Quote: CanaBull "The announcement has gotten a fair amount of TV minutes and column inches over here since yesterday. The #packiscoming trending on social media also. There is a genuine excitement about Rugby League coming to Toronto; interest in the domestic Ontario league went through the roof compared to previous months. I was pleasantly surprised there wasn't some derisory Facebook postings from some of the Union trolls over here, the reaction being overwhelmingly positive. One thing North America has going for it is the lack of schismatic upbringing, they don't have to pick one code or the other. It's a level playing field in those terms and while Union may have the slight lead, an ambitious promoter with a keen marketing sense and good financial backing could make up ground and take that lead away. Eric Perez is definitely that type of promoter. Rugby League is much closer to NFL/CFL, it's simplicity is its strength and this is the best opportunity for growing the sport of Rugby League in years, to crack North American market as a major niche sport could unlock unheard of resources for our game.'" I read an article by a Canadian the other day that was essentially saying similar stuff. Saying that a lot of people don't know what rugby league is but have watched union and basically don't understand anything that is going on when the ref blows for a million different penalties in the scrum and ruck. Like you say the simplicity will be the positive, watch a few games and you will understand the game which is what is needed to bring new fans in. This is the article, some good positive points in there. blogs.theprovince.com/tag/toronto-wolfpack/

Quote: CanaBull "The announcement has gotten a fair amount of TV minutes and column inches over here since yesterday. The #packiscoming trending on social media also. There is a genuine excitement about Rugby League coming to Toronto; interest in the domestic Ontario league went through the roof compared to previous months. I was pleasantly surprised there wasn't some derisory Facebook postings from some of the Union trolls over here, the reaction being overwhelmingly positive. One thing North America has going for it is the lack of schismatic upbringing, they don't have to pick one code or the other. It's a level playing field in those terms and while Union may have the slight lead, an ambitious promoter with a keen marketing sense and good financial backing could make up ground and take that lead away. Eric Perez is definitely that type of promoter. Rugby League is much closer to NFL/CFL, it's simplicity is its strength and this is the best opportunity for growing the sport of Rugby League in years, to crack North American market as a major niche sport could unlock unheard of resources for our game.'" I read an article by a Canadian the other day that was essentially saying similar stuff. Saying that a lot of people don't know what rugby league is but have watched union and basically don't understand anything that is going on when the ref blows for a million different penalties in the scrum and ruck. Like you say the simplicity will be the positive, watch a few games and you will understand the game which is what is needed to bring new fans in. This is the article, some good positive points in there. blogs.theprovince.com/tag/toronto-wolfpack/

On an on-going basis then it isnt going to work. For many reasons. Not just limited to Toronto.

A transatlantic league at semi-pro level (and lets be honest some L1 clubs are barely meeting that level) just isnt sustainable. Nor is a league where attendances are ranging from barely the low hundreds to 7k.

No reason why our top flight can't be a worldwide competition.

OUR, then it's not is it ?

No thanks expansion lover, other cities can start their own 'world league' if they want, and then see how it goes... !
Who do you support, hinting 7K is low? You can only be a fan of maybe 8 clubs who average more than that. So Genius, what should 'established' SL clubs do to boost crowds that might get close to what you think is acceptable. I know, let's replace 20+ English clubs (gradually though) with Cities from planet earth, who WILL bring more to our, I mean the game than current clubs do.

I like the idea. Hope it works. Just like that old adage about coaches listening to crowds ending up being one of them, the same holds true to paying too much attention to the weakest sides in the sport.

Now its on for next year has a taster for next year get the owner to get to super league teams to go at the end of the season to play a game for all the fans to show what might happen if they are good enough to get to super league and good publicity for the game

Well said.

Spot on. And not just because I like pies.

Hope it works out for them , Really pleased they've got the gig .

decent write up today in the daily mirror (irrc was 7am when i read the story) regarding the wolfpack

paul rowley to throw the opening pitch at the toronto blue jays match on tuesday and the team is owned by a multi millionaire mining guy from Australia, money not a problem, hence travel and accomodation paid for the english clubs

Let's hope he's a Davy/Moran rather than a Koukash.

Bless....