This week a committee of 11 Super League chairmen, the league director and England’s Rugby Football League will decide whether or not to readmit Toronto Wolfpack into the competition, the side having withdrawn just a few weeks before the restart in August.
The contrast could not be any starker to this time last year. Not only was life very different pre-pandemic, but I attended the promotion play-off final between Toronto and Featherstone, one of the greatest sporting experiences of my lifetime.
Starting out with a bumpy overnight coach from Ottawa before heading straight to the Tottenham supporters bar for a disappointing 7am pint or five – combined with the lurgy that would make me a statistic in today’s germophobic world – the omens weren’t exactly promising.
But meeting up with old friends, making new ones, taking the walk from the plush bars of Liberty Village to the low-grade minimalist ‘stadium’ that makes Brookvale look posh soon changed the complexion of the day.
The game itself was exhilarating enough, with the atmosphere something unique in my 22 years on this earth. There was typical European-style chanting from home and away fans mixed with some North American razmataz, though nothing over the top or cringy, played out of the type of crappy but characterful, does-what-it-says-on-the-tin stadium, exceeding its capacity, all combined for some great memories.
Admittedly those memories stop abruptly somewhere in the early evening, but I’ve seen the galvanising effect of rugby league in Toronto and the potential for Toronto to impact rugby league. And the more I hear of those decision-makers arguing against their inclusion, the more I’m forced to re-enact those Toronto hydration techniques.
Don’t get me wrong, they need to be punished. Even with the extenuating circumstances of lockdowns, economic damage, lack of TV money or access to either British or Canadian furlough schemes along with jittery government restrictions, you can’t just pull out and not expect repercussions.
Even more worrying was their non-payment of wages to their players. Ricky Leutele and Sonny Bill Williams are in the NRL as much for money as out of altruism or boredom. Thankfully the players union has stepped in to ensure financial compensation, and the potential new owner is willing to backpay all lost wages.
(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
This isn’t even their first bout of financial controversy or their only brush with the authorities. They must be punished. This may involve a points deduction or financial penalties or even relegation to the second tier. But to all those who wish to chuck them out of the competition altogether, do me a lemon.
The debate about expansion has been run ad infinitum, but you only need to look to New Zealand to see the difference in mentality. To get the NRL back up and running the powers that be pushed heaven, earth and government policy on inbound arrivals to ensure the Warriors could make it to Australia. The federal government even gave Tamworth airport international status.
The attitude in the north has effectively been to give Toronto enough rope to hang themselves with.
But there is another point the Kiwi comparison brings, one missed by anti-expansionists who insist the game should not and could never develop in Canada. If it weren’t for the efforts and vision of an entrepreneurial rugby player by the name of Albert Baskerville, the game of 13 would never have spread to Aotearoa – or Australia for that matter. It has plenty of potential in Canada, I’ve seen it for myself. It just needs some support, not at the expense of the game in England, but complementary to it.
I am aware many cannot afford this away trip, and it is a position that I completely sympathise with. If someone told me I should fork out north of $1700 to watch Spurs play a Premier League game in New York in the greater interests of the game, I would tell them to [deleted for editorial sensitivity].
But rugby league does not have the luxury that football has of turning down opportunities. The entire sport was founded because of the need for cash for northern players and clubs, and it’s not every day you have millionaires willing to pump money into a sport that, in the worst-case scenario, could revert to semi-professionalism in this country.
I’m not a blinkered, soulless expansionist that thinks the game needs to cast off its northern roots. If more people would turn up for Castleford (population 40,000) than London (10 million), then frankly I don’t care. But turning down a team that can draw five-figure crowds in the second tier less than four years into its existence is not just cutting your nose to spite your face, it’s a full-blooded beheading.
But then again we English are not very well renowned for logic or consistency. The most glaring example? While we debate whether and where to readmit Toronto, another Canadian side, Ottawa Aces, have already been admitted into the third tier.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
In order to create the impression of a new contributor, Danny become alias number………
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Mr Alias, in all your delusions here is a bit of reality lol https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/sep/23/from-top-to-bottom-rugby-union-is-now-staring-into-the-abyss Must be the repetitive scrum, pause, reset, kick going by your lame theories :laughing: :laughing:
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
you really are in desperation stakes. How any people do you actually stalk creep@?
