Martyn's career under threat

Tommy Martyn, the best uncapped British half-back of his generation, could have had his career ended by another arm injury.

Martyn, a key man in St Helens' string of successes before joining his home-town club, Leigh, has been cleared of breaking the arm which he has twice had plated.

"But there is a problem with the old injury and the doctors have advised him not to play, so that looks like it,'' said the club's chief executive, Alan Rowley.

Martyn, who had planned to retire at the end of this season, will miss the play-offs as Leigh attempt to win promotion to Super League, but Rowley insisted that their coach, Darren Abram, will still be there. Abram said he would consider his position after Leigh's surprise 58-30 defeat at Halifax on Sunday, but Rowley said: "It was just a heat of the moment thing. As far as we're concerned, nothing has changed and he's still got a job."

The former Great Britain coach, Malcolm Reilly, has left his job as team manager at Hull Kingston Rovers, saying he was unhappy with the club's direction.

The Wigan hooker, Terry Newton, has been called to face a disciplinary hearing today, charged with a high tackle on St Helens's Jon Wilkin which could have finished his season. The Hull prop, Paul King, has also been charged with a high tackle after being sent off at Castleford. Lengthy suspensions for either player could rule them out of the Super League play-offs.

The Rugby League's director of performance, David Waite, has praised the England Under-18 Academy side for its first win over their Australian counterparts Down Under. The tourists beat the Australian Schoolboys 33-24 in Sydney at the weekend.

"This victory is a unique and historic first, achieved by a very special group of young men,'' Waite said.