Thunder Look to Replace Wolfpack as Toronto Troubles Mount
Author:
Zack Wilson
Publish Date:
04/08/2020
Experiences:
Rugby fanatic - but so much more
Experiences:
Rugby fanatic - but so much more
Zack Wilson is an experienced sports writer with over a decade’s worth of professional work behind him. After cutting his teeth at Goal.com, one of the world’s biggest football websites, Wilson moved into the world of rugby league, and helped take Love Rugby League to its position as one of the UK’s premier rugby league websites. Particular highlights of his career include interviewing the dual-code rugby legend Jonathan Davies, and working in the press box the first time that Scotland played Australia, at Hull, and then England, at Coventry, in rugby league internationals.
Toronto Wolfpack’s problems continue to mount up, with the club reportedly owing several months’ wages to players, as well as having further debts to businesses in Britain and Canada.
On Monday, the club’s participation in Super League was terminated by the competition’s hierarchy, something that was almost inevitable after the Canadian outfit withdrew from the rest of this season.
The club acknowledged that Super League’s course of action disappointed them but was not unexpected.
“Toronto Wolfpack majority owner David Argyle recognises that in order to move the club forward he would need to transfer ownership of the club, and write off his personal loans,” a club statement said.
“We are currently leading discussions around a takeover with potential ownership groups from both the US and the UK. In these discussions the club have made it very clear that the new owners would need to honour all payroll commitments and future contractual obligations.”
Leutele kicked out of his home
One player whose troubles with the club have been in the news this week is Ricky Leutele.
The Samoan international centre has been able to secure a move back to the NRL, and is set to join Melbourne Storm.
His future looked less settled earlier this week when he was apparently evicted from his Manchester home, thanks to the Wolfpack not paying his rent.
His club car was also reportedly taken from him by the Wolfpack.
“The way he’s been treated is a bloody disgrace,” his agent Sam Ayoub was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.
“They’ve got three kids under the age of six. They’re getting out of the house. No car. No wages since May.
“The club is supposed to pay for his airfares to get home. It’s not happening. Ricky is up for the costs himself.”
Marquee signing Sonny Bill Williams has also departed Toronto, heading back to the NRL with Sydney Roosters.
That departure followed revelations about the visa situation at Toronto, with several players having six-month visas to play in the UK, something which caused additional and unexpected problems when the Super League season was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Super League on the Tyne?
The situation around the Wolfpack now means that vultures are circling when it comes to taking the club’s place in Super League.
A report in the I newspaper states that League One club Newcastle Thunder are in the hunt. The Thunder are owned by Newcastle Rugby Limited, the same company that owns Premiership rugby union outfit Newcastle Falcons.
The Thunder want the licence so that they can be catapulted from the game’s third tier into Super League.
But they are not the only club monitoring the situation, according to the I.
The consortium that is behind the proposed New York rugby league club are also reportedly looking at the situation, with a view to taking Toronto’s licence.
New York have applied to join League One in 2022 but are yet to receive approval.
New customers only. Sign up at TonyBet, make your first deposit and receive 100% of this amount as a welcome gift. Bonus code TONY200. Wagering requirements 10x deposit on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 within 30 days. A player who made a deposit via NETELLER, SKRILL, Paypal or BITCOIN is not eligible for this offer. T&Cs apply
Betting Tip: Leicester City vs Southampton Betting Tip – 16/01/2021 (08:00pm)
New customers only. Min. Deposit £5. Bet credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Funded account required, or have placed a bet within 24 hours. 18+ Geo restrictions apply.
Betting Tip: Arsenal vs Newcastle United Betting Tip – 09/01/2021 (05:30pm)
New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First Deposit matched up to £10. 1x Wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Paypal deposits only. £10 can be split however you like. Full Terms Apply. 18+ begambleaware.com T&Cs apply
New customers only. £10 deposit using promo code. Minimum stake £10 at odds of 1/2 (1.5). Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. Withdrawal restrictions & full Full T&C’s apply
New customers only. Sign up at TonyBet, make your first deposit and receive 100% of this amount as a welcome gift. Bonus code TONY200. Wagering requirements 10x deposit on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 within 30 days. A player who made a deposit via NETELLER, SKRILL, Paypal or BITCOIN is not eligible for this offer. T&Cs apply
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement.
System bets no eligible.
The bonus offer was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site
Close
Did someone order a bonus to go?
£100 Free Bet
93/100
Get BonusBonus Code *****
T&Cs apply, 18+
New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Up to
£125
97/100
Get BonusBonus Code *****
T&Cs apply, 18+
Up to
£40
94/100
Get BonusBonus Code *****
T&Cs apply, 18+
This website uses cookies. By using this website, you consent to the use of cookies. You can find more info in our "Privacy Policy".