The 18th Man Column: Should Toronto be welcomed back into Super League?

Should Toronto Wolfpack be welcomed back into Super League next year?

Alex Graham: There’s no argument that what Toronto have achieved on and off the pitch in their short history is brilliant for international growth of the sport, but it’s unfortunate that poor management and financial mismanagement of the club tarnished those achievements.

However, competition leaders can’t ignore the progress the club was making and, if a suitable bid is presented with the right financial and structural reassurances, the Toronto project must be helped to get back on the rails.

Too often our sport is too quick to run the other way when the first challenges of expansion come our way. We did it with licensing and we can’t afford to do it again.

Jon Lyon: Not for me. I didn’t agree with them being here in the first place and, after the shambles that has occurred this season, nothing has changed.

They may have been unlucky, like all clubs, with the effects of Covid, but let’s not pretend they weren’t paying their bills long before the coronavirus came along.

I just don’t see how it is sustainable for a transatlantic team to play here.

The costs are too high, and they are just a mish-mash of Aussies and for the most part lower league or Super League players at the end of their career.

Their squad was badly put together with far too much spent on Sonny Bill Williams, leaving the rest of the squad far too short on depth. A new owner may well hopefully learn from previous mistakes, but why should they be given a head start over established clubs struggling to keep afloat over here?

Sean Lawless: I think Toronto should be welcomed back into Super League as, if the competition has any sort of ambition, Toronto are the barometer of that.

The way Toronto have handled the players wage and contracts has been poor and I hope an appropriate points deduction is added to their 2021 campaign.

However, the global pulllingpower that Toronto has, even after a few years of existence, is exactly what Super League needs.

The story of a transatlantic team is needed to sell the game to new audiences and, perhaps most crucially, TV companies.

Ste Ford: Unless they pay all players any wages still outstanding then absolutely not.

If that is satisfied then they also must submit a detailed plan on how they will be financed in the future, and agreeing to placing a bond to cover any future repeat failures on player payments.

Finally they must submit a development plan containing plans for player development and expansion of the game.

Personally I very much doubt we will see Toronto Wolfpack back in Super League or the rugby league.

Darren Wrudd: For all the expansionists this is a no-brainer, bring them back with open arms, welcome them back into the top tier with all sins forgiven, give them a 10-point start ahead of next year… well in a delicate adaptation to Jim Royal’s famous line, my eye!

Let’s take out of the current debate my feelings on them being part of Super League in the first place, and just look at the situation.

Covid-19 has affected countless businesses across the world, and no one can be blamed for the lack of commitment shown by the multi-millionaire owner of the Wolfpack to not only complete on his promise to send a squad to the UK for our fixtures, but even to pay his playing staff on time but the man himself.

The first sign of hardship and this massive passion for our beautiful game dwindles and fades into a profit and loss debate.

This is the problem with overseas clubs joining Super League.

They do not have the heritage and commitment to fight alongside our domestic clubs for the good of the game.

They are paddling in the shallow end of our pool and it just does not work.

If a UK club had said no and treated their staff like that, we would have all cried for them to be relegated, so why is the Wolfpack any different?

Drop them down a league and insist on bonded funds to compete next year or, better still, get rid all together.

Who’s the biggest unsung hero in the Wigan side?

Alex Graham: Without a doubt it’s Willie Isa. He’s not the most glamorous player, he can give away a lot of penalties and his skill set is limited. However, his work ethic and enthusiasm makes him one of my first picks in the 17, and one of my favourite players.

Jon Lyon: Sam Powell does so much work and has become a real leader on the pitch.

I wouldn’t say he is unappreciated because the Wigan fans can see the impact he has, but the hooking role isn’t one of the flashier positions so he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Other than that I’d say Liam Byrne.

He has been exceptional week in week out this season. Some of the other younger players like Smithies, Havard and Partington probably get more headlines and have been linked to the NRL already, sadly, but Byrne has been extremely consistent.

Prop is a very tough position for a player so young and he has been up against other forwards who will have a couple of stone weight advantage on Liam and much more experience, yet he’s done much more than hold his own in every game.

Sean Lawless: Sam Powell has been the biggest unsung hero for Wigan since 2016, the consistency of his game now makes him one of the most in-form hookers in league, without question. The same could be said about Liam Farrell, consistently excellent without the plaudits he perhaps deserves.

However, Powell takes the crown of biggest unsung hero.

Ste Ford: The obvious choice would be Isa or Powell.

For me though it's Liam Farrell. He’s a vastly underrated player.

Darren Wrudd: I had to think long and hard about this one, as most of the players get the plaudits deserved for a good game, but I think one player who consistently performs for us and goes under the radar far too often is Willie Isa. This guy epitomises the Warriors culture and brand.

On the field he works so hard both on and off the ball, and is defensively solid.

The commitment he shows each week is inspirational, as are his actions off the field, and much of what he does goes all together without fanfare, which is a great shame. From volunteering for the NHS during lockdown, to buying club shirts from his own funds to sign and give away, the guy is a one off.

I don’t know Isa personally, which is a shame as I value his input to our club above many others, and would love to see him get more recognition.

Wigan against Hull KR, what are you hoping to see?

Alex Graham: It’s been a great return since the break results-wise and, although we’ve played some excellent rugby keague, we’re yet to play consistently well for 80 minutes.

Now we’ve had a few games under our belt it would be good to see a dominant performance from start to finish, without easing off towards the back of the game which has been evident.

I’d also like to see the returnees play well to give Adrian Lam not just a selection headache, but plenty of options for multiple positions, as squad rotation and fitness is essential for the disruptions this season has caused.

Jon Lyon: Ideally a comfortable win by a reasonably big margin.

Hull KR seem to have just decided before every match that they are the underdogs and will just throw the ball about and “have a go”.

I’m not sure if this is a good tactic or not, but realistically their squad, on paper at least, is nowhere near as good as Wigan’s so they’ve not much option.

If it comes off it will be hard to defend, but if we can contain them early on we should have the experience and attacking talent to wear them down and run away with the game later on.

Hopefully, Gildart will be fit enough to have a run out, and it will be good to see Partington back in the team, potentially at Smithies expense given his ban.

We just need to keep on as we are, improving every week and picking up the two points.

Sean Lawless: The squad rotation from Wigan looks really exciting, to be able to bring Gildart back in the squad, Partington back from suspension, Greenwood attempting to take advantage of Smithies’ suspension – there is real competition for places.

However, from the game, I would like to see Wigan put together their first complete 80-minute performance of the season.

We have played well for up to 60 minutes in a game so far, but now is the time to really put a score on a team and produce a dominating performance, both in attack and defence.

Ste Ford: A win. We aren’t playing great rugby and are very inconsistent during games, playing well defensively then letting in very soft tries – but we keep winning.

From a playing point of view, I would minimise the number of changes, but hopefully Jack Wells will get into the 17.

Darren Wrudd: Tony Smith has a talent for coaching a free-thinking style.

Throw the offloads, try that fancy pass, chip ‘n chase on tackle two.

If it comes off then you get a result but if not, no bother – just defend the next set and go again.

This is hard to shut down and if they get a run on it can be difficult to stop conceding points. I would like to see considered defence, clamping the ball and dominating with a view to controlling the ruck and slowing their hand.

This will stifle the Robins’ game-plan, and we know we can play our game on the back of a dominant pack.

The two Ollies, Partington and Gildart, are a huge boost to have in the squad. I am looking forward to seeing our lads bloom and play the game with confidence, which is growing every week.