RFL Super League Leave Stobart Deal

The Rugby Football League today began the search for a new sponsor for Super League after scrapping the controversial deal with the Stobart Group.

The League signed a three-year deal with Stobart in January, but the clubs have decided to exercise an opt-out clause after 12 months.

The RFL received no cash from the agreement, although the Super League clubs and players were advertised on 100 of Stobart's famous green trucks and they argued at the time that the deal could be worth up to £2.5million a year.

The vote to accept the Stobart deal was far from unanimous, however, and the governing body came in for fierce criticism from several clubs for rejecting a cash offer from a betting company who wanted to take over from previous sponsors Engage Mutual Assurance.

On Tuesday the RFL attempted to put on a brave face over the about-turn, pointing out that, since entering into the partnership, Super League had increased its TV audience by 45 per cent and experienced record attendances.

Super League commercial director James Mercer said: "We are delighted at the success of our one-year partnership with Stobart and the exposure that this ground-breaking concept has created.

"The partnership has placed the sport in a wonderful position to move into the next cycle of our commercial strategy in 2013.

"Innovation has always been at the heart of the Super League and this collaboration showcased the creativity and unity of our clubs.

"With a combined TV audience of over 25 million, huge attendance levels and a national and international expansion the sport is well placed for an exciting future."

Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler said: "Stobart Group is pleased to have contributed to the promotion and success of the Super League in 2012, with a 45 per cent increase in television audiences.

"The plan was always to review the partnership after the first year and we've decided to step back and allow the RFL to work with commercial partners that can offer the financial support it needs to further develop.

"As such, both parties have mutually agreed to end the collaboration at the close of the season."

Lewis Swaps League for Tennis

The Rugby Football League have announced their chairman Richard Lewis will leave his post at the end of April to become chief executive of the All England Club, Wimbledon.

Former Davis Cup player Lewis, who has been with the RFL just short of 10 years, will take over from Ian Ritchie, who left Wimbledon in December to take up the role of chief executive of the Rugby Football Union.

"I leave with a mixture of sadness but also excitement at taking up another wonderful opportunity," said Lewis.

Lewis reached a career-high world ranking of 68 and played in the Davis Cup from 1977-83 before moving into coaching, sports administration and business consultancy.

He will continue in his position of chair of Sport England, a role he took up on a part-time basis when switching from the post of executive chairman of the RFL three years ago.

Lewis was director of tennis at the LTA from 1998-2000 and joined the RFL in May 2002.

"In Richard Lewis we have the person with the right blend of sporting background and management skill and experience to ensure the All England Club and the (Wimbledon) championships continue to go from strength to strength," club chairman Philip Brook said in a statement.

Lewis, who will take up his new role on May 1, added: "As a former tennis professional, the prospect of helping shape the future of the Club and the premier tennis tournament in the world is one to be relished.

"I leave the RFL after 10 fulfilling years during which the sport has grown and prospered.

"I am extremely grateful to all the colleagues with whom I have had the privilege to work. I shall enjoy continuing my role at Sport England albeit with less time commitment."

RFL Explains Gleeson Ban

The Rugby Football League has defended its role in the Martin Gleeson drugs case which resulted in the player being handed an 18-month ban.

The governing body responded to a claim by the former Great Britain international in The Mail on Sunday that they were involved in the doping scandal that rocked the game and wrecked his career.

The former St Helens, Warrington, Wigan and Hull centre implicated senior figures within the RFL as part of the cover-up, telling the newspaper that he was "hung out to dry".

Two former Hull employees, chief executive James Rule and fitness conditioner Ben Cooper, have also been suspended for their part in a cover-up but Gleeson believes the blame goes as far as the game's Red Hall headquarters.

"A web of lies has helped to destroy my career and make my life a misery," he said.

"I feel bitter about what James Rule did, at what the club did and at how the RFL were part of the whole thing."

Gleeson pointed his finger at long-serving RFL official Emma Rosewarne and chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer but they were both backed in a statement issued by the governing body on Sunday.

"The RFL has today reaffirmed confidence in its actions during the recent doping investigation involving former Hull FC chief executive James Rule, former player Martin Gleeson and former conditioning coach Ben Cooper," said the statement.

