Sonny Bill was a huge bonus for Canterbury-Bankstown when he began his rugby league career, gaining newspaper headlines on almost a weekly basis. He was definitely a huge bonus for the Sydney Roosters and the NRL when he returned to rugby league in 2013. His rivalry with South Sydney Rabbitohs' Samuel Burgess while playing for the Roosters certainly put bums on seats. I was in Sydney in September 2013 and I followed the news of the NRL on the Australian media during the late playoff period when his performances were crucial.

If Toronto can land a capable half back -- and I think that the Canadian heritage half back Ryley Jacks now at the Gold Coast Titans could be a great choice -- and an influential prop forward or two, plus another Australian back line star such as Valentine Holmes (who is on David Argyle's radar), then the Toronto Wolfpack will rampage through Super League and bring an even larger proportion of the people of Toronto into an active involvement with the team.

Such an impact will put great pressure on New York and Ottawa to compete in the coming years. By the time these teams get promoted into Super League we may have unearthed some quality Canadian and American players, and hopefully some real grass roots development of the game (which is Eric Perez's goal with Ottawa).

In Canada they have a sophisticated marketing machine, headed by the marketing genius Eric Perez, that can take maximum advantage of the presence of Sonny Bill Williams being in the Toronto team and Super League.

All the signs are positive for rugby league expansion thanks to Eric Perez, David Argyle, and the good people of Toronto. It is time for the Little Englander naysayers to wake up and smell the coffee.

You're on the wrong forum, you're just a 'wind up merchant' who has NO interest in the British game. This is me being polite, but you don't deserve it.

It’s not Rugby! It’s Rugby League. The other code is very much not in its infancy, hence the significance of Toronto signing RU players.

You should have a chat with John Drake et al over on totalrascistrl.com. They are adamant that League should be referred to as Rugby, in some sort of childish disobedience action. It's hilarious how anyone who has anything negative to say about the game is admonished and god forbid you mention bigger more popular code.
Personally, Toronto IMHO have been very smart about the way have hooked up with Union. Better to get paly with the rather than have them stonewall the game. SBW, although well overpriced, is a ideal signing to get that cross over from fans.....I'd like to see an effort to try and fill a bigger stadium at least once this season coming
They host wire and Salford either side of Canada day, with the latter on the 4th of july, so if SL can't arrange for a fixture swap and move the salford or wire games to July 1st, maybe take the Salford game to BMO field.

it wouldn't be difficult to re-jig the fixtures with Toronto Hosting Wire on the Friday Night instead of Saturday and making Salfords preceding game the Thursday night match, giving both sides time to recover for a Wednesday Afternoon KO in Toronto?
Canada day is a big thing and I reckon a full BMO would be a great advert for the game

Wrong! I have great interest in Super League, which is dominated by British teams. I just don't support the archaic clubs located in the former pit and mill towns on the M62.

I have great interest in the British team known as the London Broncos. I supported the Broncos in person when Virgin's Richard Branson was a devoted sponsor, and the great Lionel Hurst was CEO, and even after the departure of Virgin and Lionel Hurst, when the great Ian Lenagan was Chairman of the renamed Quins. During those years I was privileged to be able to attend games, and post match meet with players like Denis Moran, Sylvain Houles, Richard Barnett, Thomas Leuluai, Luke Dorn, Mark McLinden and Tulsen Tollett (now a BBC World News Sports compere).

However these days, although I still wish London Broncos well, and want them back in Super League, I primarily support the non-British clubs of which we only have two at the moment: Catalans Dragons and Toronto Wolfpack. Hopefully those two great clubs, with their significant local fan bases which dwarf the likes of Salford and Wakefield, will be joined by Toulouse Olympique in 2021, and New York and Ottawa not too many years after that. At that point we will have a truly international Super League, a North Atlantic Super League (NASL).

This forum is open to expansionists like myself, as much as it is open to M62 Little Englanders, who are opposed to international expansion. That is why it is incorrect to say that I am on the wrong forum.

It's so hard to get decent bar staff in London...it's why people like Bazza here were such a godsend. Working for peanuts + accommodation and really as thick as the proverbial pair of short planks, they were a "special" bunch.


I know this to be true, because we didn't import French bars staff, nor expect folk from Chorley to come down, but no matter what bazza says, it was the lure of 6 VB for £10 in a bucket that did it for him...eh cobber

Where did all the journalists come from at the press conference? There were more in attendance for that Toronto press conference than attended all the super league games in total last season.

