4th November 2025 - Today's Top 5 News Updates in Rugby League
- Super League Raw
- Nov 4
- 5 min read
1. Bulls charge into 2026 with bold new crest
After an 11-year absence from the top flight, the Bradford Bulls have unveiled a brand-new club crest as part of their full rebrand ahead of their return to the Betfred Super League in 2026.
What’s new
The redesigned logo keeps the club’s iconic V, colours (red, amber, black) and curved structure — so the heritage remains.
New stylistic elements: a dynamic “bullhorn” font, rugby-ball inspired shoulders in the design, and four stars at the base representing the Bulls’ four Super League titles during their first stint in the competition.
The club say the new look is more “confident, aggressive and defiant” — a deliberate statement of intent as they prepare for life back in the top flight.
Why now?
The Bulls’ return to Super League provides a natural “reset” moment, and the club believe the new branding better reflects their ambitions and identity as they step up. In the club’s own words: “Whilst we have the same heart, the same pride, we’re also coming back as a different beast.”
Fan reaction
Reaction has been mixed: on Reddit and other social channels, some fans are praising the cleaner, modern design, while others question some of the design choices (e.g., colour contrast, visibility of the bull icon). Still, many see the change as timely and welcome given the club’s renewed trajectory.
What to expect next
The new branding will appear across all club materials: merchandise, kit, digital channels, stadium signage etc. The crest becomes the visual cornerstone of the club’s push to re-establish itself at the top level.
2. Toulouse Olympique refresh ahead of French-expansion era
Meanwhile, French club Toulouse Olympique is said to have updated their club emblem as they gear up for an exciting new chapter. Based on fan forums and leaked images, the club has revamped their badge in anticipation of the 2026 Super League promotion and their wider aspirations.
Strategic context
Toulouse’s resurgence comes against a backdrop of rugby league’s expansion ambition, with the club selected (alongside York Knights) to join Super League in 2026 under the grading / strategic model set by the Rugby League Commercial and Rugby Football League. The timing of a new badge signals the club’s intention to present a fresh, modern identity – fitting for a French pioneer returning to the top tier of British rugby league.
3. Eliesa Katoa suffers serious brain injury; National Rugby League launches full‐scale concussion protocol investigation
Tonga's international forward, Eliesa Katoa, who plays for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL, had to undergo emergency surgery following a "brain bleed" and seizure activity during his team’s Pacific Championships match against the New Zealand Kiwis on Sunday.
The sequence of events is bleak:
Katoa incurred a heavy head collision in the warm-up when a shoulder from teammate Lehi Hopoate struck his head; despite the visible impact, he was cleared to play.
Early in the match he suffered a second blow (to the head/face) and passed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), allowing him to continue.
Later in the second half he sustained a third head knock, after which his condition deteriorated: he was fitted with an oxygen mask, loaded onto a medicab from the bench, and rushed to hospital.
Club and national officials confirmed the diagnosis of a brain bleed and declared Katoa to be in a stable but serious condition.
In light of the incident and the concerning sequence of events, the NRL has initiated a formal review to assess whether the current concussion and head-injury protocols were properly implemented—especially during warm-ups and in various head-impact situations.
The Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) is also conducting its own enquiries. As RLPA COO Luke Ellis stated:
“Ensuring a safe environment for players is the remit of the NRL… So along with our own enquiries, we will be trusting them to work through this and understand what occurred.”
One important issue being analyzed: current regulations state that a player who fails a second Head Injury Assessment (HIA) must be deemed unfit to continue. However, in Katoa’s situation, the warm-up collision occurred outside the formal HIA protocol, yet it was arguably severe enough to warrant his removal from play.
4. The Final Whistle Podcast
Hosts/Guests: Team Talk Members including Marc Hill (Leeds Rhinos), Billy Ingram (Leeds Rhinos), Bazza Kingston (Hull KR), Craig Forth (Wigan Warriors), Frazer Howard (Leeds Rhinos), Aden Simpson (Castleford Tigers) produced an intriguing episode of the Final Whistle Podcast post England's 4-14 defeat to Australia at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Discussion points include:
Is Shaun Wane the right man to lead England to the World Cup
Match officials come under the microscope with unprecedented on field referee interference with the video referring process
Mikey Lewis - Stand Off or in the stands?
Listen today at:
5. Pacific Championships Final Preview: New Zealand Kiwis vs Toa Samoa
This Sunday marks the clash for the title in the 2025 Pacific Championships: the New Zealand Kiwis take on Toa Samoa at CommBank Stadium in Sydney in what promises to be a high-stakes, emotional Test for both nations. The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Mix from 4:55am.
🏉 Stakes & Context
Samoa is on the hunt for **their first major trophy** in this competition under the current format. They possess the momentum after defeating defending champions and are eager to make history.
Historically, New Zealand has maintained a strong dominance over Samoa in Tests, and Samoa aims to break this trend.
The match will take place in Sydney, where a significant Samoan diaspora is present, potentially swinging crowd support in their favour. Over 15,000 Samoan fans have registered for a fan day leading up to the match.
👥 Key Players & Matchups
For Samoa: The dynamic halves pairing of Jarome Luai (co-captain) and Blaize Talagi brings creativity to the game. Up front, the formidable trio of Junior Paulo, Payne Haas, and Jeremiah Nanai adds significant strength.
For New Zealand: The pack features James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, and Joe Tapine — powerful players aiming to establish dominance from the outset.
The clash in the forwards is anticipated to set the match's tone. Samoa's size and aggression will face off against the Kiwis' cohesion and experience. The team that controls the middle could very well determine the outcome of the game.
🔍 What might decide the result
Samoa will aim to generate fast tempo, offloads and excitement, fuelled by their diaspora supporters and underdog mindset. Their “nothing to lose” status could breed freedom in attack.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will need a disciplined performance, controlling possession and reducing errors. Their historic superiority gives them a psychological edge, but they must show consistency.
The fan environment, emotional energy and momentum could tilt in Samoa’s favour — but if New Zealand can stifle that and execute their structure, their experience may carry them through.
Key statistical indicators: look for which team dominates the ruck, controls third-tackle sets, handles pressure situations (especially in the last 20 minutes) and minimises penalties.
📅 Match details
Date & Time: Sunday, 9 November 2025 (kick-off to be confirmed local time).
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney (Australia)
Background: Samoa defeated Tonga 34-6 in their semi-final to progress.
🎯 SLR Prediction
While New Zealand arrive as favourites given their track record, this Samoa side feels primed to make a breakthrough. If Samoa bring the intensity and crowd backing, they can cause an upset. I’d expect a hard-fought match possibly decided by small margins — Samoa to upset New Zealand by 2-6 points.
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