Ellis appointed director of rugby at Hull FC
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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Danika Mason enjoys a romantic rendezvous just days after receiving shock update about her footy star boyfriend Liam Knight
Channel Nine sports presenter Danika Mason has jetted off to Singapore for a romantic getaway with her footy star boyfriend Liam Knight, who has sent her a heartfelt birthday message. Their trip comes just days after Knight, 30, inked a 12-month contract extension with Hull FC in the Super League. Mason first uploaded an image from the Tanjong Beach Club with the accompanying caption: 'Out of office.' Hours later the glamorous media identity posted another Instagram story, featuring her in a cosy couple shot next to Knight in Singapore. It was then the footy star's turn to publicly declare his love for Mason. In a gushing message, Knight also posted a number of images featuring the couple travelling abroad together. 'Happy birthday to my best friend,' the front-rower posted on Tuesday night. 'I love doing life with you. Many more adventures to come.' Knight, who hails from Alice Springs, was released by the Bulldogs last year after playing just two matches during the 2024 season. But since his arrival at Hull FC, Knight has impressed, and is a fan favourite at the Yorkshire-based outfit. It is understood he flew to Singapore for a mini break, with John Cartwright's team next in action on August 11 against Salford. 'I'm stoked to be staying here – I really love this club and I'm really excited to see what we can keep building over the next 12 months,' Knight told the club's website. 'I've really fallen in love with the fans and the atmosphere, both home and away – they're so dedicated. I love the playing group we have here and the coaching staff too – it's a fun place to come to work and that's being reflected in our performances.' Mason and Knight went public with their relationship back in 2024. The holiday comes just days after Knight (pictured with Mason) inked a 12-month contract extension with Hull FC in the Super League Knight signed for Hull FC prior to the 2025 season, and the loved-up pair have enjoyed some time travelling around Europe, taking a trip to France (pictured) and Italy Mason and Knight (pictured playing for Hull FC) are committed to staying together despite the long distance separating them The footy star took to social media to publish a loved-up snap of the couple embracing, while writing: 'My life's good.' The pair have since jetted around the world together, with Mason flying to London to spend some time with her beau in October, before also travelling to Rome and Paris. Mason began dating the footy star after calling off her marriage to Todd Liubinskas. The Wide World of Sports presenter, who recently replaced Alex Cullen on Nine's Today Show, was due to tie the knot in October of last year, but cancelled the ceremony, which was due to be held at the Greystone Estate in NSW's Hunter Valley. Mason - who initially began working for Nine as an intern - has also worked on Nine's NRL coverage and fronted the outlet's coverage of the Australian Open.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Super League votes to add two clubs and return to 14-team competition for 2026
Super League will expand to 14 teams in 2026 after clubs approved an increase in the competition by two at the earliest possible opportunity. Officials from all clubs met in Leeds on Monday to discuss a strategic review of the professional game that had been led by Nigel Wood, the former chief executive of the Rugby Football League who has now returned as the governing body's chair, despite being paid more than £300,000 to leave in 2018. His review recommended that Super League's best course of action for a strong financial future was to increase the size of the competition. Nine clubs voted in favour of that proposal on Monday afternoon; the Guardian understands that Hull FC and Hull KR voted against the idea, while Wigan Warriors abstained from voting. However, the next steps towards expansion are complicated and epitomise the chaos that continues to engulf the sport's boardrooms following Wood's controversial return to power. Twelve of the 14 teams that play in Super League next year will be determined by the IMG gradings system which was introduced last year. That measures clubs in a variety of on- and off‑field metrics, giving them a score out of 20. The 12 clubs which rank the highest in October will be automatically assured of a spot in Super League in 2026. The expectation as things stand would be that the Championship side Toulouse would replace Salford in the top 12. But that will not be the only change, as two more clubs will essentially be handpicked by an independent panel, based on a selection of criteria that is yet to be finalised. That panel will be led by the RFL board member Lord Jonathan Caine but will also include members of Wood's strategic review committee. Wood was, up until earlier this year, the chair of another side that will now be strong favourites to return to Super League, Bradford Bulls. They are not the only ones who will be hopeful of promotion through this unique and somewhat peculiar method. The Championship leaders York Knights are confident they have a compelling case to become a Super League side for the first time, while London, who would have missed out under the gradings system, now have an increased chance due to support in the boardrooms at certain clubs for the Broncos. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion A move back to 14 teams for the first time since 2014 comes at a crucial time for the sport. Super League is keen to position itself in as strong a position as possible ahead of a new broadcast cycle beginning in 2027. Supporters of the move believe a more simplistic fixture list, with the elimination of loop fixtures where some teams play each other three times, will appeal to all stakeholders. There were also concerns in some quarters about having two French sides, Toulouse and Catalans, in a 12-team competition, which would limit revenue streams.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Blow for Nine star Danika Mason as her long-distance boyfriend makes a huge call
Channel Nine presenter Dannika Mason and her boyfriend Liam Knight have been living apart from each other for the past five months, but they could now be set to reside on opposite sides of the world for another year. It comes as Knight, who signed a deal to join Super League club Hull FC back in March, has now been rewarded for his excellent form at the start of the 2025 season with a 12-month contract extension. While it is exciting news for Knight, who moved to play for the British outfit ahead of the 2025 season, it means the couple will have to continue their long-distance relationship, with Mason based 17,000km away in Australia. Knight was released by the Canterbury Bulldogs last year, after playing just two matches for the club during the 2024 season. The prop forward joined up with Hull FC ahead of the 2025 season and has since made 10 appearances with the Super League outfit. It had been understood that Knight was initially due to spend around seven months with the footy club. But Knight has grown to become a fan favourite at the British outfit. 'I'm stoked to be staying here – I really love this club and I'm really excited to see what we can keep building over the next 12 months,' he told the club's website. 'I've really fallen in love with the fans and the atmosphere, both home and away – they're so dedicated. I love the playing group we have here and the coaching staff too – it's a fun place to come to work and that's being reflected in our performances.' Mason and Knight went public with their relationship back in 2024, after the footy star took to social media to publish a loved-up snap of the couple embracing, while writing: 'My life's good.' The pair have since jetted around the world together, with Mason flying to London to spend some time with her beau in October, before also travelling to Rome and Paris. Mason began dating the footy star after calling off her marriage to Todd Liubinskas. The Wide World of Sports presenter, who recently replaced Alex Cullen on Nine's Today Show, was due to tie the knot in October of last year, but cancelled the ceremony, which was due to be held at the Greystone Estate in NSW's Hunter Valley. Mason began working for Nine as an intern before landing a job as an Olympic logger back in 2012. Mason, who began working for Nine as an intern before landing a job as an Olympic logger back in 2012, recently took over from Alex Cullen on Nine's Today Show She has also worked on Nine's NRL coverage and has fronted the outlet's coverage of the Australian Open. However, Mason and Knight are committed to staying together despite the distance. Knight, meanwhile, opened up on his rugby league journey, revealing that he has rediscovered his love for the sport since joining up with Hull. 'It's been a real ride so far – I got off the plane in March and jumped straight into it,' he explained. 'I didn't have much of a pre-season so the first few weeks were about building some fitness, and I feel like I've been building week to week and contributing to the team.' 'I had a couple of tough years back home in regards to injury, so coming over to England was a bit of a clean slate for me. I've really found my love for the sport again so this move has been a massive blessing for me.'
