Furthermore they are not taking part in the Challenge Cup which will add to their advantage in the League

...or the 1895 Cup. I think someone calculated that Widnes (for example) could potentially play about half a dozen or so more games than Toronto, this coming season.

Toronto, politically, now say they want to participate in the Challenge Cup, but the RFL has refused them, pointing out that the competition is already organised and they can't change it at this stage!

I have further reviewed the Toronto fixture list to establish in how many of their games throughout the entire season that their players are likely to be playing under the double influence of a 5 hour time change, coupled with undertaking the arduous travel arrangements.

The answer is - NONE !!!

My understanding of last season's travel arrangements was that visiting clubs were expected to stay in 3rd Rate Student Accommodation situated 35 miles from the nearest training facility. I believe our return flight on Sunday was to Glasgow, to be followed by a 212 mile coach journey back to Leigh taking at least 3 hours 30 minutes.

I also understand that Brian Noble had requested that arrangements would be changed this season with the visiting team departing for Toronto on Friday (instead of Thursday) and returning on Saturday night immediately after the game. He apparently provided some medical evidence that this would not be a problem. (No doubt saving Toronto a bit more cash from the subsidised expenses they are expected to cover.)

I haven’t heard what arrangements have been finally agreed for the coming season.

Toronto are in my view definitely having a laugh at the expense of all the other Championship clubs and getting away with it.

Why don't we just, right now, award them the Championship Final Winners title and promotion to Super League, thus saving ourselves all the hassle.

let it go

Why?

It is my opinion and I will express it - in fact I just did.
In my view this unsustainable stupidity cannot be allowed to continue - our great sport is becoming a laughing stock. To test the level of stupidity - try explaining these arrangements to someone who is involved in any other sport. They look at you in total disbelief.
It is well overdue that the Championship clubs (including ours) got their act together.
Is it any wonder that Super League are progressively breaking away from being managed by a bunch of clowns in a suburb of Leeds?

I agree with you wholeheartedly. The sooner they are out of our league, one way or another, and we get back to a fair and even championship the better

It's like an unhealthy obsession for you, I'm trying to help

While I wish Toronto no I'll will, and even understood and somewhat supported the need last year as the reasoning was given as the stadium upgrades that they had no control over.......
This time I'm not understanding or supporting. We were told last season was a one off, well that was obviously BS. There is no reason Toronto should get this schedule this time around. Too cold to play at the start of the season is their problem. Move games to an indoor stadium or play in a different league.
Also they should be told that teams that can, should be allowed to arrive Thursday and leave Monday. That will not be many but should be done at Toronto's expense when possible for a team to do that.

Why don't they just participate in a Canadian league?....

Or an Australian one, if they really want to develop? That way they can tap into a vast market of players, rather than a dwindling one.

I take your point Alan but the shortest routes are:
- Toronto to Manchester - 3,416 miles with a flight time of nearly 8 hours and a time difference of 5 hours
- Toronto to Sydney is 9,663 miles with a flight time of 22 hours (with one stop in San Francisco or Vancouver - there are no direct flights). The time difference is 8 hours.

The above times do not of course include travel to the airport, 3 hour check-in requirements, baggage claim, customs clearance and travel to your destination accommodation.

The truth is that neither Australia nor the U.K. are practical locations to allow a Canadian team to have a rugby league team playing in.

Toronto can never have a stable team - there will be wholesale changes to their playing roster every year. How can it work with an English player spending a chunk of the year in Toronto and having a wife and kids (at school) in England.
The same applies to an Aussie, who even worse, will have to relocate in either Canada or England and then still spend a chunk of his time away from his family.

I have a fair bit of international travel experience because of work and being away from your family for weeks. Believe me the novelty wears very thin, very quickly.

There isn't one. There's a handful of amateur teams (not Miners or East quality) dotted around on the west coast and in the Toronto area (Maple Leyther would have a more accurate knowledge on that area though) but nothing at a higher level anywhere in Canada.

I agree entirely. My comments about Australia, were very much tongue in cheek!

Whatever deal Toronto have cut with SKY is their business , yes we might lose a couple of dozen off the attendance at ours who will prefer to spend their money on beer rather than a match ticket , but it will also mean a couple of thousand Leythers like myself who wouldn't have been going over to Canada will get to see the game live

Ultimately their connection to us is reducing with every new player they sign , I do expect them to get promoted this year and become SLs ' problem ' , we have plenty enough things to concern ourselves with to be bothered about them any more , time to move on

It is their business, but as a club we need to be looking at alternative packages. As a Club we are back to Déjà vu. Back to square one.

The Club needs to seriously get motivated and start looking at alternatives rather than a cheque from Super League.

Déjà vu Starbug.