Toronto Wolfpack and the future of Super League Part 2

In part two of the Celtic Crusaders/Toronto Wolfpack series, I will look at what has happened with Toronto and maybe the way forward for Super League. All this and more in the latest edition of the Blog of Cheese.

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In 2014 the RFL received an application to join Super League from the CChairman of the Canadian Rugby League, Eric Perez. Eric was told that the team would need to start in League One and build up to Super League. In April 2016, a press conference announced the side’s details. The Toronto Wolfpack would be backed by ten businessmen, including Eric and Australian David Argyle. A condition of joining League One would be the side was responsible for travel and accommodation for all sides below Super League. The side would be coached by Paul Rowley, with Brian Noble serving as director of Rugby.

Toronto’s 2017 squad would include Rhys Jacks, Fuifui Moimoi, Bob Beswick, Ryan Burroughs, Ryan Bailey, Liam Kay, and Craig Hall. Toronto would finish champions of League One, losing only one game and drawing one (both in the Super 8 stage of the competition). 2018 saw the addition of Ashton Sims, Dave Taylor, Josh McCrone, Cory Patterson, Reni Maitua, Chase Stanley, and Darcy Lussick. The side would lose 2 games and draw 1 in the Championship. Toronto would finish fourth in Super 8s and then fail London in the “Million Pound Game” to decide the fourth team in Super League. Brian McDermott would join as the coach for the 2019 season.

With Ricky Leutele, Bodene Thompson, and Jon Wilkin among the recruits, Toronto would again dominate the Championship. Under the new finals system, Toronto would win promotion to Super League after defeating Featherstone in the Championship Final. Sonny Bill Williams would be the marquee signing for Toronto’s Super League debut. The club would play six fixtures before the season was suspended due to COVID-19. In July, Toronto withdrew from the 2020 Super League season, citing visa issues and a lack of revenue from playing all of their games in the UK due to COVID-19. Part of the issue with visas is the setup of the club. Instead of crisscrossing the Atlantic every second week, the club would spend part of the season in the UK and part at home in Canada. They would not be on the same visas as some NRL players in Super League; they would be on short-term visas, the same used by Tennis players and Golfers.

When Toronto first joined League One for the 2017 season, they agreed to not receive any “central funding” (TV money) from the RFL. Founder Eric Perez has recently claimed it was a last-minute addition added by the RFL. With no central funding, Toronto could negotiate its own media deals and keep all the profits. Rumours have existed that Toronto would allow fans to enter their home games for free. In January 2018, Ryan Bailey, Fuifui Moimoi, and Dave Taylor had their contracts terminated following an incident during a pre-season camp (Dave Taylor would not play a game for Toronto). Founder Eric Perez would leave the club in early 2018. In late 2018 reports emerged that Toronto had failed to pay its players on time. In December 2018, Toronto announced they were purchasing a minority stake in League 1 side the London Skolars, and reports have emerged London didn’t receive the promised money.

In 2019 it emerged several Super League clubs had not been compensated for releasing players to Toronto. Also in 2019, Toronto’s majority owner David Argyle stood down as Chairman and CEO following racist remarks to Swinton player Jose Kenga. In February of this year director of Rugby, Brian Noble, left the club. Also, in February, Toronto asked the RFL for salary cap relief. In July, it was reported that players were constantly being paid late, which was confirmed by Kallum Watkins’ wife in a post on social media.

Will the Wolfpack return in 2021? It remains to be seen. David Argyle is a mining magnate, and so is former Newcastle Knights owner Nathan Tinkler and look how that worked out. Toronto was always going to be a risk with a private owner. People see the dollar signs and ignore the hard work. Rugby League owners don’t make money, unlike the Premier League and the US big 4 sports (MLB, NBA, NFL & NHL). Ask Russell Crowe how much he has lost investing in South Sydney over 13 years, though Russell has red and green in his blood and won’t walk away.

Did the RFL do due diligence on Eric and David? Questions have to be asked. Given what has happened at Wigan Athletic, sometimes things just go wrong. Eric is now fronting the Ottawa Aces push, and I’m sure the RFL will have second and third thoughts about Ottawa and the New York team. I believe Ottawa will, unlike Toronto, receive central distribution money as a former League One club. Ottawa will also be better served through the involvement of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, which owns a Canadian Football side, a minor league Hockey side, and a Minor League Football (Soccer) side. Another question is should the RFL be responsible for helping sides outside England in its competitions? The RFL’s job is to help grow the sport in the UK, not North America. Shouldn’t they accept all the risk if a North American side joins the RFL?

