Canadian Super League

[HappilyManly]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/exi...t/news-story/16115c6359b9db31a21db784f1bcfd04

Three send-offs, two sin bins and 14 tries as Toronto Wolfpack make Canadian debut 😛

RUGBY LEAGUE HITS NORTH AMERICA, LITERALLY



“I’ve been watching too much ice hockey” — Toronto Wolfpack’s Jake Emmitt explains his 68th minute send-off for his part in an all-in, and why as he was leaving the field he stopped, turned around and belted another opponent again after being marched.

And with that rugby league landed in Canada, with the Wolfpack making a stunning debut on home soil that had a bit of everything.

The first trans-Atlantic team in world sport have been blazing through the English third tier competition, winning their first five matches by a combined 310-37 as they hunt an eventual promotion to the Super League.

Playing in Toronto for the first time they demolished Oxford RLFC 62-12 in near-freezing conditions that saw them rack up 14 tries and finish with 10 men in front of a 6,281-strong crowd.

Oxford resorted to violent tactics early on in the piece — prompting Toronto coach Paul Rowley to declare that his players could “only get punched so many times” — in explaining the three red cards and two yellows in a fiery contest.

“Whilst we were convincing winners, it was a terribly grubby, awful team to play against,” Rowley said.

“It was disappointing to get a couple of boys sent off, so we needed something to make us smile.”

That came in the euphoric scenes from the Toronto locals, who well and truly embraced the side with banners, drums and flags all on show.

“It’s been a red hot day, you can see it’s going to build to something significant,” Rowley said of the Wolfpack’s supporters.

“The fans loved it, (there was) a bit of everything, as promised, so we delivered, they delivered and welcome rugby league to Canada.”

 

[globaleagle]

lol.

East coast thugs!!!!

Fight (sorta a fight...everything sanitsed these days) in this link.

Actually, so is the whole game (in this link.)

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/rugby/toronto-wolfpack-home-opener-success-1.4103653

 

[Chip and Chase]

White Plains Wombats - love it. Obviously an Aussie connection there.

 

[SwornEagle]

I'll be going to a few of the Wokfpack home games this season, I'll let you know how they go. 6000+ on a freezing day is a great first turn out.

 

[globaleagle]

I'll be going to a few of the Wokfpack home games this season, I'll let you know how they go. 6000+ on a freezing day is a great first turn out.

Nice one! Lucky bugger!

However.... west coast best coast!

Cheap tix as well. 🙂

Plus the announcer asks you to howl.

Yes everyone...I did notice the wokfpak spelling but am far too polite to mention it.

 

[Eagles2nv]

After the game Emmitt said he was sorry for being sent off, and the ref has apologised for ending his game early.

I kid of course.

Jokes aside, all the best too them. Really like how Canada is embracing Rugby league. Have the potential to be a strong side in years to come.

If they are serious they will have a teir 1 team joining the ESL in the near future or they will start their own tier 1 comp. (I know they have a first grade comps, but was thinking more on the level of NRL/ESL)

 

[Rodo]

It would be great to see the Wolfpack progress through the lower English divisions and make it to the Super 8s (top UK division). And then hopefully league would take off in Canada and the USA. How good would it be to see a fully fledged league comp in North America with test matches between North American and Australia? Then the slogan "The greatest game of all" might actually mean something!

The NRL does bugger all to promote the game outside of Australia so it would be great if it could take off in North America.

 

[Rodo]

Another article about the Wolfpack's first game and their grand plans:

http://www.nrl.com/monday-morning-halfback-revolution/tabid/10874/newsid/106502/default.aspx

EO Eric Perez told NRL.com previously that rugby league should appeal to Canadians and has been steadfast in his belief that the code will catch on in a big way.

"My dream is to have four or five North American sides in the RFL," Perez told NRL.com.

"If we can do that, all of a sudden the market for rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere becomes much bigger. It is monstrous in Australia, but if we do this, then we could attract massive broadcast deals and compete and have as strong – if not stronger – teams. I believe that is the future."

If Toronto can continue to build on those 6,000 fans who essentially watched a training run as the fully professional Wolfpack were too strong for the semi-professional Oxford, then real strides could be made and a foothold gained for the code when they inevitably gain promotion to the more competitive leagues and push for Super League inclusion.

 

[The Who]

I wonder how they feel about our soft version of the sport where you get sent to the bin for a slap, and several weeks suspension for a shoulder collision?

 

[SwornEagle]

Nice one! Lucky bugger!

However.... west coast best coast!

Cheap tix as well. 🙂

Plus the announcer asks you to howl.

Yes everyone...I did notice the wokfpak spelling but am far too polite to mention it.

Thanks for letting me off the grammar hook Global!

West coast is pretty good, only spent a week there, far too cloudy and wet for my liking tho, kinda like Melbourne or Frenchs Forest for that matter 😉

Too cold during winter here and we're nowhere near a coast, but buggers do surf on Lake Ontario when the storms and wind rolls in.

 

[Disco]

I'm really hoping the Wolfpack go well, one of the only shining lights for possible growing the game internationally.

Manly should be looking to capitalize on and get in early on what could be a growing market.

Pre-season camp and trial against the Wolfpack???

 

[Bearfax]

Trust the Canadians being at the forefront again. Wasnt it some Canadian chef who got the first news of...

 

[globaleagle]

Trust the Canadians being at the forefront again. Wasnt it some Canadian chef who got the first news of...

A Canadian theatre critic got the fax about Marty Taupau singing with us before it was supposed to be 'official.'

 

[globaleagle]

Thanks for letting me off the grammar hook Global!

West coast is pretty good, only spent a week there, far too cloudy and wet for my liking tho, kinda like Melbourne or Frenchs Forest for that matter 😉

Too wet???? Why it was a beautiful day today!