WOLFPACK IT IN

Fears for future as Toronto pull out of this season’s Super League

THE future of Toronto Wolfpack is in the balance after they withdrew from this season’s Super League campaign.

The Canadian club want to return next season – but their fate is no longer in their own hands.

Rival Super League clubs, plus the RFL, will decide whether they can continue or whether they should be relegated to the Championship.

If that happens, it could raise the risk of millionaire owner David Argyle pulling the plug on the club.

Their refusal to see out the rest of the season, which restarts on August 2, is a huge embarrassment for the sport.

A joint statement from Super League and the RFL said they were “very disappointed”, claiming the club had given “firm assurances as recently as last Thursday’’.

The Wolfpack, who were promoted to Super League this year under coach Brian McDermott (right), blame financial problems.

In a statement, the game’s only transatlantic club said: “This decision has not been taken lightly.

“The Covid pandemic has presented unexpected and overwhelming financial challenges to the Wolfpack organisation.

“Greatly reduced ticket, sponsorship, merchandise and game-day revenue streams have resulted from the loss of all 11 of the team’s home Super League games in Toronto. The Wolfpack would be left covering significant additional costs simply to complete a season of games in the UK – including Covid testing, stadium rentals, medical costs and player pay increases to align with the rest of the league.”

The bombshell news leaves their players, including superstar Sonny Bill Williams, in limbo over their own futures.

Argyle, who has admitted he fears Toronto will be kicked out of Super League, says he guarantees the players’ salaries will continue to be paid.

But players have moaned in the past about their wages not coming through on time and they have still not been paid for June.

Australian mining businessman Argyle is understood to have told the players they are free to leave if they can find another club willing to sign them.

The club statement went on: “The club fully intend to field a team in the 2021 season, and will be working with Super League Europe and the RFL to understand this process moving into the next season.”

The RFL board decided last night to abandon relegation from Super League this year, to “protect player welfare and the solvency of clubs.”

One club may however get promoted, if Toronto are kicked out.