If Toronto decides to wind up shop, Super League/the RFL face an interesting decision on who is to take their spot, given the Championship has been cancelled and no side would earn the right to be promoted. As runners-up to Toronto in 2019, Featherstone would have a case to be the 12th Super League side, and London would also have a chance as the side relegated for Toronto. Newcastle has also put up its hand to take over the franchise, as has New York.

(Image from Wikipedia showing the location of the 10 UK Super League clubs all on the “M62 Corridor”)

Over the twenty-four years of Super League, only four clubs have won the Grand Final (Bradford [last in 2005], Leeds, St Helens, and Wigan), and only a further four have made the Grand Final (Castleford, Hull F.C., Salford, and Warrington). In any sense, that is a failure, and severe change needs to happen. With the possible demise of Toronto and in the aftermath of COVID-19, it may be time for Super League/RFL to reintroduce a franchise system, starting with the new TV deal in 2022. Under a franchise model, a team can grow and develop without fear of overspending just to avoid relegation, as has happened to several clubs. I believe the RFL should bite the bullet, drop some smaller clubs to the Championship, and add some big market city teams to grow the competition. Championship clubs can apply for an expansion franchise in three years. I would not eliminate all of the smaller market teams to keep history, though Super League needs to expand outside the “M62 corridor”. Some people have suggested eliminating the Salary Cap, which would result in a more significant gap between the haves and have-nots.

(Image from Wikipedia showing the Rugby League clubs in West Yorkshire)

Selecting the twelve clubs has been no easy task, with much research and back and forth of who claims some of the last spots. I looked at the criteria for the license system Super League used in 2008 and 2011. The criteria I have used are as follows: A team had to play in Super League the last 5 years, make a Grand Final (or best performed from the division in Super 8s), make the 1895 Final, have an academy side, or have an average crowd of 2,500. A breakdown of club performance is found in the attached document at the bottom of the article.

The sides that were considered were; Barrow, Bradford, Castleford, Catalans, Doncaster, Featherstone, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leigh, Leeds, London, Newcastle, North Wales, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Sheffield, St Helens, Swinton, Toulouse, Wakefield Trinity, Warrington, Whitehaven, Widnes, Wigan, Workington Town, and York City. Clubs under consideration fell into 4 categories: Those who competed in every season of Super League were automatic selections (Leeds, St Helens, Warrington, and Wigan), strong clubs that will benefit Super League (Castleford, Catalans, Hull FC, London, Newcastle, and Toulouse). Clubs who were in consideration for the last two spots (Huddersfield, Hull KR, Sheffield, Wakefield, and York) and not considered due to entering administration in the previous 5 years (Bradford and Widnes). Why I chose the 12 clubs is listed below (I have considered making “Super 8” as a side making the finals):

Castleford Tigers have competed in Super League from 1996-2004, 2006 and since 2008. They would finish 11th in 2005, though given Catalans were exempt from relegation, Castleford would be relegated. Since their return to Super League, Castleford has made the finals in 2009 and since 2014. In 2014 they made the Challenge Cup Final. In 2017 Castleford finished as League Leaders and made it to the Grand Final. Castleford is owned by Ian Fulton. Ian took over from his father, Jack, who had owned Castleford since the 1990s.

Catalans Dragons: The former Elite Championship team joined Super League in 2006. Catalans were exempt from relegation in their inaugural year. They reached the Challenge Cup final in 2007. Won the Million Pound Championship in 2017 to avoid relegation. In 2018 Catalans won the Challenge Cup. Have only missed the finals in 2006, 2010, 2017, and 2019. Their average crowds have increased in the last few years and averaged 10,000 last year. Set the Super League ground record in 2018 when they played Wigan at Nou Camp. Catalans are owned by Bernard Guasch, who has been involved with Catalans since the start.

Huddersfield Giants: Competed in Super League from 1998-2001 (2000 as Huddersfield-Sheffield) and since 2003. Following an undefeated Northern Ford Premiership (current Championship) in 2002, Huddersfield returned to Super League in 2003. Has made the finals in 2003, 2009-15, and 2017-18. In 2013 they won the League Leaders Shield. Made the Challenge Cup Final in 2006 and 2009. Huddersfield is owned by Ken Davy, and Ken has owned Huddersfield since 1996.

