Harry Grant is confident he won’t be robbed of an Australian debut after the Melbourne hooker suffered a rib injury during a training mishap.
Grant copped the knock after running into a goalpost during Kangaroos training at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium while chasing Reuben Cotter. It was said the noise of the collision was such that the medical staff feared a much worse injury.
“I was chasing Reuben down the sideline and cleaned the post up but I am not too bad,” said Grant, who is slated to share dummy half duties with Ben Hunt against Fiji in Leeds on Saturday night.
“There was just a little bit of pain but it’s not too bad. I got through the session. It sort of come from nowhere, I dived for him and hit the post bad. I didn’t even see it. I was a little bit winded but I’m all good to go, and very excited.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was satisfied Grant would be good to go. “Thankfully Harry is OK,” Meninga said. “He has just got bruised ribs, but I know he is fine because he completed the session.
“I am really excited for the players. You can tell how much they are looking forward to it because that was our first real training session, and it was unbelievably good.
“I am really happy with the way everyone has bought into things and they are mixing really well socially as well so I am looking forward to getting stuck into it.”
Jillaroos getting equal pay
The Australian women’s rugby league team will be paid at the same rate as the men’s side at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, with each of the 24 squad members taking home a minimum of $30,000.
As recently as last week, the Jillaroos were unsure how much they would be paid for the tournament despite readying to leave for England on October 23.
Weeks of negotiations between the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) ended with a large pay increase agreed from the $3000 earned by each Jillaroos player at the most recent World Cup in 2017.
The RLPA told AAP ensuring equal pay for equal work was a focus of the negotiations.
While the men’s side will receive $40,000 each, that figure is only higher because the Kangaroos are away from home longer and are playing in a tournament with one more finals match for each team that qualifies.
Isabelle Kelly. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The pay rise is a boon for the women’s side given players generally work second jobs to support their rugby league career, with some taking leave without pay to take part in the tournament.
“We just want to be equal and valued for our time, and have the same conversations they have in the men’s space in the women’s space,” Jillaroos co-captain Kezie Apps told AAP.
“Whatever the boys get and we get, if that is similar or the same for our time, then that is a win for us.”
The RLPA will now turn its attention to brokering a new collective bargaining agreement with the ARLC.
The current accord expires on November 1 and will impact the salary cap, meaning some high-profile players who come off contract next year have been reluctant to enter talks.
“It’s pretty disappointing,” South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell said last week.
“(NRL CEO Andrew) Abdo came out and said he supports the playing groups but that’s all words.
“If you don’t put actions to words, it’s no good to us.” – AAP
Kiwis eye UK return in 2023
New Zealand are reviewing their options for a return to the UK before a ball has even been kicked in the Rugby League World Cup.
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire embraced the idea of a tour in 2023, which would be the first time that the Baskerville Shield – as the series between New Zealand and England is known – has been disputed since 2018.
England are looking to increase elite competition, as they lack the options that Southern Hemisphere sides have to play local opposition and high-level interstate matches such as State of Origin, with only a midseason Test against France available to Shaun Wane’s men.
“Definitely,” Madge said when asked if he was looking to return. “I’m a big advocate for pushing more games, especially for the Kiwi players.
“The Australian players have their State of Origin. I’d love to have some form of series. I’m not aware of how that will work but the game itself needs more international games.
“I remember as a young bloke, that was the pinnacle. Playing for your country was number one and you see that with the Kiwi boys, they’re passionate about playing at this level and there’s nothing better than being in camp.
“When you’re mixing some of the best players in the world playing together, they go to a whole different level. Definitely, I’d love to tour over here.”
Ireland and Samoa face off
Neither Ireland nor Samoa were able to get a warm-up game in ahead of their opening round fixtures, but have done the next best thing by facing off in an opposed session at Castleford’s Wheldon Road stadium.
Samoa are based in Doncaster, just south of Castleford, and Ireland are in Leeds, to the north, allowing them to meet for a tough training opportunity.
With both sides in action this weekend, it was vital to get a solid hit out in, but neither was able to arrange a full warm-up due to travel commitments from players arriving from Australia.
Samoa had six Penrith Panthers players involved on Grand Final day, plus Junior Paulo from Parramatta, precluding anything like a full strength team from playing before yesterday.
