Cruel blow for Watkins as season is brought to an early end

LEEDS RHINOS captain Kallum Watkins is “devastated” after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will rule him out until 2019.

Not only is it also a major blow for the defending champions, who immediately recalled Jimmy Keinhorst from his loan spell at Widnes Vikings, but a significant setback for England, too.

Watkins – a mainstay of Wayne Bennett’s side – will miss all four of their Tests against New Zealand this year.

Wigan Warriors head coach Shaun Wane, 53, has made the shock announcement he will leave the club at the end of the season for a “new challenge.”

He has been in charge since stepping up from assistant to take over from Michael Maguire at the end of 2012 but made his playing debut for Wigan in 1982.

Wigan legends Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell – both long since working in rugby union – have been touted as potential replacements while Wane has been linked to Catalans Dragons.

Elsewhere, Rugby Football League interim chief executive Ralph Rimmer has confirmed New York is an option to host Super League’s annual Magic Weekend in the future.

“There is quite a lot of interest from North America,” he said, after Newcastle held it for a fourth successive season.

“But there’s also interest from other places which you’d be quite surprised at – and more than one overseas option.”