RFL chief Barwick unhappy at response to TV deal

Lenagan accused the RFL of railroading the clubs into voting for a new five-year contract worth around £200m and received support from Koukash, who issued a broadside at the game’s administrators when he launched the Red Devils’ season on Tuesday.

“I have been disappointed by the public response of a small minority of Super League clubs to the securing of a new broadcast agreement with our long-term partners, Sky Sports,” said Barwick. “Without question, Sky have provided an outstanding service to the game in producing both live and associated programming that has been the envy of many other sports. And they have done it for two decades.

“Therefore to retain this long-standing broadcast partnership, and at significantly increased financial terms, is indeed a great win for rugby league.

“Also, the terms of the new contract which starts in 2017 are so beneficial that they give Super League clubs, Championships clubs and the community game a fantastic, secure and long-sighted platform from which to build their futures and develop our great sport.”

Dewsbury coach Glenn Morrison will attend the launch of the new Championship season in Manchester on Monday and then press his claims to become head coach of New Zealand.

The 37-year-old Australian is the shock inclusion on the four-strong shortlist and will be interviewed via Skype by the six-man selection panel, including former Wigan favourite Tony Iro, the New Zealand high performance manager, who will make a recommendation to the New Zealand Rugby League.

Morrison accepts he is the outsider to succeed Stephen Kearney, who led the Kiwis to their World Cup triumph in 2008, and is focusing on preparing Dewsbury for their opening match against Featherstone on Sunday week.

Warrington threequarter James Saltonstall looks set to make his Super League debut for Bradford after his loan spell with the Bulls was extended into a second month.

The 19-year-old has played in all three of Bradford’s pre-season games and impressed coach Francis Cummins, who said: “James is going to be staying with us for another four weeks or so.”