Hull F.C.: Started the Super League Era in Second Division (current Championship). Won Second Division in 1997, joining Super League in 1998. Made the finals in 2001-02, 2004- 2007, 2010-2013 and 2015-2018. They were runners-up in 2006. Hull has made 4 Challenge Cup finals in the Super League era in 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2017 (winning the last 2). Hull is owned by Adam Pearson. Adam has owned Hull since July 2011.

Hull Kingston Rovers: Entered Super League in 2007. Made the playoffs in 2009-2011 and 2013. In 2016 lost the Million Pound Game to Salford. In 2017 would finish third in “The Qualifiers” and win promotion back to Super League. Neil Hudgell is the majority shareholder and has been since 2019. Neil has been Chairman since 2004.

Leeds Rhinos: One of the Super League “Big 4” (who have contested every Super League season). They have been the most dominant team in the Super League era appearing in 10 Grand Finals (winning 8 titles) and 9 Challenge Cup Finals in the Super League era (3 Cup victories). Leeds did the double in 2015. Leeds is owned by Paul Caddick and Garry Hetherington, who has owned Leeds since 1997.

London Broncos: Competed in Super League from 1996-2014 and 2019. Finished second in 1997, made the Challenge Cup Final in 1999 and made the finals in 2003 and 2005. Backed by David Hughes, who has been involved with the club since 1996. If you are going to have a national competition, then you need to have a team in the nation’s capital. London also competes in the national under-16s and under-19 academy competitions (something many clubs do not).

Newcastle Thunder: Gateshead Thunder competed in Super League in 1999, bankrolled by Shane Richardson. Gateshead would merge with Hull FC at the end of the season. A new Gateshead side has competed in the lower leagues since 2001. In 2015 the club was bought by Newcastle Falcons owner Semore Kurdi, who renamed the club Newcastle Thunder. The club shares Kingston Park with the Falcons. Semore has owned the Falcons since 2011, proving he is in for the long haul. Newcastle also competes in the national under-16s, and under-19 academy competitions (something many clubs do not) and the junior numbers are growing very quickly. They have expressed an interest in taking over the license of Toronto.

St Helens: One of the Super League “Big 4” (who have contested every Super League season). St Helens has been the most consistent team appearing in 11 Grand Finals (winning six titles) and 8 Challenge Cup Finals in the Super League era (3 Cup victories). St Helens did the double in 1996 and 2006. St Helens are owned by Eamon McMannus. Eamon has owned St Helens since November 2001.

Toulouse Olympique: Toulouse applied to join Super League in 2003, though they would lose out to Catalans. In 2005, They became the first non-English team to appear in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals. Toulouse unsuccessfully applied for a Super League license for 2011. Toulouse competed in the Championship from 2009-2011. Rejoined League 1 in 2016, they went through an undefeated season and have competed in the Championship since 2017. After 5 weeks of the Championship, they were undefeated before the season was suspended and cancelled due to COVID-19. Toulouse has a close relationship with Rugby Union side Stade Toulousain and was scheduled to play at Stade Ernest-Wallon in 2020.

Warrington Wolves: One of the Super League “Big 4” (who have contested every single season of Super League), Have appeared in 4 Grand Finals and 6 Challenge Cup finals in the Super League era (4 Cup victories). Warrington is owned by Simon Moran, and Simon has owned Warrington since 2003.

Wigan Warriors: One of the Super League “Big 4” (who have contested every Super League season). After being the dominant team in the pre-Super League era, they have been bought back to the field. Have appeared in 10 Grand Finals (winning 5 titles) and 5 Challenge Cup finals in the Super League era (3 Cup victories). Wigan did the double in 2013. Wigan is owned by Ian Lenagan, and Ian has owned Wigan since October 2007.

Once again, a lot of the information about the history of Toronto comes from this article by freelance journalist John Davidson. He goes into more detail about the financial mismanagement of Toronto.

And Another Thing: I know the NRL has had a lot on its plate this year. Hopefully, we will still have Hall Of Fame inductees this year, even if the ceremony is kept to a minimum due to COVID-19.

If you want to contact me, you can email me. Remember to like the page on Facebook to find out when new blog posts are available. Also, to find out the latest news, views, and opinion from the world of Rugby League. Follow me on Twitter to get all this, plus live and full-time scores from every game in the NRL. As well as full-time scores from the; Super League, Presidents Cup, Sydney Shield, Brisbane Rugby League, Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, Holcim Cup, National Rugby League W, and Women’s Super League.

Till next time,

Cheese

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