Danny
Guest
300 I think you and fellow "Internationalist" Crosscoder said. Hahaha what sport needs Internationalists?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Geez, I don't need to change any subject. You talk through your you know what. Previous attempts :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: How many attempts have you made?
Danny
Guest
I have not signed up today. I have used Danny for a few articles Cathar. Why are you so embarrassed about your previous attempts of profiles on here you want to change the subject? It's not like someone from the Rugby League community to do this
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Wow Danny Guest signed up today. How many is that now? You sure seem to be this same person who makes these same accusations running over a few years now lol. C’mon, you wanna talk about aliases, tell us how many have you had now?
Danny
Guest
I know them all. Matt_S was probably my favourite. That was when you were at your passionate angriest with every sport bar Rugby League. You only have to Google the names and The Roar and they are all for all to see
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
you're not even funny anymore. Talk to me about previous profiles lol. You seriously say all this with a straight face.
Danny
Guest
Where are your attacks? Take a look at your comment history and comment history of your previous profiles. Its a common trait in the Rugby League community.
Danny
Guest
Do you hate those 2 sports because they are bigger and have a better reputation than your suburban 2 state sport Cathar? Have a look at your comment history you absolutely despise anything that isn't Rugby League
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Lol, where are my attacks on those sports on union & AFL threads here or elsewhere? Nada, zilch...unlike you. I don't like those sports, you're right but I don't waste my time telling the world unless they come on here preaching hypocrisy & attacking my favoured sport. Got every right to defend RL from the likes of you Mr Alias. Easy solution, go & enjoy your sport & stop this obsessive narcass!ssm & we wouldn't even need to mention those sports on a RL thread in response to your attacks.
Heritage 13
Guest
Yea if only Yawnion could be as big and popular as Rugby League the only sport in the World that can't grow. The M62 Wolfpack just shows this.. Oh and the 2 pound tickets for the Rugby League "World" Cup ????????
Danny
Guest
Yawnion? Well i was either going to be that or a fumbleball fan because they are the sports you absolutely despise because they are larger sports than Rugby League and judging by your comment history
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
We all know Mr Alias is a yawnion fan. Wonder what he thinks about most of the Pro 14 clubs are broke, Saracens woes just keeps giving, the French FR President & club boss looking at jail, Georgian folk shooting it out etc, wonder if by his thinking its all because of scrum, pause, reset, kick lol?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Mr Alias is pretty stupid you know.
Danny
Guest
Walter the hardest thing to do on a Rugby League field is count to 5 and most can't do that. Rugby League is what it is. Ps New York is a pipe dream of a Northern English teacher. Its not going to get off the ground just like Euro xiii
Birdy
Roar Rookie
That's as stupid as saying rah rah is kick ,scrum, lineout repeat. Kick ,scrum ruck, penalty repeat. Scrum, scrum penalty repeat.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Excellent reply Walter.
Walter Black
Guest
Just 6 months ago, we had Toronto Wolfpack in Superleague, a new franchise in Ottowa joining the lower leagues and a new club starting up in New York. That is genuine growth and the fact that Covid knocked these businesses can hardly be seen as a failure of the sport. On the contrary, the fact that Toronto got back up and running with new owners in a matter of weeks is tantamount to the solidity of the interest in Canada and the robustness of their business model. I don't know what sport you follow if you think Rugby League is minor skilled. You certainly must never have played it or if you did, perhaps you didn't have the skills. Most athletes in the world will admit that Rugby League at its highest levels is one of the most difficult games in the world. The requirements for fitness, skill and endurance put most sports in the shade. Competitions and game shows pitting athletes from different sports against each other often emerge with a RL player as the winner (Billy Slater won one of these 3 years on the run a few years back and I have seen similar in the UK). Josh Ado Carr can run at speeds not far short of Usain Bolt and players have often gone on to play (and excel) in other sports post retirement. If you genuinely think that RL is low skilled then you must be either from another planet or another insecure minor sport that is simply worried about its own relevance on the world stage..