Toronto Wolfpack

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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by AFLcrap1 »

It's bizarre really
Simple facts are ignored ( such as Canada has a pro RL team as opposed to not one pro or semi pro fumbleteam outside Aust ) to suit whatever alternate reality a lot of fumblefans live in .
& they wonder why we laugh at them
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by pussycat »

Bbear wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 7:19 pm
Wolfpack appeal to a small insignificant niche market of buffoon English expats who refuse to embrace the local sports such as ice hockey and gridiron.
Rugby league does not even register with the average sane Canadian citizen.and why would it when there are more exciting sports to follow.

Much greater chance of AFL in China growing and becoming a more popular sport than RL has of capturing the mindset of Canadians.
Is that why there getting a second team?


They can hardly be expected to be the most popular team in Canada straight off the bat, that couldl take at least 6 months or more.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by NRL&NFLweLaughATafl »

Bbear wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 7:21 pm
I would have to travel to Canada and check out the cheer squad in person before I believed that their is a genuine home grown Canadian amongst them.
However I would prefer to travel to China, eat some authentic Chinese food , attend the Afl exhibition match and witness the growing interest amoung the local fans.
Just give it some time and some credibility.
Growing interest?? Is that why the AFL exhibition match crowds keep falling and the stadiums have so many empty seats???
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

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BBC
There will be no relegation from Super League in 2020.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) said the decision was made "for reasons of integrity, player welfare and also to protect the solvency of clubs".

The news came hours after Toronto Wolfpack said they would take no further part in the 2020 season because of "overwhelming financial challenges" posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The RFL also said the 2020 Championship and League One seasons will not resume.
A survey of the Championship and League One found that the majority of teams would not support playing behind closed doors.
Instead, teams will be invited to play in a competition in the autumn that will celebrate the sport's 125th anniversary, with a prize of £250,000 on offer.
Canadian outfit Toronto had been playing in English rugby league's top flight for the first time after winning promotion from the Championship, but have opted to withdraw from the rest of the campaign.
The Wolfpack say they still "fully intend to field a team in the 2021 season".
Toronto, who will also be withdrawing from the Challenge Cup, said in a statement:external-link "This decision has not been taken lightly, and in consideration of a range of factors specific to the club as the only transatlantic team in the league.
"Greatly reduced ticket, sponsorship, merchandise and game day revenue streams have resulted from the loss of all 11 of the team's home Super League games in Toronto.
"The Wolfpack would be left covering significant additional costs simply to complete a season of games in the UK, including Covid testing, stadium rentals, medical costs and player pay increases to align with the rest of the league."
BBC Sport reported on 15 July that Toronto could be forced to pull out because visa issues may have prevented seven of their players from taking part.
They were bottom of the table when the season was suspended in March, having lost all of their opening six games.
The club say they will now be working with Super League and the RFL to "understand" the process with regards to next season.
In a joint statement, Super League and the RFL said they were "very disappointed" to learn that Toronto would be withdrawing after "firm assurances had been received as recently as last Thursday" regarding their participation.
"The club's decision is especially disappointing given the imminent restart of the season," the statement added.
"Our immediate focus is on getting the season back under way on 2 August and meeting the needs of our host broadcaster, Sky Sports."
'We'd heard rumours for months'
Toronto had been due to face Hull Kingston Rovers in the first game of a triple-header at Headingley to mark the restart of the season, with the teams scheduled to have met again two weeks later on 16 August.
Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith said Toronto's withdrawal will have "an impact for the game and for the sport".
He told BBC Radio Humberside: "We'd heard rumours for weeks and months about the situation, but we just got on with running our own club.
"[But] it's not great when one of the Super League clubs just pulls out at this late stage.

Rugby Sports
Mark Staniforth, PA
July 21, 2020, 4:12 AM

Featherstone Rovers want Toronto Wolfpack’s Super League place after the Canadian club sparked anger among rugby league chiefs by announcing their withdrawal for the remainder of the 2020 season.
The league’s only transatlantic club cited “overwhelming financial challenges” for their decision to temporarily withdraw from Super League.
Wolfpack had been due to resume the season against Hull KR on August 2 and their move drew a strongly-worded joint statement from Super League and the RFL.

Toronto Wolfpack withdraw from 2020 season.

