Latest news with #MagicWeekend
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Musgrove departure confirmed as Warrington Wolves release statement
ZANE Musgrove's time as a Warrington Wolves player is officially over. The club have released a brief statement this afternoon confirming the prop's departure with immediate effect having come to a mutual agreement over his release. At the same time, Championship club Oldham have confirmed they have signed Musgrove on an 18-month contract. The statement does not go into detail about the reasons why Musgrove has been let go, but it is understood that an internal disciplinary matter has led them to come to this decision. Read more > COMMENT: An extra problem that Warrington Wolves simply did not need "Warrington Wolves can confirm that Zane Musgrove has left the club by mutual agreement with immediate effect," the statement reads. "We thank Zane for his contribution during his time at the Wire and wish him well in the next chapter of his career." A former teammate of head coach Sam Burgess at South Sydney Rabbitohs, Musgrove arrived in England alongside him ahead of the 2024 season. He leaves having made 38 appearances for the club, with his last game for the club coming at Magic Weekend against Wigan Warriors earlier this month. Since then, he was 18th man for the Challenge Cup semi-final win over Leigh Leopards but has been left out of the 21-man squad altogether for the two games to follow, including tonight's home game against cup final opponents Hull KR. The 29-year-old's departure means Warrington now have an overseas quota spot available for which to recruit mid-season as well as salary cap space. However, any player brought in before the upcoming Challenge Cup Final will not be able to feature at Wembley due to competition rules - only players registered before the semi-final stage are able to play.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lino inspires Wakefield to seven-try win over Wire
Betfred Super League Wakefield (18) 40 Tries: Faatili 2, Griffin 2, Hall, Johnstone, Pratt Goals: Jowitt 6 Warrington (10) 10 Tries: Lindop, Wrench Goals: Sneyd Mason Lino delivered a virtuoso display as Wakefield Trinity posted the first back-to-back wins of their Super League campaign with a 40-10 victory over Warrington Wolves. Wakefield's half-back was in unstoppable form as Trinity backed up their 32-8 Magic Weekend win over Castleford Tigers with a seven-try romp against Wire. The 31-year-old Samoa international produced a superb display with both boot and hands, as he assisted in four of Wakefield's tries as they blew away the Challenge Cup finalists to go sixth in the table. This was first time since last season's promotion to the top flight under coach Daryl Powell that Wakefield have registered consecutive Super League victories. Yet from the off it always seemed likely. Prop Caius Faatili scored two tries inside the first 10 minutes - to follow up his double against the Tigers - as Wakefield went on the charge early with Max Jowitt's goals putting them 12-0 up. A third from Josh Griffin on 27 minutes stretched Trinity's lead to 18-0 before Warrington finally flexed their muscles with Arron Lindop and Connor Wrench pulling it back to 18-10 at the break. If Warrington had gone in with a spring in their step at half-time, it did not last long into the second period as Corey Hall barged over from four yards and Max Jowitt added the extras to stretch the lead out to 14 points again. Warrington could be forgiven for tiring as the half progressed. Not only are they battling a seemingly ever-increasing injury list, but they came into this fixture against a well-rested Wakefield off the back of a battling Challenge Cup semi-final win over Leigh Leopards last Sunday. Those tired legs definitely contributed to this scoreline as Lino pulled the strings as Wakefield piled on the misery. His boot had set up the second of Faatili's tries and his quick hands assisted for Griffin's first, but he was the last person Warrington wanted at the helm given the assured way he dictated the direction of play in the second period. Tom Johnstone finished on 56 minutes, and a brilliant offload inches off the turf from Mathieu Cozza put in Griffin close to the line for a second try seven minutes later. Oli Pratt touched down 12 minutes from time with his try converted by the reliable boot of Jowitt, who finished with six successful goals from seven attempts. Warrington, who remain in ninth place after their sixth league defeat of the season, have much to look forward to with a Challenge Cup final date with Hull KR on 7 June. But Wire coach Sam Burgess will be hoping the physio's table empties and they can put days like this behind them before tackling the league leaders at Wembley. Wakefield: Rourke; Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone; Jowitt, Lino; McKeeken, Hood, Faatili, Croft, Griffin, Pitts. Interchanges: Scott, Vagana, Cozza, Smith. Warrington: Dufty; Thewlis, Tai, Wrench, Lindop; Ratchford, Sneyd; Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Holdroyd, Russell, Currie. Interchanges: Philbin, Crowther, Harrison, Gardner. Referee: Liam Rush.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SQUAD NEWS: Long-term injury returnee and possible debutant in Wire's 21