Rimmer said: "We are clear that the governing body acted entirely appropriately throughout what was a long and complicated investigation involving UK Anti-Doping and a National Anti-Doping Panel.

"As part of their investigation, UK Anti-Doping received external legal advice which found that there was no evidence to suggest that anyone at the RFL was complicit in the giving of false evidence to the NADP or knew at all that the evidence was false.

"It found that there was no case for anyone at the RFL to answer."

Gleeson, who joined Hull last April after being released by Wigan, failed a drugs test in May and subsequently admitted taking OxyElite Pro, a supplement that contains the stimulant methylhexaneamine, which athletes are not allowed to take in competition.

Gleeson said in his evidence to the UK Anti-Doping hearing that he had been given the supplement by Hull team-mate Sean Long, his best friend, after complaining of tiredness, while Long had erroneously been told by Cooper that the product was "safe" to take.

Gleeson was handed a three-year ban, later halved for providing "substantial assistance" to UK Anti-Doping in the case against Rule and Cooper.

Gleeson claimed RFL officials knew that the statements made by Rule, Cooper and himself to the original hearing were not wholly accurate and that they did not share with UK Anti-Doping fears which had been passed on to officials that a significant number of other players at Hull, including Long, were at risk of returning test positives.

According to The Mail on Sunday, Gleeson maintained the RFL had been told by Rule that he feared his "whole squad" might be taking OxyElite Pro.

Hull, who undertook a major overhaul of the club following the takeover by Adam Pearson in July, issued a statement last month condemning the actions of the previous administration.

A Hull spokesman said the club would not be making any further comment until they had fully considered the latest developments.

Warrington Seal Shield

Warrington sealed the Super League Leaders' Shield with a 34-12 victory against Hull at the KC Stadium.

Five first-half tries, including two from wing Chris Riley, built a winning platform, Ryan Atkins, Michael Monaghan and Chris Bridge also crossing.

Hull enjoyed more reward in the second half when Joe Westerman, scorer of all the Black and Whites' points, bagged his second converted try.

But Joel Monaghan's score wrapped up a deserved win for Warrington.

Victory for the Wire means that last season's Challenge Cup winners have effectively swapped trophies with last season's winners of the League Leaders' Shield.

As to whether the Wolves can also emulate Wigan by going on to claim the main prize at Old Trafford in four weeks' time, Warrington will now go into the play-offs as favourites, starting against Huddersfield in next weekend's semi-final at the Halliwell Jones.

As for Hull, they will be on the road next weekend, either with a short trip to Leeds or a much longer trip to Perpignan and they could yet be overtaken for seventh spot by Hull KR if their city rivals beat Crusaders on Saturday evening.

Hull, who had lost captain Craig Fitzgibbon with his career-ending ankle injury, came into the game on a run of three straight wins hoping to secure a favourable play-off draw.

But they were up against a Warrington side which, having humbled Challenge Cup winners Wigan 39-12 the previous weekend, looked odds on to top the table - and that's how it proved.

After both sides traded completed sets, a packed KC Stadium witnessed Warrington press an early advantage with their first try through Atkins.

The England centre wrestled the ball from Joe Westerman before scampering clear despite the attentions of Sam Obst, who to make matters worse limped off with a hamstring injury.

Bridge added the extras but, just minutes later, Hull were level as Richard Horne offloaded to Westerman after good work from Danny Houghton, and the loose forward sidestepped his way to the line for a quick reply, which he duly converted himself.

The try perked Hull, in particular the busy Westerman, who was causing problems with a string of testing bombs, and only last-gasp visiting defence kept Tom Briscoe and Houghton from putting them ahead.

However the first-half turned when Horne was called offside amid a Warrington set, Michael Monaghan was quick to tap, Richie Myler worked the play from right to left and, after Atkins' offload, Riley raced in at the corner to restore the Wolves' lead.

Monaghan, who sparkled in last Sunday's win against Wigan, then got himself on the scoresheet again with a dart over from dummy half, and a combination of Simon Grix, Atkins and Riley added a fourth try.

Hull continued to press for a route back into the game, and had excellent field position when a loose pass was snapped up by Wolves centre Matt King inside his own 10-metre line.