The statement read: “Betfred Super League and the RFL are very disappointed to learn that Toronto Wolfpack will not be able to fulfil their obligations to Super League 2020.
“Super League Europe and The RFL have been in regular dialogue with the Wolfpack over the past weeks and months regarding the club’s ability to take part in the competition and firm assurances had been received as recently as last Thursday, 16 July.
“The club’s decision is especially disappointing given the imminent restart of the season.”
Despite the high-profile signing of Sonny Bill Williams, Toronto had lost their first six matches of their debut top-flight season and were facing the imminent prospect of relegation back to the Championship.
The club were already facing up to the prospect of having to cancel their remaining scheduled fixtures in Toronto, and indicated that the financial impact was too much to bare.
The club said in a statement:”Toronto Wolfpack can confirm that the club has informed both Super League Europe (SLE) and the Rugby Football League (RFL) that the team will not be restarting the campaign as scheduled on August 2.

“The Wolfpack will not participate in the conclusion of the 2020 Betfred Super League season, or in the remainder of the 2020 Challenge Cup.
“This decision has not been taken lightly, and in consideration of a range of factors specific to the club as the only transatlantic team in the league.”
Noting reduced ticket, sponsorship and game-day revenue streams, the statement added: “The COVID pandemic has presented unexpected and overwhelming financial challenges to the Wolfpack organisation.”
The club said it would work with Super League and the RFL to “understand the process” of moving into next season.
SSE and the RFL added: “A discussion around the longer term consequences and the future of the Wolfpack in Super League will commence shortly.
Following news of Toronto’s withdrawal, Featherstone announced they had made contact with Super League and RFL officials to express their interest in joining the competition.
Rovers CEO Davide Longo said: “We were surprised that Toronto Wolfpack have had to make such a tough decision, every club within the sport has had to make challenging decisions this year and we share their disappointment in this difficult

Rovers have made contact with Super League officials today to express their interest in joining the Super League following Toronto Wolfpack's withdrawal from the country's elite competition.

“However, it leaves the rest of the Super League clubs with an uneven competition, disrupting the integrity of the division in 2020.
“Rovers have a squad littered with experienced players and ambitions to strengthen the squad if an opportunity presents itself.
“Featherstone were unbeaten going into lockdown and we feel a shot this season is worthy of our club’s efforts over recent years.”
Rovers, who were beaten in the 2019 Championship Grand Final by Toronto, remain undefeated in this season’s Betfred Championship and are due to play Wakefield Trinity in the sixth round of the Coral Challenge Cup.

Rugby news
The Canadian rugby league team of $10 million New Zealand star Sonny Bill Williams withdrew from the Super League midway through its first season in Europe's top-tier competition, citing "overwhelming financial challenges" caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Toronto Wolfpack said the decision was taken because of a "range of factors specific to the club as the only transatlantic team in the league."
They included reduced revenue from tickets, sponsorship, merchandise and game-day business following the loss of all 11 of the team's home games during the shutdown of the league since March.

"The Wolfpack would be left covering significant additional costs simply to complete a season of games in the UK including COVID-19 testing, stadium rentals, medical costs and player pay increases to align with the rest of the league," the club said.


The league is scheduled to restart on August 2 and organisers said they were "very disappointed" to learn of the Wolfpack's decision.

"Super League Europe and the RFL have been in regular dialogue with the Wolfpack over the past weeks and months regarding the club's ability to take part in the competition," read a statement from Super League, "and firm assurances had been received as recently as last Thursday.
"The club's decision is especially disappointing given the imminent restart of the season."

Toronto Wolfpack was established in 2017, beginning in English rugby league's third tier. The team has won two promotions in three years.
Toronto said it "fully intends" to field a team in the 2021 season.

The league said a discussion "around the longer-term consequences and the future of the Wolfpack in Super League" will take place soon.

Another rugby league club Featherstone Rovers immediately made a move to take Toronto's place in the Super League, approaching officials about joining the UK's elite competition.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

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Rugby news
Toronto Wolfpack have withdrawn from the remainder of the Super League season before its restart next week, casting doubt over the Canadian club’s long-term future in rugby league, while the Rugby Football League has also confirmed that no team will be relegated from what is now an 11-team top-flight in 2020.
Toronto conceded last week that they would be unable to play any home games in Canada this season owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the loss of revenue from home fixtures is exacerbated by the fact players cannot be furloughed because they are a Canadian company.
The club had a request for a six-figure loan from Super League turned down last week, but the Rugby Football League insisted they had received “firm assurances” over Toronto’s participation as recently as last Thursday.


