Wildcats weigh up options
WAKEFIELD are making contingency plans in the event of coach John Kear being given the England job.
Kear’s assistant Paul Broadbent and Featherstone’s former Leeds boss Daryl Powell are thought to be on the list of candidates to take over at the Wildcats if Kear moves into the national role.
A decision will be made on Tony Smith’s successor this month. Kear maintains he has not been contacted by the RFL and other names in the mix are Harlequins’ Brian McDermott and another ex-Leeds coach, Graham Murray.
Huddersfield have again been linked with Wakefield scrum-half Danny Brough, who is in the last year of his contract. The Giants were ready to pay a fee for Brough last year but would get him for free at the end of the season.
The RFL have begun an investigation into centre Keith Senior’s criticism of referee Richard Silverwood in the wake of Leeds’ World Club Challenge defeat by Melbourne. Senior labelled Silverwood “arrogant” after being penalised for dissent.
It was a costly lapse in discipline, with Cameron Smith kicking the resultant penalty to put the Storm 12-10 in front before Anthony Quinn’s late clincher for the Australian champions .
Senior, angry over what he thought was Silverwood’s lax approach to Melbourne’s “laying on” at the play-the-ball , later apologised.
His comments will be studied by the RFL’s compliance manager, who can charge Senior with bringing the game into disrepute. Leeds have to decide whether Senior has breached the club’s internal disciplinary procedures.
“I would like to apologise for any offence caused,” said Senior. “Unfortunately I let my emotions get the better of me after a physically and mentally draining clash with Melbourne.
“Having had time to reflect on my comments, I appreciate that, like us players, referees have a difficult job to do.”
