Below is a round-up of all the biggest rumours and gossip from the world of rugby league over the past week.
Adrian Lam to coach in the NRL in the future?
Leigh Leopards Head Coach Adrian Lam has been on a whirlwind journey since becoming taking over at Leigh in 2022; and this was topped off this weekend as he led his team to Challenge Cup glory at Wembley. This has earned him high praise from the NRL, with one unspecified NRL Club Chairman saying to the Mole from World Wide of Sport: “What he has done with Leigh has the Rugby League world talking – he is a future first grade coach here for sure. He has been there, done that as a player and a coach and could be a breath of fresh air to a club looking for a new face in the next couple of years.” Whilst Adrian is more than content in the North West of England, could we see him in the hot seat of an NRL club in the future?
Adam Clune bound for the John Smith’s?
Adam Clune is another NRL man who has been heavily linked with a move to the UK. The St George Illawarra Dragons half-back has attracted interest from Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos ahead of the 2024 season; however it has emerged that Huddersfield is another possible destination. Giants Head Coach Ian Watson has confirmed the club have held talks with Clune, saying: “We’re interested. We’ll see. We’re speaking like probably everybody else. We’ll see and we’re hopeful we can get something done like we always are when we speak to players. There’ll be lots of players that come up and names will get thrown around and obviously if you’re looking in that area as well you’re going to get tagged with every kind of player but yeah it was interesting because for four weeks all we’ve seen is Hull and Leeds on that one.”
Luke Thompson to Super League
Another week, another Luke Thompson update. The England International has been the talk of the town this season, being heavily linked with a return to the UK, with clubs like Leeds Rhinos, St Helens and Wigan Warriors being thrown into the hat. He has also been linked with clubs in Australia, namely Wests Tigers; however reports in Australia suggest multiple Super League clubs are interested in the prop, and there have been “lucrative bids” to bring the former St Helens man back.
Aidan Sezer surprise role at Wests Tigers
It is increasingly likely that Leeds Rhinos will lose Aidan Sezer to Wests Tigers next season, but reports from Australia suggest Sezer is a ‘stop-gap’ in the clubs rebuild. The Tigers are languishing at the bottom of the NRL ladder this season, and have already begun the process of rebuilding. The club have signed St George Illawarra Dragon’s player Jayden Sullivan, and it looks like Sezer will join the club to help Sullivan’s development and take on a mentoring role.
Promising youngster set for Union move
Rugby Australia are lining up a move for promising young Rugby League player Tallis Duncan, according to reports in Australia. Duncan has featured six times for the South Sydney Rabbitohs this season, and has caught the eye of the ‘other code’. He is the latest NRL player to swap codes; Joseph Suaali’i has already been tempted to cross over into Union, and Wallabies Head Coach Eddie Jones has previously expressed an interest in NRL stars Cameron Munster, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita after being spotted at Queensland training during the State of Origin series. Payne Haas is also heavily linked with a move to Rugby Union.
