Wolfpack are on scent of the big time
HERE’S one for you: How did a rugby league team based in Canada move to the brink of the Super League within two years of their formation?
Toronto Wolfpack became the world’s first transatlantic major professional sports team when they began life in League One last season.
The idea was the brainchild of Eric Perez, a Torontonian who became hooked on rugby league when working in England, while funding has come largely from Australian mining investor David Argyle. Brian Noble was made director of rugby and Paul Rowley became head coach.
A squad was quickly assembled and, as a full-time team in a part-time league, they achieved promotion last year. More impressively, Toronto have topped the Championship this term and now enter the Qualifiers, where the top four second-tier sides and bottom four Super League teams play each other for the right to be in the top flight next term. It should be some scrap.
Toronto’s opener is at Halifax on Sunday but they will enjoy the advantage of four home games at Lamport Stadium, a ground where they have lost only once in front of average 8,000 crowds.
Noble said: “What excited me about the project was it was a
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blank piece of paper. There was a seven-year plan to reach Super League but we could do it in two.”
Toronto’s presence presents endless logistical challenges, for the Wolfpack themselves who play home games in blocks, but also the teams who play them in Canada.
Players have had visa issues and there have been complaints over the standard of accommodation for visiting teams. Even Toronto’s Ryan Brierley said: “We’ve just done a nine-week stint in Toronto and I struggled towards the end of it. I’ve a little girl back home, so I’ve missed her and my family. But gameday at Lamport, with the beer garden and DJ, is a real event and something UK teams could learn from. Fans love it.”
But there are fears over Toronto’s longterm viability. St Helens chief executive Mike Rush said: “We’ve an awful record with expansion sides. It’s about sustainability.”
Yet Noble said: “Imagine if we had Toronto and a second North American team playing against the likes of Leeds and Wigan. All of a sudden, TV companies fighting for the rights. The game grows and we can start competing with the NRL for top players. That’s my vision.” JUSTIN ROSE is ready to play through the pain barrier at the 100th USPGA after a back injury stopped him playing a single practice round.
The world No 3 pulled out of last week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. And the Ryder Cup star has only walked around the Bellerive Country Club with wedges and a putter this week.
He passed a fitness test on the range yesterday with a physio in attendance and is determined to tee up in his 34th consecutive Major with the help of painkillers.
Rose had been England’s best hope of a first win in this event for 99 years after finishing in the top 12 of all three Majors this year, including tied second at the Open.
And victory here would see him overtake Dustin Johnson as world No1 if the American finishes outside the top seven.
But his latest injury setback has thrown his preparations into disarray before the final Major of the season. He is due to tee off late – at 1.37pm local time – with Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm today.
“I’m managing it the best I can,” said the 2013 US Open champion. “I felt something
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