For me it's not about money, teams like Toronto and Toulouse have had no effect on what is happening at clubs like Workington and York. What it is though is the perceived support that the 'new' clubs get from the RFL in terms of setting up administration, adapting the rules to suit, media exposure etc. They need to show that this level of back up is available to ALL clubs in times of need and not just a chosen few. What better chance to do this and take a leading role than now when a couple of smaller traditional clubs are struggling? It will be interesting to see what transpires.

I haven't seen that York, Bradford or Workington have gone to the RFL with a deal like that one offered by Toronto; if they did, I'm sure they'd get a similar reception.

I get that Vasty is cynical, but I can't see that the owner would have gone on telly and announced that his club would be paying all the travel and expenses for visiting clubs, if he actually wasn't; it would take about 60 seconds for that kind of lie to be exposed, if that.

You're possibly taking me a bit literal here.

I'm sure he has the best of intentions but RL has a habit of confounding even the best laid plans an I can see the budget not balancing very quickly especially if they don't do well. In which case like many previous RL pioneers hell exit stage left quicker than Scott Moore gets an invite to Redhall!

Just don't get the logic - here is virtually know history of RL in Canada - a country that apart from Ice Hockey is totally enslaved to the gloosy American sports that are readilly on offer - where is the demand. It failed in London which by comparrison looks truly furtile territory.

We shall see I suppose.

As far as I can tell, RL is flourishing in the US - and there are huge amounts of athletes who don't make the grade in the ridiculous spectacle that is American Football, who would make perfectly serviceable RL players. Canada seems an obvious next step and from what I've read, in the ice hockey off-season, there is nothing much else for them to watch - and he's sold a fair few season tickets already, so the early signs are good.

I understand the scepticism, but it would be great if it worked - it could easily lead to an American/Canadian SL and will do wonders for their international sides.

Absolute pie in the sky. Utter tosh, and the sort of thinking that is endemic at Red Hall. Sorting out the problems of our domestic game has to be the priority. Ignoring the difficulties facing our brothers and sisters at York, Workington and Bradford whilst flirting outrageously with Cincinnati, Dallas and Redneck City is just shameful and immoral.

I've got to admit after watching the Eric Perez interview on Backchat I went from this is bit of a joke, to this could certainly have some legs to it.

The guys got something about him for sure. He's got enthusiasm for days, along with intelligence and his knowledge of marketing, that makes you want to buy into it. Especially as you say if they can tap into that huge amount of College athletes that leave with nothing to do when their NFL dreams are over, that's where this could really take off. If they can tap into those guys who Colleges have spent 100's of Thousands of dollars on turning them into top athletes, then spits them out and then RL can offer them another avenue. But that will obviously take a few years.
He says he's set up the Canadian equivalent to that NRL Rookie show, that is apparently going to shown on an a Canadian TV channel. Also the way he was telling it, the club would be run with the owners cash but most of it would come from sponsorship money from over in North America, which would be impressive if true. They've already got all their games Live sorted on Premier Sports, which is an achievement imo.

He comes across as everything Koukash isn't.

Ignoring the personal insults, which are unnecessary, you're setting up a false position; hoping that RL in Canada and North America succeeds, and being supportive of a man who is prepared to invest in the game to try to achieve that, are not in any way in opposition to also hoping that Bradford, Workington et al are able to survive - they are two entirely different situations.

Again, for the avoidance of doubt, the RFL are not putting any money into the Toronto project; so not supporting it wouldn't suddenly free up a load of money to save failing clubs in this country.

It could be argued that parochial, small-minded protectionism is exactly the problem with RL in general.

The Rookie idea is a very good one IMO so why don't e have one here?