Saturday 25 June 2011

Hull Confirm Gleeson Sick Leave


Hull's former Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson is suffering from stress, the club have revealed after the 31-year-old Gleeson missed the last two matches for the Black and Whites.

His absence from the club's training ground sparked rumours over his whereabouts during the week and Hull acted to halt the speculation by revealing the player was on sick leave.

A statement said: "Hull FC can confirm that Martin Gleeson has not been sacked.

"On Friday 10 June, Hull FC granted Martin leave because of a stress-related illness.

"The club ask that the media respect his right to privacy at this difficult time. There will be no further comment from the player or the club."

Gleeson joined Hull on an 18-month contract in April after being released by Wigan, who cited "distractions in his personal life" as part of their decision-making process.

The former Huddersfield, St Helens and Warrington player was banned from the game for fourth months in 2004 for his part in the famous betting scandal in which he and Saints team-mate Sean Long backed their team to lose a Super League match to Bradford.

Great Britain's amateur team made it three wins out of three on their tour of Western Australia with a 42-16 success over Fremantle Roosters.

The Lions led only 14-10 at half-time but substitutes Pat Foulstone, of Shaw Cross Sharks, and Brett Phillips, of Seaton Rangers, both scored second-half tries as the tourists finished strongly.

Britain's final match, against the Western Australia state team, will be played as a curtain-raiser to South Sydney's NRL clash with Brisbane Broncos in Perth on Friday.

Former Australian Test centre Matt Gidley, who retired as a player after the 2010 Super League Grand Final after four seasons with St Helens, has been appointed as chief executive of football operations at his former Newcastle Knights club. He is reported to be interested in signing Leeds hooker Danny Buderus.


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