As you say TD slightly off topic but oh so true regarding the amateur and junior game. I've experienced it so many times especially the building of super teams at junior level but we must all keep going for the good of the game.

Sad but so true NGBW, I have nothing but admiration for the coaches at junior level who struggle for numbers week in week out, I’m sure Sonny will create a mad rush of kids into the game

Not sure why SBW is getting so much grief, its not his fault they offered him so much money?

Don’t think it’s SBW getting grief and he’s not bothered one bit about the game, I think its SL fans thinking it’s the second coming of the messiah who’s coming to save our great game. It’s a money thing I’m afraid and you can’t blame him but next better offer he’s gone.

The heartlands would all be replaced by major European city clubs funded by millionaires if a lot of people got their way. British Rugby league would die as a result. They don't understand that to grow the sport you have to make it more appealing at grassroots as opposed to chucking money at a 35 year old to attract fans who already like Rugby to more games.

But no one in the heartlands has that money.
It isn't stopping anyone in the North of England doing anything they like.

Absolutely. Nowt stopping us from signing him or his ilk - other than the fact we haven't got a pot to in.

Pretending that signing SBW is anything other huge for various reasons just smacks of jealousy and insecurity from some fans. Let's be right here, if we had just announced him signing for us then we'd all be over the moon and there'd be crusty socks everywhere.

Ultimately, if Toronto have got their plan wrong and they flop on the field then they'll be in a dog fight at the bottom of the league with, most probably, a few other teams. After all, we want matters to be decided on the park don't we? They've come through the leagues and earned their shot and I accept I'll be in a minority here but I hope they do really well.

Short memory Steph eh? In 1983 (LESS than 50 years ago), Trinity made an equally or more astounding, world newsworthy signing when they signed Wally Lewis. You must either be a young lass or Know little about the game!!

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I for one wish we had signed him, the Toronto fans are lucky to have got him on board.
As far as Toronto are concerned, I appreciate what you are saying , but if the trend continues towards a possible international SL, where do you think that would leave the likes of us, Cas, and Hull KR etc?
I have nothing against Toronto playing RL, but they should do it in their own league. Just my opinion of course.

Quote: Redscat "Short memory Steph eh? In 1983 (LESS than 50 years ago), Trinity made an equally or more astounding, world newsworthy signing when they signed Wally Lewis. You must either be a young lass or Know little about the game!!'" It's even forgotten about by the media as well so you can't blame him https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... -transfers Makes you wonder did we ever sign the greatest rugby league player at all, little old Wakefield eh

Quote: Redscat "Short memory Steph eh? In 1983 (LESS than 50 years ago), Trinity made an equally or more astounding, world newsworthy signing when they signed Wally Lewis. You must either be a young lass or Know little about the game!!'" It's even forgotten about by the media as well so you can't blame him https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... -transfers Makes you wonder did we ever sign the greatest rugby league player at all, little old Wakefield eh

Think we paid 8000 for Derek turner in 1959 big money in those days I bet he'd have given sonny bill a good game as well.

Exactly so what you will have is a team full of clubs who will only be there if they have rich owners. What a joy. We'll get to watch the richest buy the mostest while clubs go to the wall that we all cherish and support - there you shall lose more fans than you will gain. The reason rugby league struggles is because historically it hasn't been able to retain the fans it already has. Some of the crowds Wakefield used to get makes our current attendances look like a joke. I've nothing against Toronto exisiting as a rugby league club - I have as a rugby league club in a competition based in Britain. Chucking obscene money at a player that is past his best rather than thwoing that amount of money at grassroots at Toronto and canadian rugby as a whole goes to show me that it's not so much expansion that is the motivator here. You need to as a sport show that you are worth more than other sports by getting young kids into the game, chucking ten million dollars at SBW is not the answer - it's an expensive gimmick. If this was about exposing more kids and families to the game, Toronto would have been far better off spending 10 million dollars on marketing or free tickets to kids and families who have never attended a rugby league game. You might get a few extra walk-ins of passive Rugby fans in to watch one game of the season but most people outside of Rugby don't know who SBW is. You need the power base and marketing in order to expand the game. I fear that there is some extreme naivety in some of the hyperbolic positive responses I've seen regarding this from Rugby League outlets. I'll be looking at attendance figures in the coming season extremely closely believe me. Is SBW going to be good to watch as a Rugby League fan? Yes. Is this going to be effective in making the game any better? Not for me. It might set a precedent for getting rid of the salary cap and trying to attract new teams to the league. New teams run by rich owners in an International Super League. Does that sound attractive? Not for me. I'm struggling to see any long-term planning or plan to improve Super League other than rolls of a dice and individual clubs paying extortionate amounts of dollars for players who are past it. TLicon_biggrin.gifR I don't see how Toronto spending that money improves the game overall? Unless they plan on throwing 100 million at 10 other top Aussies - oh wait, that wouldn't be improving the game either for young British players.