Toronto aiming to change face of the game
Promoted Wolfpack are viewed with suspicion by Super League rivals, writes Ross Heppenstall
If Sonny Bill Williams joining Toronto Wolfpack caused a stir, it was nothing compared to Catalans Dragons recruiting Israel Folau. In its endless fight for relevance outside its traditional enclaves in northern England, the 13-man code usually welcomes media coverage with open arms.
Robert Elstone, the Super League chief executive, often talks about the need for the competition to “break out of its bubble”.
Sanctioning the controversial Folau’s move has proved a PR disaster, though, and right on the eve of the season, too.
Instead of the focus being on stellar signings, such as Williams, George Burgess, James Maloney and Gareth Widdop, it is against this backdrop of bigotry and hate that Super League 2020 will begin when Wigan host Warrington tonight.
The real intrigue lies with Toronto. The Wolfpack were promoted last season in only the third year of their existence, winning all but one of their 29 games in Brian Mcdermott’s debut campaign.
On Sunday, they will make their Super League bow against Castleford in a double-header at Headingley that will also feature Leeds against Hull FC.
Toronto, whose wealthy owner David Argyle has funded their remarkable rise, are viewed with suspicion by many clubs.
They have yet to receive any central funding, a condition they agreed to upon entry to League One in 2017. Toronto’s part of this year’s money, around £2million, will be shared out by their top-flight rivals and they will again cover the costs of every visiting teams’ travel and accommodation.
Tensions linger over how long Toronto will be denied any funding, especially as they are paying Williams a king’s ransom to play in the competition.
With the current Sky television deal to expire in 2021, a year in which England will host the World Cup, talk of further expansion and private-equity investment continues to bubble away.
Toronto chairman Bob Hunter said last week: “The reality is that we are in the family now and one of 12 Super League clubs. We think we should get our equal share because we need it to survive.”
Mcdermott has been vocal in his calls for the club to be given special dispensation to sign more players outside of the salary cap. Super League clubs are understood to have voted against that and so Toronto will make do with the smallest squad in the competition. Mcdermott said: “The premise of this is that we’ve got relegation [in the competition] and clubs are applying operational rules which are very much suited to British-based teams. Some Super League clubs will see us as a threat but you’ve got to ask what does the game – the RFL, the fans and the club owners – want?
“Is the answer Super League doing another 25 years of what it’s already done, which is to ebb and flow and never really grow? Or do you want it to be something else?
“I think Toronto Wolfpack could do something really special this year and also change the face of the game.”
Toronto’s UK training base is situated near Manchester and they will again travel to Canada to play blocks of home games at Lamport Stadium during the season.
The bulk of their squad hail from rugby league’s heartlands in northern England, including veteran forward Jon Wilkin.
The 36-year-old was a multiple trophy winner during 16 seasons at St Helens when Toronto offered him a contract at the end of 2018.
The logistical challenge of playing in Toronto has proved testing. Wilkin’s wife is former Olympic swimmer Francesca Halsall and he said: “We did three or four big blocks over in Toronto last season and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t put a strain on my marriage.”
He says his wife is “understanding” although fed up with the situation, adding: “That’s just what I’m used to living with now.
“We’re in the process of trying for kids and I just need to decide whether I retire at the end of this season and be happy or keep playing and maybe coach.”
It remains to be seen whether Williams, who will shortly return home for the birth of his fourth child, will play this weekend.
Williams said: “I’ve never been to Toronto but the boys tell me it’s mayhem on game day. As a city, it’s a sporting mecca, so hopefully we can add our five cents’ worth.”
Wilkin added: “We’ve got a small squad with an average age of 29 but Sonny still has the physical attributes to be devastating.
“I think it’s really important that we understand the influence a star like him can have on our sport and how that impact is measured across the game as a whole.”