Waite in appeal for help in build-up to Sydney

Australia have confirmed Sydney as the venue for the Test against Great Britain in July, but the British coach still does not know whether he will have the preparation he wants.

The one-off match will be at the Sydney Football Stadium – now rechristened Aussie Stadium – on 12 July. It will be the first time Great Britain have played in Australia since 1999 and their first game in Sydney for a decade.

The Great Britain coach, David Waite, has called for his players to be released from the previous weekend's round of Super League matches, so that the party can travel to Australia earlier, but no decision has yet been made on that request.

Waite yesterday met the implementation panel, which runs the game, to state his case and hopes for its verdict this week. "I'm hopeful,'' he said. "I think there's a genuine understanding of the need.''

The Australian coach, Chris Anderson, says he is still keen to be in charge of the side, even though he is feeling his way back gradually with his club, Cronulla, after a triple heart bypass.

Warrington will be without their French forward, Jerome Guisset, and their young scum-half, Gary Hulse, for their Challenge Cup tie against the holders, St Helens, on Saturday. Both have suffered injuries in training: Guisset has a stress fracture to his tibia and Hulse has damaged ankle ligaments.

Huddersfield have lent two of their most promising young forwards to the Gateshead Thunder, to help them through their present crisis. Chris Plume, who plays for the Thunder at Oldham on Sunday, will be joined on a month's loan by the Barla international, Jon Grayshon.

'"Jon has been very close to making our side and, if we'd had another withdrawal against Swinton, he would have made his debut,'' said the Huddersfield coach, Tony Smith.

'"This month out will give him and Chris the chance to sample the Northern Ford Premiership and gauge their progress to date.''

The Oldham chairman, Chris Hamilton, has urged other NFP clubs to lend players to Gateshead, who have ended the contracts of their Yorkshire-based players as they try to balance their books.

Oldham have denied that they are to sign the former Warrington and Great Britain forward, Steve Molloy, for the second time. He spent a period on loan to his home town club has year, but is under contract to Batley for the rest of this season.