RL News: Koukash declared bankrupt, Super League winning full-back set to retire and State of Origin star bound for Super League

Below is a round-up of all the latest news from the world of rugby league over the last 24 hours.

Ex-Salford owner Koukash declared bankrupt

Former Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash has been declared bankrupt by a county court in Liverpool. We’ve looked at the information available behind the bankruptcy and also assessed his legacy from his time within rugby league.

Round 12 Predictions, Officials and Team News

Round 12 kicks off tomorrow night and it could be a week of upsets, which is becoming a trend at the moment. It starts with Wakefield hosting Hull FC in which Luke Gale could debut. A top of the table clash between Warrington and Hull KR is a standout fixture, alongside Wigan who will look to bounce back against Leeds Rhinos. Catalans travel to Castleford whilst Leigh look to make it four in a row against a downbeat Huddersfield. All the officials have been appointed as well and can be found here.

Marquee player rule to change the game

There’s set to be a potential change to the rules surrounding marquee players in Super League and if passed they could have huge consequences. It would increase the number of marquee players from two to three but the provision would be that the third player would have to be British or French, thus incentivising clubs to invest in local and domestic players.

Super League team dealt double blow of star players

It’s been confirmed that Hull KR will be without both Jordan Abdull and Lachlan Coote for at least one month, with the former possibly missing five to six weeks. Rovers managed to see off Huddersfield without Abdull last week, and with Coote departing after just eight minutes, but scans have confirmed that Man of Steel contender Abdull will be out for an extended period. Full-back Coote tore his hamstring and that will see him out for a month. Rovers have also confirmed that full-back Coote is set to retire at the end of the season after a long and illustrious career.

Teams tie down homegrown talent

Hull FC and Warrington Wolves have been the latest teams to tie down their homegrown stars on extended deals. FC have extended the contracts of three young Englishmen until at least the end of the 2024 season, whereas Warrington have secured their hooker of the future until at least 2026 in a big re-signing. It wasn’t all positive news for Hull FC though with boss Tony Smith admitting that an outside back may require surgery and could be out for up to a year.

State of Origin star Super League bound

It’s not uncommon for veteran NRL players to head to Super League for the latter part of their career, but rarely do State of Origin stars make the switch. Per the Mole of Wide World of Sports that could be the case with utility man Tyrone Peachey set to move to Super League for one final big contract. At 31 he will still have plenty to offer and could be an incredible signing for any contending team.

Tigers make coaching appointment

Castleford Tigers have only had Andy Last in the head coaching job officially for less than a month but they’re now adding an assistant to join him in the shape of Batley Bulldog’s head coach Craig Lingard. It’s had to be explained how Lingard will split his time given that he will retain the Batley job, but it’s just the first of two appointments at the Jungle this week. The Tigers have also appointed a Director of Rugby who will oversee recruitment and youth development.

Man of Steel Update

The points for the Man of Steel competition have been announced for the recent round of Super League and there’s plenty of brilliant stars to feature. Some have even picked up points despite being on the wrong side of results. The points have also seen long time leader George Williams knocked off top spot with a new face atop the table.

Leeds tunnel clash confirmed

Channel 4 rugby league returns

This week sees six incredible games aired on TV starting with Thursday morning’s NRL clash and then being rounded out on Saturday with a midday Super League fixture. That game is being broadcast on Channel 4 with the popular broadcaster set to provide another dose of free-to-air rugby league for millions of fans.

Rovers reveal incredible growth

Hull KR have been one of the best teams this season with the Willie Peters revolution fully underway, and it’s not just on the pitch that the club are thriving. They’ve revealed their monthly attendance figures and boast a brilliant crowd and they’ve also highlighted the huge off-field development with memberships soaring, something that IMG will no doubt love.

Championship side issue SOS whilst one receive huge news

Cumbria is a hotbed for rugby league talent and one of the counties that has a forgotten appreciation for the sport. They boast three teams, two of which are in the Championship, and one of those have called for help as they appeal for board members. Meanwhile Bradford Bulls have announced that they’ve been awarded Elite Academy Status which is a huge boost to their prospects under IMG’s grading criteria.