Super pacs

C'è una super testimone per l' assalto al Campidoglio degli Stati Uniti avvenuto il 6 gennaio 2021. È Cassidy Hutchinson, assistente del capo dello staff della Casa Bianca ai tempi di Donald Trump, Mark Meadows. Secondo le sue dichiarazioni, rese in parte in diretta e in parte registrate, il presidente in carica avrebbe incoraggiato sostenitori armati a marciare verso la sede del Congresso, per ribaltare l'esito delle elezioni e per evitare che fossero fermati, avrebbe ordinato di rimuovere i rilevatori di armi al suo raduno. "Rimuovete i rilevatori" Dalle parole di Hutchinson il presidente non solo era a conoscenza della gravità  della situazione, con decine di persone armate, ma si sarebbe anche adoperato perché non venissero disarmate. "Mi trovavo in prossimità di una conversazione in cui ho sentito il presidente dire qualcosa del tipo: Non m'importa nulla il fatto che siano armati. che abbiano armi. Non sono qui per farmi del male. Togliete quei rilevatori. Lasciate entrare … [Read more...] about Assalto al Campidoglio, per la super testimone Trump voleva i sostenitori armati

And just like that... another weekend of rugby league has been and gone. As usual, there were no shortage of talking points in Super League, in the lower leagues and Down Under following another few days of brutal action. Warrington lost (again), Castleford got back to winning ways and the Brits plying their trade in the NRL had mixed fortunes. Wire are now 10 points behind the leaders and six points off the pace in their bid to avoid the dreaded middle eight. So - what did we learn? Look no further... 1. Walmsley impresses for Saints Walmsley showed his class once again ( Image: PA) When prop Alex Walmsley is on song the biggest bopper in the game is unstoppable. Walmsley has put in back-to-back destructive performances for St Helens, first against Catalans and this week against Warrington and leads the way with the most metres made and most offloads in Super League. Matty Smith looked a bit perplexed to get the man of the match award against the Wolves … [Read more...] about Warrington lose again as Alex Walmsley shows his class – 7 things we learned from the weekend’s rugby league

Tom Johnstone says his game will move onto another level this season - after a stark assessment from Wayne Bennett . Wakefield winer Johnstone scored a hat-trick on his England debut against France in October, but was then left out of the three-match series with New Zealand. Veteran coach Bennett outlined exactly why - and Johnstone says he’s accepted the criticism after initially being taken aback. The 23-year-old told Mirror/Star Sport: “Personally I was pretty happy with where I’d been, but once he’d sat down and spoke to me, I understood exactly what he meant. “Maybe at first I might have sulked a bit and walked off thinking what’s he talking about. Johntone scored 24 tries in 24 appearances for Wakefield last season ( Image: PA) “But when someone of that quality and that standard of coaching speaks to you, he knows what he’s doing and hasn’t said it for no reason. “I realised I’d not been doing myself justice and working as hard as I could have been. … [Read more...] about Wayne Bennett criticism spurs Tom Johnstone on to lift game to next level

Tearful Lee Briers joined the Wembley legends club by etching his name onto the Lance Todd Trophy. But Warrington's happiest man took time out from his celebrations to console the saddest man on the pitch. Briers was overwhelmingly voted man of the match ahead of Aussie hat-trick hero Chris Hicks and Leeds born fullback Richie Mathers. But he deserved the accolade almost as much for his consideration towards team-mate Richie Myler. Coach Tony Smith's decision to drop the England half-back was vindicated as Warrington denied the Super League champions a first Challenge Cup win in 11 years. Heartbroken Myler is seen as Briers' ultimate successor - and the Wolves' talisman said: "Richie is one of the best half-backs in the league and he'll be back at Wembley loads of times, trust me "To do what he did last week was brilliant. He got told early he wasn't playing but he dug in and stayed. "When I got told the same thing at St Helens I spat my dummy out and left." Briers' astute … [Read more...] about MY HERO IS RICHIE SAYS LEE

SAM TOMKINS won't mind a verbal bashing from the Leeds fans if doublechasing Wigan lift the Challenge Cup for the first time since 2002. The Warriors superstar has been forced to add a thick skin to his explosive talents after coming in for plenty of stick from opposing fans this season. Tomkins, who has scored 19 tries in only 12 Challenge Cup ties for Wigan, was even jeered playing for England against the Exiles at Headingley in June. But Tomkins, 22, said: "The booing from fans isn't a big deal for me and water off a duck's back now. "I couldn't understand it at first. When I wore an England jersey I thought the fans would be behind me. If the England game had been played anywhere else than Leeds it probably wouldn't have happened and it was just a minority of fans. "The same Leeds supporters will probably get well and truly stuck into me at Wembley but there are plenty of others cheering." Alex Murphy, arguably Britain's best post-war player, is one of Tomkins biggest … [Read more...] about Challenge Cup Final: Sam Tomkins ready to silence Rhinos boo-boys

