Manu out for season opener after collision at training

Hull's new signing, Willie Manu, will miss the start of the Super League season after breaking his nose in a training accident.

Manu, recruited after an impressive season with Castleford last year, had a collision with a team-mate at the club's pre-season camp on the Algarve.

"We were beating each other up and unfortunately Willie caught one," his coach, Peter Sharp, said. "It was a pretty nasty break."

Manu will definitely miss Hull's last pre-season friendly at his former club Castleford on Sunday, and almost certainly the first Super League fixture against the Catalans Dragons a week later.

The Great Britain forward Paul King is another doubtful starter for Hull after turning his ankle at the training camp.

The former Cronulla and Penrith coach John Lang has emerged as a contender for the vacant Great Britain coaching job. Lang has been out of work since being replaced at Penrith by Matthew Elliott last year and he has refused to comment on reports linking him with the Great Britain post, while Shaun McRae, the former St Helens coach who was installed as immediate favourite to succeed Brian Noble, says he has not been contacted by the Rugby League.

Huddersfield have confirmed that they are to appeal against Keith Mason's one-match suspension for striking the Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock in last weekend's friendly against Leeds.