropped a pass from prop Mark O'Meley with the tryline beckoning and right winger Jamie Foster got over the line only to be recalled for a forward pass.

Myler broke clear to get Hodgson over for his side's fourth try to stretch his side's lead to 24-0 but the Black and Whites struck back when Briscoe raced onto Heremaia's grubber kick to touch down.

Hodgson then had a second try disallowed and Hull had the final say when substitute centre Ben Crooks took Richard Horne's pass to score his side's second try, with Foster kicking his second goal on his final appearance for the club.

RFL chief defends eight team play-offs after Smith outburst

Posted on by

RFL chief defends eight team play-offs after Smith outburst

|

UPDATED:

12:41 GMT, 19 September 2012

The Rugby Football League have
launched a defence of the Super League play-off system following
criticism from Warrington coach Tony Smith.

The former England boss has called
for a re-think of the top-eight system after two one-sided play-offs in
the opening round and claimed that the views of the Super League coaches
were being ignored by the governing body.

Concern: Hull thrashed Huddersfield in the play-offs

Concern: Hull thrashed Huddersfield in the play-offs

However, those comments have been challenged by the RFL's director of standards and licensing Blake Solly, who said Smith had not raised any concerns through official channels or at recent coaches' meetings.

'The top-eight play-offs were introduced for the 2009 season during Tony's tenure as the RFL's technical director and there has been little, if any, opposition to the system from the Super League clubs since then,' said Solly.

'Only last September the clubs voted 13-1 to retain the top-eight format, with the only dissenting voice coming from one club which had concerns about ClubCall.

'The play-off format is now in its fourth year and has continued to evolve.

'Few people at the outset would have predicted that a team finishing fifth at the end of the regular season would go on to win the Grand Final, as Leeds did last year.

'The format has been so successful that the NRL in Australia have adopted it this season.

'There were some one-sided scores last weekend but how do you mitigate against form or individual performances in specific fixtures

'For example, Tony's own club Warrington were soundly beaten by St Helens on Saturday and they finished the competition in second place. Nobody could have predicted that result.'

Smith also claimed the Super League coaches do not have a voice and said the sport was 'suffering because of poor lines of communication', views which Solly strongly rejects.

'We have met the Super League coaches as a group on two occasions this year and will meet them all again in December,” he added.

'These coaches' meetings have resulted in a number of positive initiatives, for example the introduction of the early-guilty plea for players referred to the RFL disciplinary tribunals.

'At the most recent meeting in May the entire agenda was handed over to the coaches and Tony led the meeting.

'The play-offs didn't feature on the coaches' agenda at that meeting. Tony has had ample opportunity to raise any concerns he has about the play-offs but hasn't done so, which makes his comments this week all the more surprising.

'I speak to Tony on a regular basis and, like all my colleagues at the RFL, am more than happy to sit down with him at any time to discuss any issues he may have.'

Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum given three match ban

Posted on by

Wigan hooker McIlorum might miss Grand Final after three-match ban

|

UPDATED:

23:04 GMT, 11 September 2012

Wigan could be without hooker Michael McIlorum if they reach the Grand Final after he was handed a three-match ban.

McIlorum was given the suspension, along with a 300 fine, following his dismissal in last Friday's 26-18 derby defeat by St Helens.

He was shown a red card by referee James Child just 15 minutes into the final game of the regular Super League season for a high and late tackle on Saints prop Anthony Laffranchi.

Off you go: Michael McIlorum leaves the field

Off you go: Michael McIlorum leaves the field

McIlorum, who was also sent off against Bradford in June for punching, was charged by the Rugby Football League's match-review panel with a grade C reckless tackle and was found guilty on Tuesday when he appeared in front of a disciplinary hearing in Leeds.

Wigan take on Catalan Dragons in the first qualifying play-off at the DW Stadium on Friday, when a victory would take them straight through to the semi-finals and to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final.

A defeat would mean an extra game for the Warriors the following weekend against one of the winners of this weekend's elimination play-offs.

Wigan say they will appeal against McIlorum's suspension. A hearing is likely to be held on Wednesday.

Hull FC to keep Jamie Foster

Posted on by

Hull strike deal with Saints to keep Foster on week-by-week basis

|

UPDATED:

19:20 GMT, 21 August 2012

Hull have reached agreement with St Helens to keep goalkicking winger Jamie Foster at the KC Stadium on a week-by-week basis.

Foster joined the Airlie Birds on an initial one-month loan deal after being unable to regain his place in the Saints team and has played in Hull's past five matches, scoring one try and 21 goals.

Staying: Jamie Foster will stay at Hull FC on a week-by-week basis

Staying: Jamie Foster will stay at Hull FC on a week-by-week basis

He will now be available for selection for the Black and Whites until he is recalled by his parent club.

Meanwhile, Hull are anxiously awaiting the results of scans on utility player Richard Whiting and winger Tom Lineham.

Whiting picked up a foot injury in his side's 30-10 win over Catalan Dragons earlier this month while Lineham was carried off with concussion during last Saturday's defeat at Widnes and has gone for x-rays amid fears he may have broken his ankle.