What happens next for Toronto is unclear. They say they “fully intend” to field a team in 2021 but will face stern opposition in regards to an instant return to Super League due to the timing of their announcement. They may instead have to drop down to the Championship – the sport’s second-tier, which was officially cancelled for 2020 on Monday – with the RFL insisting discussions over Toronto’s future will take place almost immediately. A decision is expected on their next move within days, but the timing creates an ugly situation for the sport to deal with just days before its flagship competition restarts next weekend.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by Terry »

I was never that comfortable with the Wolfpack. The whole thing hinged on the money & support of one bloke who is supposedly a billionaire. There was always a danger he would lose interest or get sick of throwing money at it.

In this instance it is the Corona virus that has bought them un-done. They say they'll be back for 2021 but it's hard to see them going straight back into Superleague. This will really test the enthusiasm of their owner David Argyle.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

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Majority owner David Argyle, for whom the Wolfpack have been a labour of love, says the ownership group has invested $30 million into the franchise since its inception in 2016. Most of that came from Argyle, a Toronto-based Australian mining and natural resources entrepreneur, with help from "shareholders, friends and family."

The owners view

Toronto Wolfpack owner David Argyle has warned players he fears they will be kicked out of Super League following their withdrawal from the 2020 season.
Argyle addressed the club’s employees in a Zoom call on Tuesday afternoon following their decision to pull out of the remainder of the campaign and told players he believes demotion to the Championship is the most likely outcome.
He told them he expects a decision to be made within days rather than weeks.
That would mean the players’ contracts would be null and void and Argyle told the squad they were free to sign for other clubs as a result of the current situation should they be able to find deals elsewhere.
The club cited astronomic financial challenges as the reason behind their decision to step aside, but Argyle conceded the repercussions could see them ousted from the competition next year.
Super League said in a statement that ‘a discussion around the longer-term consequences and the future of the Wolfpack in Super League will commence shortly’.
Argyle is understood to have told them there are four different scenarios; their place in Super League is retained, that they have to return next season in either the Championship or League 1, or the worst possible scenario would be that their licence would be revoked completely.
Their Super League counterparts, many of whom have been vocal in their criticism of the club, are thought to be angry about their decision to withdraw and fear the repercussions it will have on Sky’s distribution money, with clubs wary it could result in further rebates having already lost £266,000 worth of Sky funding next year.
One thing stacked in Toronto’s favour is that they don’t currently command any of that Sky funding, which means each club receives an additional figure in the region of £150,000.
The fact the Championship may be null and void could also make it problematic to decide who replaces them, though a decision on the second-tier, as well as promotion and relegation, is due on July 23rd.
During the call, Argyle also explained the club’s situation regarding late pay. All staff are yet to be paid for the month of June and were told a payment is now not likely until the end of the week. The pandemic has resulted in Argyle facing challenges selling assets used for cash flow, while Toronto’s inability to gain ticket revenue, their primary source of income, has escalated the problem.
But Argyle insisted he would honour their pay despite not playing and would pay for the club’s overseas players to fly home, with all of them due to travel back before the end of the month. He is also understood to have told players he will pay them what they are entitled to even if they find deals for the rest of the season, though some players are thought to be considering leaving permanently if the opportunity arises.
Argyle also said he would like to be involved in the club next season.
Toronto said in a statement: “The COVID pandemic has presented unexpected and overwhelming financial challenges to the Wolfpack organization. Greatly reduced ticket, sponsorship, merchandise and game-day revenue streams have resulted from the loss of all 11 of the team’s home Super League games in Toronto. The Wolfpack would be left covering significant additional costs simply to complete a season of games in the UK including COVID testing, stadium rentals, medical costs and player pay increases to align with the rest of the league.
“Player and staff payroll, an issue of recent media attention, has been guaranteed by Wolfpack majority owner David Argyle and is secured by a personal guarantee to the RFL. Refunds for all 2020 single-game tickets, as well as season membership refunds that have been requested by individual fans, will be returned by the club to Ticketmaster in the near future in order for the refund process to be fulfilled.”
Super League now faces a number of important decisions with the season set to restart in less than a fortnight. Featherstone Rovers have expressed an interest in taking their place in the competition. There is also the issue of deciding what happens with regards to Toronto’s pre-lockdown results, though they had lost all of their Super League games.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

came down to few things.

No home Games for 2020
Visa Applications
not much Income in 2020

No point being involved in the rest of season 2020 if your just going to lose massive amount of money.

I think the Super League should of given Wolfpack big concessions to make them stay in season.

