WOLFPACK FUTURE RIGHT ON THE LINE

SUPER LEAGUE clubs will today thrash out three key issues for the sport – including the future of Toronto Wolfpack.

The Canadian club’s prospective new owner Carlo LiVolsi will put his case to the other 11 competition members at a virtual meeting that could run into tomorrow because of this afternoon’s SalfordCatalans fixture.

The clubs are also set to decide whether to finish the 2020 regular season early and extend the play-offs, and discuss the sport’s crucial next television deal once the current one expires at the end of next year.

But it is the destiny of the Wolfpack that will focus attention most, with other owners understood to be split on their future.

Toronto pulled out of this year’s competition in July on the eve of the season restart, citing financial problems with debts of around £1million, having failed to pay players, coaches and staff for several months.

Canadian entrepreneur and investor LiVolsi has pledged to honour those payments and underwrite future losses – and will offer proof of his funds to the governing bodies if his plan is voted in.

Garreth Carvell, head rep of players union, the GMB, said: “We cannot watch the destruction of a club when a deal is on the table that saves them, enhances the game and pays those families what they are owed.”

fact it gets harder. You u have to justify your position, show you’re not there just collecting ng caps.

“You have to go the e extra yard and that is what Ben has done. He’ll beat my record, for sure.” ure.”

Maro Itoje reckons there are few tougher places to win n 100 caps than England “due to o the amount of competition, the physicality hysicality of the domestic league and the general level of talent”. t”.

He added: “There have been 1,417 England players and only two have reached ed

100. So Ben is a source ce of inspiration, to myself and to the whole squad.”