From the resulting play-the-ball Brett Hodgson raced through a snoozing Hull defence before feeding Bridge, who streaked unopposed to the line.

After the try-heavy opening period, the second half took a while to reignite, largely due to imposing defence by the visitors.

Hull were finally rewarded for their efforts just over the hour mark when Westerman pounced for his second try, bursting onto an offload from Horne to score before reducing the deficit with a second successful kick.

But Warrington re-established their dominance when Atkins and Lee Briers created the opening for Joel Monaghan to join his brother on the scoresheet for the second week running.

Tomkins Guilty of Misconduct

Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins has been found guilty of minor misconduct over his two-fingered salute to the Leeds fans during Saturday's Challenge Cup final win over the Rhinos.

The 22-year-old England international was disciplined by his club on Monday for the obscene gesture and was given a rap over the knuckles by the Rugby Football League on Tuesday.

Tomkins was found to be in breach of the game's operational rule D1.8(c), which covers improper conduct, and the RFL's Respect Policy.

He was fined £1,000 - suspended until the end of the 2012 season - and also reprimanded and warned about his future behaviour.

Tomkins has 14 days to appeal but will hope that the announcement brings an end to his embarrassment.

He made the v-sign to Leeds supporters while celebrating his side's first try on their way to a 28-18 victory at Wembley.

Tomkins had claimed ignorance when asked about the incident after the match, even though photographs circulating on Twitter by then appeared to provide damning evidence against him.

Tomkins and Wigan issued a public apology over the incident on Monday night, while the club revealed the player had been censured and fined an unspecified amount.

Wigan chairman and owner Ian Lenagan said the club were "ashamed" of the incident while Tomkins expressed his regret, claiming the gesture was made in the "heat of the moment".

Tomkins is expected to keep his place in the Wigan side for Sunday's penultimate game of the regular Super League season at Warrington, where victory would ensure the champions finish top for the second year in a row.

Meanwhile, Warrington coach Tony Smith is expecting Wigan to remain on a high for Sunday's table-topping crunch clash with his side at the Halliwell Jones Stadium but is warning them it will be tough to complete the elusive double.

The Warriors were back in training on Tueday, three days after their memorable 28-18 Wembley triumph over Leeds, to begin preparations for their penultimate match of the regular Super League season.

Victory over the second-placed Wolves would enable Wigan to retain the League Leaders Shield and put them in pole position going into the play-offs. Defeat would mean the race for top spot going down to the last weekend.

Having guided Warrington to recent back-to-back Cup final triumphs, Smith knows only too well the difficulty in reverting to the bread and butter of the league.

His depleted side lost 40-16 to Hull KR a week after their 2009 win over Huddersfield and last year dismally failed to make a mark in the play-offs, losing to both St Helens and Huddersfield.

Smith believes the mental and physical rigours of a long season could catch up with Wigan but does not believe this weekend is the best time to play them.

"I'd argue the opposite from our experience," said Smith. "We're expecting them to go for it this week and to be at their best.

"Last year we were able to aim up for a short time afterwards. We had a four-day turnaround and went down to Harlequins and put in a pretty good performance.

"It was the weeks following that we found it tough. We found it hard to get ourselves back up the levels we had before the cup.

"We felt fatigued emotionally as well, after playing in front of 70,000 or 80,000 people.

"Whether Wigan will handle it differently to us remains to be seen but it takes some doing. If they manage to do the double, good luck to them, they will have done well.

"We weren't able to do that but we'd certainly like another crack at it one day. They are the sort of challenges I like to be involved in."

Warrington are likely to have utility player Simon Grix back to face Wigan after missing his side's last match, a 25-12 win over Catalan Dragons in Perpignan, with a groin injury.

But back rower David Solomona will sit out Sunday's game after picking up a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle against the Dragons and also undergoing minor surgery on a fractured figure.

"He probably wouldn't have played this week any way," said Smith. "He dislocated his finger in the last couple of minutes of the last game and they had trouble getting it back in."

Full-back Brett Hodgson is unlikely to recover in time from a leg injury, meaning another run-out for Chris Riley, while England forwards Ben Westwood and Adrian Morley remain on the sidelines with long-term injuries.