WIGAN star Gareth Hock will fight to save his season tonight after being charged with gouging Ben Harrison during Sunday’s 39-12 defeat at Warrington. The 27-year-old hard man faces a minimum four-game ban if found guilty. That would put him out of Friday’s final match of the regular season against Crusaders. And he would also miss Wigan’s play-off games and the Grand Final if the Super League champions win all their matches before Old Trafford. The offence carries a maximum eight-game tariff which would sideline the controversial England forward for the start of next term. Hock also faces a separate charge of punching Harrison. He only returned to the sport this summer after serving a two-year ban for using cocaine. There was some good news for Wigan last night as full-back Sam Tomkins and prop Jeff Lima escaped punishment for incidents against Warrington. Lima, who will receive the Lance Todd Trophy tomorrow night for his Wembley man- of-the-match display, was reprimanded … [Read more...] about Wigan star Gareth Hock in the dock over gouging

Catalans captain Remi Casty wants the Dragons’ historic Challenge Cup win to reshape rugby league in France. Casty’s side became the first non-English team to lift the trophy in its 121-year history on Saturday with over half their victorious team French-born. Casty grew up wearing a Paris St Germain shirt from their ill-fated two-year stint at the inception of Super League, before playing for the Dragons in their 2007 cup final defeat to St Helens. Now the veteran prop wants the Dragons - who received a hero’s welcome at Perpignan airport in the early hours of Sunday morning - to begin a new era for the sport in his home country. Casey said: “The difficulty we have in France is that the perception of rugby league is you just carry the ball, you tackle hard, you give it someone else. Sam Moa takes the ball to Warrington in Saturday's Wembley win ( Image: Getty Images Europe) “It’s not seen as a pretty game in France but we have to try and change this mentality. … [Read more...] about Remi Casty says Catalans Dragons must use historic Challenge Cup win to grow rugby league in France

Toronto Wolfpack’s new trialist signing Tony Gigot will not be paid for playing, the RFL has confirmed. French international Gigot has linked up with the Wolfpack on a four-week basis and has been named in their squad to face Warrington on Friday night. The Wolfpack have said publicly on a number of occasions that they are up to the Super League salary cap, forcing them to currently run with just a 23-man squad which has a number of injuries. That had raised questions about the arrival of Gigot, who has played over 100 top flight games for Catalans and won the 2018 Lance Todd Trophy in the Challenge Cup final. Gigot (right) has extensive experience from his time at Catalans Dragons ( Image: PA) The 29-year-old had been without a club since leaving the Dragons at the end of the season, and had been training at Avignon. But the sport’s governing body has confirmed that he will not be paid to play during the four-week trial, although his signing does not fall under … [Read more...] about RFL confirms Toronto signing Tony Gigot to play for free in four week trial

Albert Vete wants to bring Melbourne Storm’s relentless standards and team ethos to Hull Kingston Rovers in 2021. The Tongan international saw injuries and the Storm’s star-studded squad limit him to eight appearances in two and a half years with the NRL champions. But he says everything about Craig Bellamy’s ultra-consistent team helped him to improve as a player - and now wants to add that to a Robins side looking for major improvements this year. Vete said: “The main thing was was them not being satisfied with where they’re at. Players weren’t satisfied with their form, the accolades that come off the back of their form, playing international or State of Origin. Vete has been finding his feet at training with Hull KTR ( Image: Courtesy of Hull KR online) “Everybody was just hungry, and it was an eye opener to see guys like Jesse Bromwich, Dale Finucane, Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith trying to get better. They’ve been at the top of their game for a very long … [Read more...] about Tongan international Albert Vete keen to give Hull Kingston Rovers a Melbourne identity

Ignorance is bliss for Hull KR’s new signing Brad Takairangi - who had no idea the Robins finished rock bottom of Super League last season. The 31-year-old Cook Islands international is one of four new NRL signings made by coach Tony Smith as he looks for major improvements in 2021. And the former Parramatta, Gold Coast and Sydney Roosters centre or back rower insists he arrived with no preconceptions of Rovers’ standing on this side of the world. “I didn’t even know that we finished last until I got over here,” Takairangi said. “I saw the recruits that they’d signed - Korbin Sims, Albert Vete, Ryan Hall - plus some of the boys that are already here, and it was really exciting for me. Takairangi has a wealth of experience from his time in Australia ( Image: Getty Images) “I don’t watch too much Super League. I watched half of the Grand Final and that’s probably the only game I saw last year. I didn’t do my research, but I didn’t need to once I spoke to Tony and a … [Read more...] about Brad Takairangi unconcerned with Hull KR’s wooden spoon and keen to have impact with Robins