Reds hope for boost from Smith

Smith has arrived on a season-long deal from the Salford coach Karl Harrison's former club Bradford and the City Reds hope he can reinvigorate a side that has been dragged towards the relegation battle in recent weeks.

The club's director of rugby, Steve Simms, said that the 20-year-old "has pace and strength, which is what we have been missing recently."

The Giants, who are aiming for the top six, are still without their captain Ben Roarty, but Stanley Gene and Hefin O'Hare have both recovered from knee surgery to be included in the squad.

Today's other game sees the London Broncos go on the road to allow building work to be done at their Griffin Park home, taking the game against Hull to Bridgend - who will have a team in National League One next season.

"The Welsh love their sport and they have such a rich sporting history," said the Broncos' coach, Tony Rea. "I expect our team and fans to receive the same warm welcome and support we've got in the past."

Rea, whose side is unbeaten in five Super League games, has three players back from injury - Filimone Lolohea, Feleti Mateo and the influential Mark McLinden.

Hull, two places above London in fourth, have left Paul King, who is ill, at home, but have Richard Whiting fit and Chris Chester back after suspension.

"It's good to have Richard back, because he's an England international and can play a number of positions," said his coach, John Kear.

Hull Kingston Rovers, who sacked their coach Harvey Howard two weeks ago, now plan to approach Shane McNally, dismissed by Wakefield since then, to replace the former Wigan, Widnes and Leeds forward.

Bradford's assistant coach Steve McNamara and the former Castleford coach Graham Steadman, were among the candidates for the job. Rovers' chairman Neil Hudgell said: "We've had a deluge of interest and we'll look to probably start talks with Shane McNally in the near future."

McNally has expressed a wish to get back into the game quickly after losing his job with the Wildcats and Rovers fit the profile of a club with realistic Super League aspirations.

Luke Davico has become the second "retired" Wigan prop to make a comeback for the struggling Newcastle Knights in Australia.

Davico's brief Wigan career was ended by a torn pectoral muscle in a pre-season friendly, but he has now followed in the footsteps of Craig Smith by joining the Knights, who are bottom of the NRL.