great for the game and great for Toronto
if they have the money they need to make a splash in their first year - well played I say.

You keep saying this but it makes no sense to me

Yes in a circus freak kind of the way it’s interesting but nothing more, it’s a truly naive way of viewing the game IMHO.

He’s too old to build a team around so in RL terms it’s a weak signing to a team that is weak to start with, one that needs depth more than star turns.

However, what really stinks to me is that it one more example of why this club is unsustainable in the future. So I ask you again and please no more fairy stories, when the money runs out and it will, how without any domestic infra structure will Toronto survive?

It won’t, it’s all pie in the sky until somebody makes them address the issue. All other SL clubs create juniors something you seem to support so how can you exempt Toronto, it should have been a pre- requisite imo, it would have been for Fev!

Im not sure how he will cope with week in week out rugby. No doubt Sonnys provided magic moments in both codes but not sure he will provide anything like the impact he used to. Im sure hes also been offered a share in the club and maybe a promotional type of position will take stage .

I don't really buy the idea of x or y journeyman player saying "he's getting that - why can't I?" because the answer is quite simple.

Bigger picture - this money is TWP's to spend, and they've made a decision to go for a big impact, star signing, to generate some razzmatazz around their entry to SL; fair play to them - it might work, it might not, and if it's the latter, it will have absolutely no impact on any other team.

If nothing else, it will probably add a couple of hundred female walk-ups to most games; my OH describes him as the most beautiful man she's ever seen - which obviously didn't bother me at all.

Have Toronto paid their creditors yet?

He will be one of the best players, if not the best player in SL, this is a man who was playing for the All Blacks last week one of the Worlds greatest sporting set ups. What better way to attract young players to the game in Canada than having SBW , a world superstar, playing in your local team. Fishermanscap what makes you so sure the money will run out ? are you privy to the inner financial workings of the TWP set up or are you just clutching at flat cap, whippet owning straws, he is a good few years younger than Danny Brough so should be good for at least another two years. Imagine what a fantastic boost for RL in Wakefield if we were able to sign one of the Worlds great players, imagine the excitement if Danny Cipriani signed for us, then times that by 10 if SBW signed, imagine how many would turn up for a training session at say Stanley Rangers under 10`s if SBW was in attendance. Pull that cap from over your eyes, Batley v Dewsbury in front of 800 fans is not the sustainable future, the razzmatazz of TWP in front of 10000 plus new fans is something to grab hold off, nurture and grow.

This is patently and self-evidently *not* the case.

None of which has any bearing on the positive PR though - which I think will potentially have more impact outside of North America, where he is much more well known.

He is and will be, plus when TWP announce Valentine Holmes as a TWP player then wow what a pairing.

Has Jean Capdouze managed to get a hold of your log in details

Isn't the reality somewhere in the middle, because there are two elements: creating interest and on-field performance.

In terms of on-field performance, he won't be the best player in the Super League, and because he will be surrounded by a lot of mediocrity he will be easy to defend against. You can have the best offload in the world, or the best running threat, but if what is around isn't at the same level then I imagine the teams just have to snuff out SBW and it's job done. Put him somewhere like Saints, where there are threats everywhere, then he could be devastating.

It's more akin to when Union poached Andy Farrell. It was pitched as a huge coup, but in reality they got a league prop forward with knackered knees who hadn't played union before, and had to play him in the centres to justify his existence.

Off the field, however, it could be a different story. It has created column inches, he will be a good off-field influence for the squad, and union is played in Canada, so it might attract interest from those quarters.

Let's see how SBW fares though when he's got to do 3 months of off-season slogging in a muddy field in Bradford.

Just seen in the press that they are after Manu Tuilagi, they are either trying to build publicity by throwing out wild offers that will never become a reality or are going to be wildly over the salary cap, been that they already have 2 marquee signings in Darcy Lussick and Ricky Leutele where are they going to fit these players in under the cap?

Unless of course, they are not that bothered by a 2 point penalty and 30 grand fine.

I think it’s great to see SBW back in RL and a great effort from the wolf pack to get him in SL

Even better, I never thought I’d get the opportunity to see SBW playing down at Bell Vue

I don't think the people of Toronto will give two hoots that SB has signed for them, for all they know TWP may as well have signed Shirley Williams! I'm sure, however, he will be a good attraction at away grounds and I look forward to seeing him. In his heyday he was a bit special and no doubt will still be a handful.
I am a bit envious of the money apparently available at TWP, we've existed for nearly 150 years and can only dream of bringing in players like SBW.

Word is, she had a nifty left foot step; knees are gone now though.

Haha - I knows the feeling...

Let's be honest whatever anyone tries it usually gets groans by a lot of RL fans. Our culture is to be negative. I'm personally looking forward to seeing him on our turf. He is past his best but because he lives a healthy lifestyle if he remains injury free we might just see some real magic and top hits. There's always the added element that you want one of our lads to sit him down so we can cheer and shout he's a load of crap


The biggest problem is growing our game and no one has hit the magic button. As much as many don't like it, nationally and globally is the only long term way. There's only so long an M62 corridor can demand money and with so much more entertainment to choose from for youngsters, keeping them interested is hard too.
My only concern is whilst growing the sport and venturing into new areas we don't toss aside heritage clubs. That said they can't just expect money thrown at them when they themselves mess up! How do clubs like Swinton, Oldham etc (which I'm not knocking) grow? It's tough and as I said no one has hit that magic button yet! I would love 3 strong full time leagues with strong heritage clubs and Newcastle, London, Nottingham etc (Then I'd moan about the travelling

)

SBW won't be the Messiah himself but it certainly wants seizing upon by the powers that be and the other clubs not least to show SKY!

I’m interested in why you think TWP fans won’t know who SBW is?

They’ve being around for four years now as a club and each year the fan base increases
I believe the fans of that club should be given more credit than you are giving them.

Just because the club isn’t over 100 years old doesn’t mean the fans aren’t knowledgeable about the sport
Also remember in Canada it’s just rugby, they don’t differentiate between league and union so there is a very strong chance the fans over there we’re watching the ru wc

In one breath you are saying there fans are knowledgeable about the sport and should be given more credit for that, then in the next they don`t differentiate between league and union? How does that work?

TWP home crowd puts many a 100 + year old traditional heartland club to shame. This is going to be great for SL

And so it begins... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/50319010 You in favour of lifting the cap Belly for super Toronto Belly?

And so it begins... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/50319010 You in favour of lifting the cap Belly for super Toronto Belly?

It works fairly easily, the Canadians don’t differentiate between the two sports
It’s just rugby

I’ve no issue with that as I have no agenda against ru
I assume you do?

Freebies.

What’s the betting we’ll outnumber them for their first “home” game? Plastic club, plastic fans.

"Well done on your promotion, and welcome to SL!"

Yeah right, so does there paying support put most heartland clubs to shame. Simple answer no! You're making it up as you go along now.

Please elaborate on how, in real terms rather than fantasy, exactly how this will benefit SL?