CONNOR Wrench has been named in a Warrington Wolves matchday squad for the first time in almost a year. The 23-year-old has completed his recovery from his second ACL injury in as many years, which he sustained during a home victory over Huddersfield Giants on July 5 last year. Head coach Sam Burgess hinted during his pre-match press conference that Wrench is unlikely to feature this week but with numbers stretched in the outside-backs, the academy graduate is expected to play imminently. There is also a potential senior debut for centre Zack Gardner - the son of Wire's head of performance Ade Gardner - after he too was named in Burgess' 21-man squad. Winger Matty Ashton became The Wire's latest and most crushing injury blow this week after he was ruled out for the rest of 2025 after damaging the ACL and MCL in his right knee during the Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Leigh Leopards. Second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon is named in the squad but is expected to miss the game having aggravated a rib injury during the same game while winger Josh Thewlis is out under concussion protocol having failed a head injury assessment. George Williams (ankle) and Danny Walker (knee) remain absent while there is no place in the squad for Zane Musgrove, with fellow prop Max Wood drafted into the 21. Jordy Crowther, Ben Currie, Matt Dufty, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Zack Gardner, James Harrison, Adam Holroyd, Toby King, Oli Leyland, Arron Lindop, Joe Philbin, Sam Powell, Stefan Ratchford, Dan Russell, Marc Sneyd, Rodrick Tai, Jake Thewlis, Paul Vaughan, Max Wood, Connor Wrench, Luke Yates Wakefield could welcome former Wire winger Matty Russell back into contention this week as well as forward Seth Nikotemo. Trinity have themselves been hit by injuries with the likes of Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Matty Storton and Olly Russell among those missing. Their 21-man squad is unchanged from the one ex-Warrington boss Daryl Powell picked from for their Magic Weekend victory over neighbours Castleford Tigers a fortnight ago. 🏉 UNCHANGED!! That's right Daryl Powell has named an unchanged 21-man squad to take on Warrington Wolves this Sunday!! 👉🏻 — Wakefield Trinity (@WTrinityRL) May 16, 2025
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Burgess outlines Sneyd's remarkable recovery plus post-match injury news
SAM Burgess says Marc Sneyd's remarkable return to the Warrington Wolves side was driven by the man himself. Indeed, he called the fact he returned to the side less than three weeks after undergoing facial surgery 'an amazing act of human nature.' The scrum-half suffered a fracture eye socket during the Round Nine victory over St Helens and as such seemed set to miss the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh Leopards. Not only did he get himself back in the side, however, he made the difference on the day too with his nine points from the boot – courtesy of four goals from as many attempts and a drop goal – ultimately proved the difference in taking The Wire back to Wembley. Marc Sneyd's nine points from the boot ultimately saw Warrington through to Wembley (Image: Alex Whitehead/ After the game, Burgess acclaimed that once the former Salford Red Devils had affirmed his desire to play, the decision to take a risk on his fitness became an easy one. 'He's a brilliant player and a very strong-willed bloke,' he said. 'He was the one who came to me and said 'I'm going to train this week and if I can train, I'll play.' 'It's so valuable having a guy around who drives standards like that – it's quite easy to follow a bloke who says things like that after having surgery a couple of weeks ago. 'I'm proud of Marc and for his family – I thought he was very good for us.' When asked whether or not, medically speaking, Sneyd should have played, the Wire boss added: 'Well we all hear about these amazing acts of human nature… 'The brain is a powerful muscle and he made a commitment to himself to play, so he played. 