Dragons sights set on Smith
CATALANS Dragons are reported to have made Tony Smith their No1 target to take their vacant head coaching role.
The 50-year-old former Giants coach is under increasing pressure at Warrington as the Wolves continue to struggle in Super League, with last year’s Grand Finalists now sitting tenth in the league following their 44-4 defeat at the Giants on Sunday.
But their current struggles have not impacted on the Catalans’ desire to attract him to the south of France, with their president, Bernard Guasch, understood to be the driving force behind their targeting of Smith.
Smith, a Grand Final and World Club Challenge winner during his time at Leeds Rhinos, has been at Warrington since 2009 and signed a new deal with the club last year that keeps him under contract until the end of 2018.
The Dragons will be without second rower Jordan Dezaria when they face the Giants in Super League on Saturday.
The 20-year-old has been banned for two matches for dangerous contact during the French side’s 26-6 defeat at Widnes Vikings.
Wigan second-rower Liam Farrell will miss tomorrow’s trip to Leigh due to a one-match suspension, the Warriors have announced.
The England international submitted an early guilty plea after being charged with a Grade B offence for foul and abusive language to a match official by the Rugby Football League’s match review panel.
Farrell, who was making his 200th appearance for Wigan, was sin-binned for dissent in the aftermath of a try in Saturday’s 39-26 defeat at Hull.
The loss of Farrell represents a blow to the Super League champions, who are struggling in sixth place after a run of six games without a win. ■■Three members of Daryl Powell’s backroom staff have signed threeyear contract extensions to remain at Castleford Tigers until 2020.
Assistant coaches Danny Orr and Ryan Sheridan and head of strength and conditioning Ben Cooper have agreed fresh terms to bring them in line with Powell, who penned a new long-term deal last year.
“I’m absolutely delighted that our coaching staff have agreed to extend their stays at the club,” said Powell.
“I believe we have a staff that is second to none.”
Castleford are four points clear at the top of Super League after beating St Helens 16-12 on Sunday to make it nine straight home wins in 2017. ■■York City Knights have confirmed the signing of versatile playmaker Connor Robinson following his release from Halifax.