Rugby: Wolfpack sets sights on second-tier promotion

For Toronto Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley, it’s another exciting, bonerattling day at the office — albeit with a big prize at stake.

His fledgling rugby league team — rugby’s first transatlantic side — can earn promotion to the second-tier Championship with a win or tie Saturday against the visiting Barrow Raiders.

In a season short on drama but long on lopsided wins, there’s no certainty that the No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown will come with a twist. One British bookmaker has Toronto a 1/200 favourite to win on the weekend — meaning a bet of $1,000 will net you a $5 profit.

From the Championship, a tougher goal awaits — winning promotion to the elite Super League.

So far, the Wolfpack (18-1-1) have been a success on and off the field. While few outside the franchise’s inner circle believed an expansion team in a niche sport could succeed in North America, the naysayers have been proven wrong.

“After our launch, tons of people came out and said ‘This is ridiculous. Why are they doing this?’ ” recalled Wolfpack CEO Eric Perez, the driving force behind the team. “You don’t really hear from those people much any more, to be honest with you.”

Forced to enter the third tier of the sport in England, the Wolfpack were able to sort out teething problems largely outside the spotlight in the relative anonymity of the Kingstone Press League 1.

The league champion wins automatic promotion, while the second-through fifth-place teams face off to see who joins them.

Toronto has a two-point advantage over Barrow (17-2-1) with one game remaining for each team after this weekend.

A win or tie Saturday will secure Toronto the title, given it currently holds a 525 advantage in points difference, which is the first tiebreaker.