England international set to retire

We have seen the likes of Wigan Warriors star John Bateman and current Warrington Wolves star George Williams try their hand at the NRL.

One of the best English players in the NRL has been Elliot Whitehead after he left Catalans Dragons for the Canberra Raiders.

The second-row though is set to retire at the end of 2024 as per the Canberra Times and coach Ricky Stuart.

He said 2024 would be the former Bradford Bulls second-row’s last.

He will be hoping to make different headlines to the ones he made in 2023.

Though we rarely see elaborate celebrations in rugby league that wasn’t the case in the NRL this  after a Canberra Raiders try.

You will no doubt have heard about Johnny Bairstow’s dismissal in the Ashes against Australia in the cricket lately.

Barstow believed the over had ended, left his crease to change ends and was stumped out much to the outrage of the whole British sporting community especially as Australia went on to win.

Today, after the Canberra Raiders scored they re-enacted the now infamous moment with England international Elliot Whitehead playing the role of Barstow.

You can watch the clip below:

How about this @sportsbetcomau #TryJuly celebration 🏏 pic.twitter.com/RQMshuviyG

— NRL (@NRL) July 7, 2023

Now though Piers Morgan has raged about the incident on Twitter:

“Just found out the batsman in this shameful spirit-of-the-game mocking stunt is not only ENGLISH, but a YORKSHIREMAN. What on earth are you doing Elliott Whitehead? Are you a closet Australian?”

Just found out the batsman in this shameful spirit-of-the-game mocking stunt is not only ENGLISH, but a YORKSHIREMAN. What on earth are you doing Elliott Whitehead? Are you a closet Australian? pic.twitter.com/BvT1008Gmf

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 7, 2023

As we all know Whitehead is a proud Englishman.

He has been a mainstay in the England side for years and scored in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Samoa.

Whitehead responded to the complaints from Morgan saying on Instagram:

“Bit of fun and all for a good cause. Hope I ain’t upset my fellow English.”

He would later say on the Canberra Raiders Twitter page: “I think Piers is into me a bit but I am a proud Englishman and it is for a good cause and a bit of fun. Hopefully people find it funny.”

This good cause is because in the NRL this month for every elaborate celebration money will be given to charity.