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Qualifiers: Halifax 0-14 Toronto Wolfpack

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Leaguecomments160

Andy Ackers scores Toronto Wolfpack's first try against Halifax
Toronto Wolfpack finished the regular season top of the Championship, eight points ahead of Halifax.
Betfred Qualifiers
Halifax (0) 0
Toronto Wolfpack (6) 14
Tries: Ackers, Dixon Goals: O'Brien 3

Toronto Wolfpack director of rugby Brian Noble criticised their schedule for the Qualifiers as the Canadian side opened with victory at Halifax.

The Wolfpack, who finished top of the Championship, were 6-0 ahead at the break after Andy Ackers burrowed over and Gareth O'Brien added the extras.

An O'Brien penalty stretched their lead and Andrew Dixon's late try sealed it.

"Fear that we may just come up is even overruling potential duty of care for our players," Noble said.

"No other sport would do that."

Toronto played their regular season fixtures in blocks of home and away games, but accepted a similar arrangement for the play-offs for Super League would be seen as an advantage.

As a result Noble claims it will cost the club almost an extra £300,000 to take part in the Qualifiers, with up to seven flights between Toronto and Europe.

He says an alternative proposal which would have meant a maximum of five trips to Toronto, including a potential Million Pound Game, was rejected by the Rugby Football League.

"The powers that be can't head us off," he said in his column for Forty 20 magazine.external-link "If we do the business on the field, they can't stop us."

Toronto, who are bankrolled by Australian mining tycoon David Argyle, ran out winners at The Shay as their defensive resolve proved a major factor in their success.

Halfiax came close to levelling the scores early in the second half following a 40-20 kick from skipper Scott Murrell, but a knock-on from Elliot Morris denied the hosts a try and they could not find a way back into the game.

Halifax: Moss, Saltonstall, Tyrer, Heaton, Sharp, Murrell, Johnston, Maher, Kaye, Fairbank, Grady, Butler, Barber.

Interchanges: Wood, Moore, Morris, Baldwinson.

Toronto: O'Brien, Russell, Stanley, Wheeler, Kay, McCrone, Wallace, Sims, Beswick, Lussick, Dixon, Paterson, Emmitt.

Interchanges: Buchanan, Bussey, Ackers, Sidlow.

Referee: Christopher Kendall.

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160 comments

  • Comment posted by Khaled Mahmood, at 12:25 13 Aug 2018

    Not rocket science is it - Toronto entering the competition will result in plenty of air miles. If a club choose to enter a league 3,000 miles away, what are they expecting? If travel is going to be a game breaker, then pack it in because Canada isn't getting any nearer. Unless there's some fast accelerating plate tectonic movement that I'm not aware of.

  • Comment posted by U16655229, at 15:29 13 Aug 2018

    Kerry, for someone who, in their own words "won’t watch it the way it’s being played, however, I would like it to succeed", you sure like to spout negative after negative comments about Rugby League.

    I'd like to say I believe you when you say you would like it to succeed, but in all honesty, I don't......I think you're full of crap.

  • Comment posted by Lariel, at 12:26 13 Aug 2018

    For a sport that "nobody cares about", there seem to be a lot of people here rooting for its downfall... I'm not sure a growing international presence counts as a downfall, but never mind.

    As for the distance, how do the NRL deal with it? North Queensland have over 1000 miles to travel for most away games and NZ Warriors over 1500 miles, and they manage regular fixtures just fine.

  • Comment posted by asb, at 13:43 13 Aug 2018

    I think that Brian Noble is talking from where the sun doesn't shine and is getting stressed out. Maybe he should spend less time on TV and more time with his players to maximise his earnings.

    The RFL with Ralph Dimmer at the helm should concentrate on helping established RL clubs that are not doing so well.

  • Comment posted by BC, at 11:45 13 Aug 2018

    Funny one isn't it. I don't think anyone is against the idea of Toronto being in Super League (I know I'm not), I think it's the actual reality of them being in what is providing the difficulties (logistics, costs, scheduling). The end game does have to be that in say 10 years time, there is a Canadian league up and running, and being played to a decent standard.

  • Comment posted by Martyn, at 13:29 13 Aug 2018

    As a Rugby League supporter I do feel a bit embarrassed for our game, as if a team based 3000 miles away is ever going to be a sustainable project, as for a North American League, with no infrastructure where are all the players and supporters going to come from?
    This sort of pie in the sky seems to be exclusive to Rugby League.

  • Comment posted by Big col, at 20:47 13 Aug 2018

    Great first week In the qualifiers with London's win the highlight after an amazing finish.
    Next 2 weeks should make great viewing to see how the top 4 start to shape up.
    Saints having a wobble in the 8s but can't see them doing a Cas and falling at the last hurdle.