Anyways they will be back in season 2021... (this season is a write off anyways.)
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by Quolls2019 »

I think they will struggle to get back.
I would be very surprised if they resumed in the top tier.
They were struggling in super league on and off the field before the virus struck.
They were trying to renegotiate their entry conditions and were still paying for their home television coverage.
Not playing home games for the start of every season was not helping.
Argyle paying out close to $30 mill.
The deal with SWB annoyed a lot of the teams other players.
The signals from the RFL.
The RFL knocking back a loan request.
Support from the other Super League clubs waiting or non existent.
Argyle virtually giving all players a clearance.
Super League stating there will be no relegation from the 11 super league clubs (not 12)
Does not look good for their future
Last edited by Quolls2019 on Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

Quolls2019 wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:29 pm
I think they will struggle to get back.
I would be very surprised if the resumed in they top tier.
They were struggling in super league on and off the field before the virus struck.
They were trying to renegotiate their entry conditions and were still paying for their home television coverage.
Not playing home games for the start of every season was not helping.
Argyle paying out close to $30 mill.
The deal with SWB annoyed a lot of the teams other players.
The signals from the RFL.
The RFL knocking back a loan request.
Support from the other Super League clubs waiting or non existent.
Argyle virtually giving all players a clearance.
Super League stating there will be no relaxation from the 11 super league clubs (not 12)
Does not look good for their future
Argyle stated they will be back in 2021 (i myself think they will too.
Super League is yet to decide if they will do regulation and promotion this year.
if so they would be regulated to Championship.
if not they would remain.

SBW was the most stupidest deal in the world. $2million bucks (OK) but $5million :rock:

Not playing at home for the first 10 weeks of Season really hurts.

Ideally i would prefer if they had made a North American League.
Few from Canada few from America. and few others.
and let them play in the English Challenge Cup
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by Quolls2019 »

Leeroy
Agree with a lot you say.
Their initial agreement, where they got no returns for playing in Europe and no sky tv income together with paying the costs of visiting teams was based on getting a big North American cable tv contract and other business opportunities that did not eventuate. Prospective new investors dropped off. Their delayed Home game situation was highly detrimental. Paying for their own tv coverage and then dropping it because they couldn’t afford it, all indicated that things were not well. SBW madness didn’t help and coronavirus, disastrous for all, deadly to them.
I would think the best they can hope for is a return to a lower division.
They may not get their hope. A lot in the RFL appear to be not amused.
Last edited by Quolls2019 on Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by Quolls2019 »

More on the relegation issue Super League is saying there will be no relegation of the current 11 teams.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

Quolls2019 wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:59 pm
Leeroy
Agree with a lot you say.
Their initial agreement, where they got no returns for playing in Europe and no sky tv income together with paying the of visiting teams costs was based on getting a big North American cable tv contract and other business opportunities that did not eventuate. Prospective new investors dropped off. Their delayed Home game situation was highly detrimental. Paying their for their own tv coverage and then dropping it because they couldn’t afford it all indicated that things were not well. SBW madness didn’t help and coronavirus, disastrous for all, deadly to them.
I would think the best they can hope for is a return to a lower division.
They may not get their hope. A lot in the RFL appear to be not amused.
yeah nah fair point,

alot was determined in Wolfpack's Season in the 2nd half of it.
Big Teams coming to Toronto to Play
Capacity Games and Media Exposure.

I dont think we could rule out Live Coverage when playing at Home.

Nothing went right this year that is for sure.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

Post by Quolls2019 »

I understand the (first) Meeting on their future will be held Thursday uk time.
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Re: Toronto Wolfpack

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Toronto Wolfpack owner David Argyle has revealed he's ready to tear up Sonny Bill Williams' Super League contract to allow the international superstar to return to the NRL.
Williams, who won a premiership with the Roosters in 2013, is on the verge of returning to the tricolours after his Super League club withdrew from the 2020 season.
Nine News rugby league reporter Danny Weidler revealed today that Roosters chairman Nick Politis was spotted having lunch in Sydney with Williams' manager Khoder Nasser over the remaining details of the former All Black's contract.

Under NRL rules, Williams who's currently on a two-year $10 million deal with the Wolfpack, isn't allowed to be contracted to both the Roosters and Toronto at the same time.

To accommodate the 34-year-old's return to the NRL, Argyle said the Wolfpack will tear up the second year of Williams' current contract with the New Zealand international to re-sign with Toronto once the contract with the Roosters comes to an end.
"Fundamentally, all we're doing is using loopholes that could be orchestrated to get around the intent," David Argyle told Nine News Sydney.
"Sonny wants to play in the NRL for the remainder of the season and come back to the Wolfpack. How it's done? it's semantics.
"We're not playing in 2020 but we are playing in 2021. I think it's Sonny's right and I think it's great for the game that he showcases his talent and is able to present his persona in Australia while we're not playing."

A nice bloke way of getting out of next years liabilities.
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