'It was an easy decision to pick him – there's always an element of risk but it's paid off.' Sneyd was not the only Warrington player who returned to the side – winger Matty Ashton and centre Toby King were also making their comebacks having sat out the Magic Weekend loss to Wigan Warriors. However, Ashton was one of three players who were forced off injured during the 21-14 victory at the Totally Wicked Stadium as he was replaced by Arron Lindop in the first half. Matty Ashton was forced off injured during the first half (Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire) Josh Thewlis then failed a head injury assessment following a head-on-head collision with Leigh forward Owen Trout – an incident Burgess was critical of the handling of by the match officials – while Lachlan Fitzgibbon also had to be replaced due to a recurrence of a rib issue. Thewlis will now definitely miss next weekend's trip to Wakefield Trinity under concussion protocol while Burgess cast doubt on Ashton and Fitzgibbon's chances of being fit. 'Thewlis failed his HIA. I'd love a bit of clarity on the rules with that – it's on report and it's head-on-head, my player's knocked out,' he said. 'I don't know if the rules have changed but I'd love some clarity from Phil Bentham (RFL head of match officials) and his team on that. 'I heard (St Helens head coach) Paul Wellens talking about it, (Catalans Dragons head coach) Steve McNamara was talking about it yesterday so I'm not the only coach talking about it but there's limited input and conversation on it. 'It's hard for me to then lead as a coach not knowing exactly what the rules are. It's hard to work it out. 'Fitzy is in a bit of pain – he's got some rib problems so he might need a couple of weeks. 'Tashy is a knee issue and we're not quite sure what it is. 'The first reports aren't too bad so let's think in a few weeks' time he'll be ready to play.'
North Wales Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Hull KR boss Willie Peters will not change plans ahead of semi-final
Rovers head into their fourth consecutive last-four appearance in the competition sitting pretty on top of Super League and bouncing out of a 54-0 Magic Weekend shutout of hapless Salford. But despite also being backed by over 90 per cent of the sold-out 8,500 crowd at York's LNER Stadium, Peters insists it is too soon to entertain the prospect of their first piece of silverware since the 1985 Premiership title. 'It's difficult to win trophies and we're aware of that,' said Peters, who expects to be able to welcome back Tom Davies, Joe Burgess and Kelepi Tanginoa, all of whom missed the trip to Newcastle. 'Hopefully this year we'll get a trophy but it's difficult to be in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, and then it's difficult to go on to Wembley and win the trophy. 'We're on a journey still, and what we're doing every day when we come in to work is about improving. If we do that then we will put ourselves in a position to win. 'If you start thinking about trophies and the end results, that's when you lock up. We've always been about process, and if you get that right, then in the end most of the trophies will come.' Rovers will start as heavy favourites against Steve McNamara's Catalans side, whose recent revival was ended by last week's Magic Weekend loss to Leigh, and will be without experienced full-back Sam Tomkins due to injury. And victory could well set up a second Wembley clash in three years against the Leopards, who face Warrington in the second semi-final on Sunday, and who famously clinched the 2023 crown with Lachlan Lam's golden point drop-goal. 'Wembley is a great experience but the outcome (in 2023) wasn't great,' added Peters. 'It's something the players who haven't done it obviously want to be a part of. But our narrow focus is on Catalans this week. 'We're looking at it as a home game in terms of having 90 per cent of the supporters there. That makes it a home ground advantage really, so we need to make sure we make the most of that.' Leigh head into Sunday's clash with last year's beaten finalists Warrington on the back of a five-match winning run in all competitions. Like Rovers, both clubs will head into Sunday with significant injury problems, with the Leopards welcoming back classy full-back David Armstrong, while half-back Marc Sneyd is expected to return for Warrington after surgery on a fractured eye socket. Reflecting their famous 2023 triumph, Leigh boss Adrian Lam said: 'It's obviously a highlight of the club in recent times, just seeing the town and how they responded to it, and the open-top bus the day after are memories we will have for ever. 'But this is a new group and for the journey this group is on, there is a lot to look forward to and achieve, and there is no bigger game than this semi-final first.'
