RUGBY LEAGUE: Souths in raid for Robinson

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY DAVE HADFIELD

Jason Robinson, the Wigan winger, has become the latest Great Britain player in demand from Australia. Talks are underway with South Sydney, who have already signed Sheffield Eagles' Test hooker, Lee Jackson, for a summer stint, about a similar deal for Robinson.

The wingman, highly rated in Australia since his performance against Brisbane in the World Club Challenge last year, has meanwhile been cleared of a suspected broken wrist and is expected to be fit for his club's Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-final against Oldham on Saturday.

Another British-based player attracting attention Down Under is Warrington's New Zealand international, Kelly Shelford, who is interesting the Newcastle Knights now they have lost out to Cronulla for Tawera Nikau.

Wayne Marshall, the former Eastern Suburbs hooker, will tomorrow become the second Salford player to return home to Australia following the appointment of Andy Gregory as coach in place of Garry Jack.

Marshall is leaving after playing just four matches for the club, hard on the heels of Scott Wilson, who departed suddenly last week after just two appearances in Salford's colours.

Gregory has taken two transfer-listed Warrington players, Phil Sumner and Rob Myler, on loan until the end of the season, and is also attempting to borrow the Great Britain Under-21 international, Scott Martin, from Leigh.

St Helens are keen to sign Vila Matautia, the New Zealander who is one of several Doncaster players to be declared free agents by the Rugby League after the club's failure to meet their contract payments.

The League is propping up Doncaster until the end of the season while a consortium of local businessmen tries to set up a deal that will take the club to a greyhound stadium six miles from the town next season.

Ireland will press for inclusion in the World Cup for emerging nations that will augment the main tournament this October after beating the USA 24-22 in Washington at the weekend.