Latest news with #KallumWatkins
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leeds produce thrilling comeback to beat Hull FC
Betfred Super LeagueLeeds (4) 18Tries: McDonnell, Holroyd, Lumb, Hall Goals: MillerHull FC (10) 16Tries: Martin, Eseh, Barron Goals: Sezer 2 Ryan Hall's try with 36 seconds remaining completed a thrilling Leeds comeback from 16-4 behind as the Rhinos beat Hull FC and secured a fourth victory in five matches to move fourth in Super Hall scored the winner with precious little space to work in from an inspired Lachie Miller pass after Kallum Watkins had wriggled free to the wild joy of the home fans at looked to have hung on for a first win in their past three attempts at Leeds before the scintillating final act denied John Cartwright's players a result that would have sent them above their Black and Whites remain sixth in the table, three points behind the to follow Leeds: Miller; Hall, Newman, Handley, Lumb; Connor, Croft; Oledzki, O'Connor, Palasia, McDonnell, Gannon, Lisone, Holroyd, Bentley, FC: Pryce; Barron, Rapana, Litten, Martin; Cust, Sezer; Ese'ese, Bourouh, Knight, Hardaker, Chamberlain, Ashworth, Briscoe, Eseh, Jack Smith.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Salford Red Devils: Chief executive Chris Irwin resigns
In an interview in March, Irwin told BBC Radio Manchester he was confident the club would come through the problems relating to the takeover. He said: "In terms of the large funds that we are hoping will come over and really elevate the club and take the club on, we will be waiting for those funds a bit longer than we had hoped for. "However, through March we will be fine. And come April we hope we can really kick on - on the pitch and off the pitch too." Since then there has been a string of high-profile departures with captain Kallum Watkins, star centre Tim Lafai and half-back Chris Atkin all leaving. It has left the squad threadbare with head coach Paul Rowley forced to play many youngsters and struggling to compete in Super League.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leeds re-sign former captain Watkins from Salford
Leeds Rhinos have re-signed former captain Kallum Watkins from Salford Red Devils on a deal for the remainder of the 2025 Super League 34-year-old won the World Club Challenge, three Super League Grand Finals and two Challenge Cups with the Rhinos before leaving in then had a short spell with NRL side Gold Coast Titans and joined Salford in 2020 after initially signing for Toronto Wolfpack before their demise."I am delighted to be coming back to the Rhinos where my career began," he said."I would like to thank everyone at Salford Red Devils for the experiences we had shared together."It has been an incredibly tough season for everyone involved, from the players to the coaches and the staff at the Devils. I hope some resolution can be found in the coming weeks and months and the club can once again challenge in Super League."Watkins, who has won 29 England caps, will not be involved for either Salford or Leeds when the two sides face each other later this 21-year-old forward Toby Warren will move the other way as part of a loan deal, keeping him with Salford for the rest of the season. England centre Watkins spent 11 seasons at Headingley and left mid-season in 2019 to join the Titans having previously agreed to join them at the end of that season in the midst of a salary cap move down under was blighted by the Covid pandemic and he made just eight appearances before returning to England in April 2020 when his father contracted went on to agree a move to Toronto that summer but did not make an appearance for the club before they folded later that led to him arranging a move to Salford during a Covid-interrupted 2020 season, helping the club reach that season's Challenge Cup final where they were defeated by made a total of 96 Salford appearances in almost five years with the club and is the latest exit as the Red Devils battle financial issues off the joins Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton and Tim Lafai in exiting the beleaguered club in recent weeks.
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Salford allowed to name strong squad against Castleford despite salary cap issue
Salford have been granted dispensation to name an almost full-strength squad for Friday's Betfred Super League trip to Castleford despite being hit with another salary cap sanction this week. The Rugby Football League re-imposed a £1.2million squad limit after the club failed to meet a deadline to deliver its February payroll to players and staff by Tuesday lunchtime. The ruling raised the prospect of Salford having to play the same youth team line-up that crashed to a record 82-0 defeat at St Helens on the opening day of the Super League season, or being forced to forfeit the game at The Jungle. Technically Salford are unable to bring in any more players who did not feature in the Challenge Cup game against Midlands Hurricanes last month, but in a meeting on Wednesday the club convinced the RFL to allow them to replace a number of currently injured or suspended players with new ones. This means Salford can call upon captain Kallum Watkins, half-back Marc Sneyd and veteran Chris Hill in place of the likes of suspended duo Jayden Nikorima and Joe Shorrocks, and sidelined forward Brad Singleton. Recalling the young players who featured at Saints was not an option, because under RFL rules, players go on the cap after they have played one match, so a repeat of the line-up at the Totally Wicked Stadium would have breached the limit. As of Wednesday, Salford's players and staff had still not been paid, with the club citing delays in the transfer of funds from overseas. And there remains a question mark over the viability of the fixture with first-team players also having refused to train up to Wednesday, until their overdue wages cleared. Speaking shortly before the Salford squad was announced, Castleford head coach Danny McGuire stressed the need for his side to try to block out the ongoing controversy and focus on themselves. 'We're preparing for the best Salford team and we're doing everything possible to make sure we're in a good position to play well – all the other things are out of my control,' said McGuire. 'Salford have got some really good players, and I don't think anyone wants to see the game that happened first up against St Helens. 'I feel for the Salford players and fans, and we all want the game to be successful. But ultimately I can't worry about it. I've got too much going on from day to day to try and make this team competitive.'
