You'd guess he'd be a marquee signing & that's exactly what it's intended to do.

Huge signing and one that's good for the league imo. I'd say he's probably add an extra 200 fans onto each away gate. I know a handful of people who'd probably go to watch him play.

But the rest of Super League's fanbase do, and half of Toronto's games will be played at other grounds, where the fans would likely flock in to watch him play. And once that word gets around, it will make it easier for Toronto to sell their club to the home press.

To be honest, there are lots of reasons why signing SBW won't necessarily work out - long time out of the game, very untrustworthy etc - but the publicity coup outweighs them all in my view.

No disrespect to you, but it's part of the reason why SL's crowds are declining that too many people like your good self advocate ignoring superstars and signing handfuls of 'better value' journeymen instead.

Spot on

SBW to Wigan, Saints, Warrington, Leeds, Hull etc would be a massive coup and would create a lot of media exposure and put bums on seats. All those teams already have foundations and a superleague standard side. Toronto don’t have that foundation or a good enough team IMO.

They need to spend that money more wisely rather than spunk it on 1 player because what happens if he’s a flop or is constantly injured? He’s gone in 2 years along with all that cash that could have really laid the foundations for Canadian rugby league.

Spending 9 million on SBW is like spending all your holiday spends in the airport on your way there.

Now you put it like that it’s a fair point, I still disagree but it’s a fair point all the same.

FWIW I agree with the second paragraph, though money isn’t an issue over there, they could spend it on building a squad capable of not just staying in SL but competing too.

Did you find an Irish bar? There must be a few of those
Can't wait for the fixtures to be released next week, then I can sort all my holidays out for next year. Thanks to Thomas Cook I have three spare weeks unallocated!!!

I just remember Wigan going to London one night midweek, and 10,000 people turning up to watch - and that was the Martin Offiah (etc) factor.

The British game is woefully star-light at present. Even Saints, who romped to victory last year, have very few players, if any, with that Wow! factor.

Toronto, Wigan, Leeds,, wherever ... we just need some megastars back in our game.

You're absolutely right. One of the things Eddie Hearn discussed with the lack of household names in League. In most mainstream sports even people aren't of said sport can name a few names (Conor McGregor UFC, Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua Boxing, Lewis Hamilton F1 etc) Whereas he said when people talk about names in league they mention Martin Offiah, Andy Faz etc. Young kids need names to look upto to want to be like; to drag them into the game. We need established names; SBW, Owen Faz, then to market and build our own.

Sadly I don't think the RFL have a club what to do.

Linked strongly to Latrell Mitchell, what a signing that would be. Might take our game in on Apr 25th as part of my birthday celebrations

And bloody good on them I say. In a mere 3yrs of existence they’ve done a world of good for the sport IMO. I really hope they have set the bar and the standard. If we had more owners with the money that David Argyle has we wouldn’t be anyone’s after thought.

But you just know that the flat cappers wanting expansion but not outside of the M62, wanting money but not to the big clubs, wanting good players but not too good will complain and complain until the RFL buckle once again.

I cant believe that Brian Noble wants a review of the salary cap after what has happened to Bradford,now i know its because they have a rich backer but what happens if they get relegated or he pulls out they are screwed

What if your uncles your Dad?

This type of attitude holds back RL. We’ve (Super League) been doing the same thing under different banners for years. It’s got us nowhere. Toronto are doing it differently and look at the exposure RL is getting. If only we had more financial backers with vision and clout we’d be far better off as a sport.

This will not go through as there is only Wigan leeds saints wire Toronto and maybe hull with the money to spend a fortune on players,the less rich clubs won't vote it through as it wouldn't be a level playing field,on a personal level i loved it when we won everything but it just isn't healthy for the game in general plus bringing in a load of Australian and Kiwi players means that less junior players break through