The General 'Toronto Wolfpack' Discussion Thread

[Copa]

The NRL are considering allowing the Warriors to play every game at home next year as compensation and a “thank you” for their sacrifices this year. Perhaps SL could have offered something like this to the Wolfpack.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

5 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

They seem keen to continue, even if it's in the championship in 2021 so i do actually find that quite encouraging. A year back outside to build a more balanced and more importantly bigger squad could work out better for them in the long run should Argyle still have the appetite.  Regardless of the merits of Toronto, it's undeniable they've made huge errors in recruitment both on and off the field resulting in this year.

It is definitely positive that they are so keen to carry on, i was just meaning it wasn't very encouraging that they were relying on outside investment to pay the players wages last month which didn't come despite them being sure it would and Argyle couldn't fund it himself. 

[RobertAM]

Or they go the route of MLR and form a North American (including Caribbean countries) league. No salary cap (or perhaps a reasonable one) and allow players from anywhere to join any team. with better pay I'd bet you'd get buy in from players from everywhere and with US teams in a TV deal would be there from the off.

[Dave T]

4 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

They seem keen to continue, even if it's in the championship in 2021 so i do actually find that quite encouraging. A year back outside to build a more balanced and more importantly bigger squad could work out better for them in the long run should Argyle still have the appetite.  Regardless of the merits of Toronto, it's undeniable they've made huge errors in recruitment both on and off the field resulting in this year.

I think the detail around why this happened versus last week's message is welcome. Bob Hunter seems pretty impressive from every interview I have seen from him. 

[Smudger06]

4 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Interesting that the Visa issue had been resolved. 

This is purely down to money, Covid ultimately has killed them here, and Argyle couldn't cover the substantial bills without the income. 

Why not? If I had the reported 300-600 million£ (some say billion£) id have set aside £150m to achieve what I set out to do with no expectation of a return. Especially to not sh/t on the fans and my players, Or would not have embarked on the project in the 1st place. Especially to not look like a complete kn@b . Some major stuff just doesn't add up. 

[Hela Wigmen]

Even if they can provide proof of funds for next year, I don’t see what their re-admission into their game actually achieves without a proper plan in place from The RFL and Super League. 

[RobertAM]

12 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

Ottawa bought Hemel's membership to the RFL, so are entitled to central funding all the way through so won't have the same difficulties.

Oh I see difficulties all right..whinging about flights, accomodation, meals..no away fans. Plain sailing? forget it.

[tms]

20 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Probably to rent stadia in England owing to them being unable to play their home games at home.

what's the difference paying rent for lamport in canada and paying rent in england ?

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, Copa said:

The NRL are considering allowing the Warriors to play every game at home next year as compensation and a “thank you” for their sacrifices this year. Perhaps SL could have offered something like this to the Wolfpack.

Joking aren't you. These lot complain about having to go down south or to Barrow.

I agree though that should have been the sentiment.

[LeytherRob]

10 minutes ago, JohnM said:

she seems a nice girl.

Can you blame her for being a bit raw and emotional right now? 

[Dave T]

1 minute ago, Smudger06 said:

Why not? If I had the reported 300-600 million£ (some say billion£) id have set aside £150m to achieve what I set out to do with no expectation of a return. Especially to not sh/t on the fans and my players, Or would not have embarked on the project in the 1st place. Especially to not look like a complete kn@b . Some major stuff just doesn't add up. 

I have no idea why he can't fund it, but he can't. 

 

[Damien]

13 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

This isn't exactly encouraging reading. 

https://defendtheden.home.blog/2020/07/20/toronto-wolfpack-withdraw-from-2020-super-league-season-full-conversation-with-bob-hunter/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Obviously its a mixed bag but aspects of it are encouraging. I think most realists recognise that the loss of every home game and associated revenue probably costs them upwards of £3 million, and this coupled with no £1.825 million in Sky money is obviously catastrophic. No other SL club has had no revenue at all from home games or no Sky money and I doubt that any other club wouldn't be in the same boat.

[Dave T]

1 minute ago, POR said:

what's the difference paying rent for lamport in canada and paying rent in england ?

And aren't games being played as triple headers at the moment? That could continue as double headers like they did at Headingley later in the year if they wanted. 

[Dave T]

Just now, Damien said:

Obviously its a mixed bag but aspects of it are encouraging. I think most realists recognise that the loss of every home game and associated revenue probably costs them upwards of £3 million, and this coupled with no £1.825 million in Sky money is obviously catastrophic. No other SL club has had no revenue at all from home games or no Sky money and I doubt that any other club wouldn't be in the same boat.

We shouldn't count the lack of £1.85m, that isn't part of their budget. 

It's as relevant as saying they haven't got £10m from CBC (or whoever). 

Versus the terms they signed up to, the loss of income due to coronavirus is the killer. 

[Scubby]

I think some people need to be careful of taking the moral high ground here. There is no guarantee the other 11 clubs will finish the season. No guarantee at all.

[Tommygilf]

Just now, POR said:

what's the difference paying rent for lamport in canada and paying rent in england ?

Lamport is municipal and costs around 2000 Canadian iirc - around 1600 quid. Times that by at least how ever much you like more than 5 for private stadia in the UK.

[sweaty craiq]

I hope the RFL/SL take this opportunity to bring about the 2 x 10 thats needed to meet domestic player needs and facilitate the expansion opportunities.

TW cannot be lost, neither can Ottawa or New York - if funded. They must be the backbone of a future N American comp

TO and Avignon need nurturing as the catalyst for a FT French comp.

The sport is at a cross roads - the next move is crucial.

 

PS I do normally take the urine but our sport must choose wisely

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, Dave T said:

We shouldn't count the lack of £1.85m, that isn't part of their budget. 

It's as relevant as saying they haven't got £10m from CBC (or whoever). 

Versus the terms they signed up to, the loss of income due to coronavirus is the killer. 

Well it is relevant when I am comparing them to other Super League clubs and them going without all of their revenue streams, which I was. 

[LeytherRob]

6 minutes ago, RobertAM said:

Oh I see difficulties all right..whinging about flights, accomodation, meals..no away fans. Plain sailing? forget it.

I didn't say it was going to be plain sailing.

[bobbruce]

19 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

A global pandemic is pretty much the only thing Parky didn't predict as the result of letting Toronto into the game.

I’m pretty sure he did you should probably reread all his old posts just to make sure. 

[Agbrigg]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

 I think most realists recognise that the loss of every home game and associated revenue probably costs them upwards of £3 million,

Give over there is no way they could make that amount net from about 14 home games. Also from what I hear half the spectators get in the ground on freebies 

[Smudger06]

2 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I have no idea why he can't fund it, but he can't. 

 

Begs the question why on earth did he green light this project. Best case he's looking extremely idiotic, worst case basically a fraudster with not a care for his players or the fanbase. 

[redjonn]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

Well it is relevant when I am comparing them to other Super League clubs and them going without all of their revenue streams, which I was. 

I thought Leeds had reported loss of £4 million so far... that includes room hire, hotel and the other match sponsorship, commercial etc etc...

[Man of Kent]

Just discovered Betfred returned my bet on Toronto to finish bottom on Friday afternoon. Odd. 

[Dave T]

Just now, Damien said:

Well it is relevant when I am comparing them to other Super League clubs and them going without all of their revenue streams, which I was. 

But clubs dont go bust because of what others have in their bank. TWP have gone down this route because things have changed from their budget. 

TWP signed up for SL this year without the tv money. That is a distraction on why we are where we are. 

We can't look past Coronavirus tbh. 

The one question mark I do have is that if Argyle is still paying the players wages, why not still have them playing instead of sat at home?