  • Comment posted by SV650s, at 13:54 13 Aug 2018

    @19 Hi Kerry
    Your obvious need to constantly knock RL suggests a deep-seated fear that Toronto will succeed, heightened by them being top and drawing decent crowds for a start-up team in virgin territory.
    Lie down for an hour or so and take a couple of those yellow pills, otherwise things will just get worse. Prepare yourself for TW in SL, possibly even making the top 8 as soon as next year.

  • Comment posted by 147break, at 11:14 13 Aug 2018

    Like many coaches/managers in every sport, Noble is just preparing his excuses in case Toronto are not promoted and so he can then say "It wasn't my fault." It is never their team are not good enough, it is either the conditions, the referee, the unhelpful tactics of the opposition ... anything but them being beaten by a better team.

  • Comment posted by RoyaltyinTheChampionship, at 15:33 14 Aug 2018

    @126 Chris Waddle says similar things about football you know.

    Less skilful players, teams taking no risks and being too negative and "safe".

    Waddle, like Schofield, was a great player so probably misses the type of game he played. Doesn't mean they are right of course.

  • Comment posted by Big col, at 20:16 13 Aug 2018

    See the usual blaa blaa blaa suspects are out today........... where do they go when RL threads sent open for comments?
    No matter what subject it's exactly the same.
    Anyway good luck Toronto - God forbid something new is a success in a sport the Trolls don't like.

  • Comment posted by U15940616, at 17:08 13 Aug 2018

    Toronto just proves that the barrier to entry into Super League is relatively small, you just need the budget to recruit the players. Toronto are made up of ex SL players and their quality shines through in a league of primarily part time players. The budget required for SL survival means that Toronto, if promoted will have to re-build their entire team. The risk then escalates on them and SL.

  • Comment posted by milko, at 16:33 13 Aug 2018

    Attendances already poor in SL. When Catalan visit they the fans come in a taxi. Would expect similar turnout for a Canadian club. That’s two home games where revenue is potentially down.

  • Comment posted by RoyaltyinTheChampionship, at 16:09 13 Aug 2018

    @Kerry With the exception of football & cycling every major sport in the UK/Ireland is declining. So cricket, RU, RL, hurling, gaelic football & golf can all change their rules to be more expansive but it's no good if they aren't getting exposure. I watch the NRL via a paid yearly website and the quality is amazing. But if I said Latrell Mitchell you wouldn't know who that was. That's the problem.

  • Comment posted by Nelly, at 15:57 13 Aug 2018

    If anyone has followed the NRL over the last few years, it's clear the the game is becoming less structured and the sets of 6 much less predictable, with off loads now becoming a strong part of the game again. The expansive play IMO was ruined a few years ago with the unlimited interchange rule. Now with limited interchanges and further reductions the expansive play is creeping back into the game

  • Comment posted by SV650s, at 15:43 13 Aug 2018

    Kerry, could be a number of reasons to think RL was more expansive: age, fitness/ better coaching etc. Reference to Offiah suggests Wigan's golden years as only full-timers. York won 130-0 last week, presumably they were expansive.
    Reality is the game changes. At its best it balances attack and defence. Some may prefer a tight game to an expansive whitewash?

  • Comment posted by U16655229, at 15:26 13 Aug 2018

    @33 - Let me guess, Fatty Schofield?

  • Comment posted by U16655229, at 14:56 13 Aug 2018

    @21 "This sort of pie in the sky seems to be exclusive to Rugby League."

    Not necessarily You're going on about 3000 miles. Sorry to use RU as an example but The Southern Kings play in the Pro14 comp & are based in Port Elizabeth. For them to play Glasgow Warriors, they have to travel 8,800 miles. Their shortest distance is to Zebre & that's 8,100 miles. If they can do it, why can't Toronto.

  • Comment posted by Big col, at 14:53 13 Aug 2018

    Everyone, is, for some reason blaming the RFL and RL in general for Toronto - They approached the RFL as a self sustained club who would fund other clubs to travel - cant see any reason why the RFL wouldn't say ok lets give it a go.
    23 - no one said they should be on the front pages - they are playing in a league below SL where the average attendance is around 1500 - Toronto are getting 7000.

  • Comment posted by RoyaltyinTheChampionship, at 13:52 13 Aug 2018

    @19-21 I do take your points but remember for every Toronto there is a Newcastle or Coventry building the game here: they just don't get the publicity.
    Toronto for the moment is a success story, as are London and Toulouse in the Qualies and Catalan reaching the CL final. I think targeting Ice Hockey areas (used to collision sports) is a definite long term plan for a North American league.

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