Martyn Sadler, the editor of Rugby League Express, reveals which players earned Game Star awards from our reporters in the weekend’s Super League games.   Widnes Vikings 20 Castleford Tigers 40 – Daryl Clark Reporter: Steve Fox “The hooker was on top form. International form, to be precise.”   Bradford Bulls 30 Catalan Dragons 32 – Luke Gale Reporter: Aaron ... Read More »

Martyn Sadler, the editor of Rugby League Express newspaper, defends Australian Rugby League against one of its own media stars… Why do we panic so much about Rugby League’s image every time an Australian player is found to have done something silly? This week the Australian Rugby League media have been wetting themselves about a player who has literally wet ... Read More »

  Martyn Sadler, the editor of Rugby League Express, reveals which players earned Game Star awards from our reporters in the weekend’s Super League games. Hull Kingston Rovers 22 Huddersfield Giants 26 – Danny Brough Reporter: Pete Stephenson “It wasn’t his best game, but Danny Brough did enough at crucial points of the game to ensure his side came away ... Read More »

Martyn Sadler, the editor of Rugby League Express, regrets that England won’t have a mid-season international game in 2014. This is a modified version of an article that appeared in his Talking Rugby League column on Monday.   The England squad gathered in Loughborough this week for a mid-season get-together as part of their preparations for this year’s Four Nations tournament to ... Read More »

Leeds Rhinos fullback Zak Hardaker has been given a 5 -match suspension for his grade E offence of making a homophobic comment in the Rhinos’ recent game against Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. In other news from tonight’s meeting of the RFL disciplinary panel, Hardaker’s Leeds colleague Jamie Peacock was fined £300 but was not suspended for punching ... Read More »

In a Nutshell Castleford Tigers played magnificently, especially in defence, to beat Wigan 4-16 in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup quarter-final at the DW Stadium. How it unfolded There had been a considerable degree of needle in the buildup to the game, and the two sides clearly had that in mind as they went at each other early on. The Tigers ... Read More »

MARTYN SADLER wonders why crowds appear to be declining this season. This article first appeared in Monday’s edition of Rugby League Express. Rugby League supporters currently seem to be in decline. Throughout the game, crowds seem to be falling, with few exceptions. On Thursday night, for example, Huddersfield could only draw a little over 6,000 for the visit of Champions Wigan for ... Read More »

Martyn Sadler looks forward to what he hopes will be a sparkling weekend of Rugby League action at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. This is an amended version of his ‘Talking Rugby League’ in this week’s issue of League Express, which is still available in the shops, or can be bought digitally here.   It looks as though the weather is going to ... Read More »

Rugby League on both sides of the world seems to be dogged by controversy about video referees. And one issue that crops up again and again is that of obstruction, and whether a try should be awarded when there is a suspicion of obstruction. In Australia last weekend there was a clear injustice, when North Queensland were narrowly beaten by ... Read More »

I was surprised and disappointed to see Michael Carter, the Chairman of Wakefield, pitching into the appeal by Bradford Bulls to try to get back some of the six points they were deducted for having gone into administration. “It’s going to stick in my throat a little bit if the penalty for going into administration ends up being nothing,” he ... Read More »