Battered Fairleigh calls time on career

St Helens' Australian prop, David Fairleigh, who has been in outstanding form this year, has decided to retire at the end of the season. Fairleigh, aged 31, recently agreed to stay for another year, but has changed his mind because of the wear and tear of the game.

"He's given his all for Saints, but I can appreciate his decision to retire," said his coach Ian Millward. "He says his body has had enough." Fairleigh is out of Saturday's play-off against Leeds with a shoulder injury, but could be fit for the following week if Saints win through.

Paul Davidson's latest suspension has cost him any chance of a new contract at Halifax – but there are other Super League clubs willing to take him. Davidson was banned for five matches – for using an arm to the head of a Hull opponent – at his third visit to the disciplinary committee in seven weeks. The suspension will rule him out of the early stages of next season.

The forward has said he might retire if he was banned again, but he could have offers from Warrington and Salford. Other suspensions from the last weekend of the season have seen Wakefield's David March and Salford's Malcolm Alker banned for three matches and another Trinity player, Justin Brooker, for one – all for fighting.

Warrington supporters will get a preview of their latest overseas signing when Darren Burns plays loose forward for the Brisbane Broncos in the televised play-off against Parramatta this Sunday.

The Broncos have named Gorden Tallis among their possible substitutes for Sunday. Tallis had a career-threatening neck injury, but a comeback now would put him back in contention for the Kangaroo tour to Britain this autumn.

Widnes have continued their team-building for Super League by re-signing two members of their promotion-winning pack – Phil Cantillon and Shaun Richardson. Cantillon had initially refused the terms he had been offered to turn full-time.