Proof again that Toronto are a massive draw, even in a foreign country

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Sonny Bill Williams made a great impression on the BBC. Tens of millions of viewers around the world saw him speak of the challenge of returning to rugby league from rugby union as "awesome." Sonny Bill Williams stated that the Toronto team provided a great opportunity to establish the game of rugby league in North America. None of the Little Englander/M62 negativism to be heard from him. He said that he was looking forward to playing for the new team. The appearance of Sonny Bill Williams on BBC World News shows that his signing and the emergence of the Toronto Wolfpack are indeed a huge development and provide great publicity for rugby league.'" he just reminds me of this bloke https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ULeDlxa3gyc

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Sonny Bill Williams made a great impression on the BBC. Tens of millions of viewers around the world saw him speak of the challenge of returning to rugby league from rugby union as "awesome." Sonny Bill Williams stated that the Toronto team provided a great opportunity to establish the game of rugby league in North America. None of the Little Englander/M62 negativism to be heard from him. He said that he was looking forward to playing for the new team. The appearance of Sonny Bill Williams on BBC World News shows that his signing and the emergence of the Toronto Wolfpack are indeed a huge development and provide great publicity for rugby league.'" he just reminds me of this bloke https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ULeDlxa3gyc

Quote ="snowie"he just reminds me of this bloke https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ULeDlxa3gyc'" This video is just an infantile cheap shot from a supporter of a decaying rugby league club that is doomed to be replaced in Super League by vibrant non-British expansionist clubs. Wakefield's inevitable demise will be to the advantage of the much more popular Toronto, soon to be followed into Super League by Toulouse, and later New York and Ottawa.

Quote ="snowie"he just reminds me of this bloke https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ULeDlxa3gyc'" This video is just an infantile cheap shot from a supporter of a decaying rugby league club that is doomed to be replaced in Super League by vibrant non-British expansionist clubs. Wakefield's inevitable demise will be to the advantage of the much more popular Toronto, soon to be followed into Super League by Toulouse, and later New York and Ottawa.

Have you gone off Avignon now, all of a sudden?

No, not at all. I am just waiting for more concrete news.

So you dont like the clubs along the M62, despite the fact that without their move to RL way bck in 1895, there wouldn't even be a sport and you would prefer to plunder their players (along with a smattering of Aussies) and set up clubs without foundation in any city in the world


Just where will your new clubs glean their players from, if you dismantle half of the current SL clubs, with their academies and junior sides.
It's an utterly bizarre plan and the practicalities of having a trans Atlantic sport, make your plan doomed to fail and having trashed the game in the UK, which would have to return to amateur or semi professional status, just what will you have done to the game overall.

You are Nigel Wood and I claim my £5

Edited for accuracy.

A recent RFL press conference in Doncaster:


This week's Toronto press conference at the Emirates Stadium:


I can see why people are worried about what Toronto bring to the game....

LOL

That's the reality pal he's in it for the money

Good grief what the heck is that RFL press conference. That looks so bad and what are Tony Adams and the other guy wearing around their necks?

That looks like a press conference arranged in a cafe.

What a cheap shot that is, just to please your expansion loving buddies.
The photograph you posted with RFL president Tony Adams was to celebrate Doncaster promoting the importance supporting mental health issue in Rugby League, and the fact that their home game v London Skolars, all proceeds would be going to mental health charities. Well done to Carl Hall & Doncaster RLFC.
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF !

Jim Mills and Bobbie Goulding...YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES lol https://www.rlnews.co.uk/embarrassing-l ... nce-photo/

Jim Mills and Bobbie Goulding...YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES lol https://www.rlnews.co.uk/embarrassing-l ... nce-photo/

The development at Toronto appears to be working well if you agree with this type of overseas expansion. It appears to be achieving its goals.

Surely the same techniques, methods and determination can get the same results in London, Newcastle and Coventry (as suggestions).

The RFL should be forensically analysing and comparing TW with London Broncos where huge amounts have been spent over the years.

Oh and by the way, it had nothing to do with mental health, it was Adams first day as president.


More fake news from the Leigh fans lol

Fair point.

Quote ="Steph Curry"Oh and by the way, it had nothing to do with mental health, it was Adams first day as president. More fake news from the Leigh fans lol'" Yes it was, stop telling lies. Link attached. https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/ ... eased-with

Quote ="Steph Curry"Oh and by the way, it had nothing to do with mental health, it was Adams first day as president. More fake news from the Leigh fans lol'" Yes it was, stop telling lies. Link attached. https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/ ... eased-with

I thought you were better than this, obviously not.

Quote ="Kennedy"Yes it was, stop telling lies. Link attached. https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/ ... eased-with'" https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/r ... -1-9897241 As I stated, it was from Adams first day as president as Jim Mills and Bobbie Goulding commented on. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. The article you linked was the 7th August More fake news from the Leigh fans

Quote ="Kennedy"Yes it was, stop telling lies. Link attached. https://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/ ... eased-with'" https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/r ... -1-9897241 As I stated, it was from Adams first day as president as Jim Mills and Bobbie Goulding commented on. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. The article you linked was the 7th August More fake news from the Leigh fans