Coup for women’s league

RUGBY league has struck back in the accelerated contest to get female team sports on to free-to-air television by securing live Channel 7 broadcasts of the women’s World Cup.

Off the pace in national teams competitions in comparison with cricket, Aussie rules and netball, league will have all 12 matches of the women’s World Cup live on one of Seven’s channels.

This month’s women’s league trans-Tasman Test on Channel 9 was telecast on a delayed basis after a live broadcast of the men’s Test.

“To broadcast every match across Australia is a significant step forward for rugby league, providing a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the skills and competitiveness of the women’s game,’’ RLWC chief executive Andrew Hill said.

“It will inspire further growth of the game from grassroots to the elite level.

“Female participation is one of the fastest growing areas of the sport.’’ EDMONTON players remain “buoyant” for the rest of the season ahead after their goodbye to CDRL A-grade coach Anthony Blackwood, who cited family reasons and a lack of work for his reluctant midseason departure.

The Storm coach informed the players on Tuesday and expressed a desire to help the club find a replacement to provide strong football leadership to take them forward on the field.

Blackwood said he was “more than happy” with the commitment of the players to adapt to his game plan and although it had yet to garner results, believed they were headed in the right direction.

“I was really looking forward to bringing up some of the under-19s and I saw a lot of potential with those guys coming through the club,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a sad time. I’d like to say a big thank you to (Edmonton Storm president) Sue Preston. She’s trying to get the club going in the right direction and that’s why she brought me up here.”

Blackwood, who is returning to Airlie Beach, had been working on a three-year plan with the Storm, but said ultimately “family comes first”. He also thanked opposition coaches for a warm welcome to the competition this season.

Preston said the circumstances of Blackwood’s departure, which is related to promised work independent of the club, were unfortunate for all parties.

“As I said to the boys, he’s got to look after his family first,” she said. “They all recognise he has taken us in a different direction.

“Now it’s just a matter of keeping it going.”

Trevor Cobb will take up the reins for the remainder of this season.