Post by salfordlad1 on Apr 29, 2016 14:23:38 GMT
I think there is only one way to find out if this is going to be a success and that's by giving it a go and fair play to Perez and the Australian backer they certainly have a big task on their hands with a Toronto based Rugby League team.
As much as I think Brian Noble is past it in terms of coaching, they have made an astute acquisition in bringing in Paul Rowley who knows the Championship and League 1 like the back of his hand. I know Paul from when he coached at Leigh he's a great bloke and passionate about Rugby League and IMO there is nobody better to take them to the top of the Championship and potentially into Super League. He will also bring a well structured set-up and an attacking style of Rugby which I'm sure the Toronto public will warm too.
As for previous Rugby League expansion failures, PSG did fail but further to the South of France the Catalan Dragons can definitely be regarded as a massive success for the Sport and are my tip for the Grand Final this year. Crusaders RL was never going to work, Wales is a RU heartland and those areas never seem to warm to Rugby League, it all comes down to class snobbery IMO as we also see with the London Broncos failure to attract crowds.
When Canada have played international RL games in Toronto they have attracted some impressive attendances and that is why I believe this could potentially be a success. I don't think they will have any problems getting into the top 4 of the Championship within the next 2/3 seasons, especially now they have a special dispensation and can spend way over the Championship/League 1 salary cap.
All the best to the Wolfpack, I hope they have a good 5 year plan in place and their backers don't pull out if things doing well in the first year or two which I'm sure they won't. Already excited for my first away watching the Salford Red Devils in Toronto. Checked the flight prices the other day and £250-£350 isn't that bad at all!
As much as I think Brian Noble is past it in terms of coaching, they have made an astute acquisition in bringing in Paul Rowley who knows the Championship and League 1 like the back of his hand. I know Paul from when he coached at Leigh he's a great bloke and passionate about Rugby League and IMO there is nobody better to take them to the top of the Championship and potentially into Super League. He will also bring a well structured set-up and an attacking style of Rugby which I'm sure the Toronto public will warm too.
As for previous Rugby League expansion failures, PSG did fail but further to the South of France the Catalan Dragons can definitely be regarded as a massive success for the Sport and are my tip for the Grand Final this year. Crusaders RL was never going to work, Wales is a RU heartland and those areas never seem to warm to Rugby League, it all comes down to class snobbery IMO as we also see with the London Broncos failure to attract crowds.
When Canada have played international RL games in Toronto they have attracted some impressive attendances and that is why I believe this could potentially be a success. I don't think they will have any problems getting into the top 4 of the Championship within the next 2/3 seasons, especially now they have a special dispensation and can spend way over the Championship/League 1 salary cap.
All the best to the Wolfpack, I hope they have a good 5 year plan in place and their backers don't pull out if things doing well in the first year or two which I'm sure they won't. Already excited for my first away watching the Salford Red Devils in Toronto. Checked the flight prices the other day and £250-£350 isn't that bad at all!