Page 18 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

WORDS: BENEDICT RHODES

"CAN I GET A HOWL FOR THE WOLFPACK?"
Blake Wallace shouted toward his Toronto Wolfpack As Toronto Wolfpack finally
teammates after winning the 2019 Championship hit the big time in Super
Grand Final. His pack replied with a howl, and
the celebrations were well and truly underway at League, six of their players
Lamport Stadium. can look back on a job well
Not long before, Wallace scored the try that would
clinch the Wolfpack’s second promotion in three seasons done since they first joined
- this one to Super League - and kickstart a late surge of the club in League 1.
points that saw them beat Featherstone Rovers 24-6.
He is one of just six players from the inaugural season
in 2017 still with the club as they enter Super League. Championship was beneficial.
Greg Worthington is one but he is likely to spend the “I got injured in the playoffs and didn’t play in the
season with Featherstone after signing a short-term Million Pound Game, and the loss that year was hard
loan in West Yorkshire. The other four are Liam Kay, to take,” said winger Liam Kay. “It was a blessing in
Andrew Dixon, Gary Wheeler and Adam Sidlow, all of disguise, maybe the club wasn’t ready for Super League.
whom, including Worthington, have made big impacts The year after we formed a different team with different
on the club, both on and off the pitch. players and we matured as the season went on.
Celebrating victories is something they've become “When the final whistle went it was kind of a relief,
accustomed to in Toronto. we finally reached the short-term goal, and now we’re
Having a core group of players is important for any in Super League so we’ve got to set some new ones.”
club, but to have that many players stay with a team Kay says that bringing in leaders like Jon Wilkin
from League 1 to the top flight is special, particularly and Head Coach Brian McDermott after the defeat
for a club that has only played three seasons. to London helped to take the team in a different
“Over the last three years there hasn’t been too direction, both on and off the pitch.
many big changes, and a lot of guys are going into "In 2017, and this is no disrespect to any other
their second or third year, or in our case, our fourth clubs, the whole Toronto thing was brand new,"
year with the club,” said Wallace. “It makes things Kay added. "We were playing games, and then
easier when you have guys who understand how sightseeing through the week and getting used to
you play, and when you understand how they play. the culture in Canada. Now, the novelty has worn
There’s a better bond, especially when we’re on the off a bit, and we realise that we’re playing tougher
field together.” teams and it’s going to be harder.
The Wolfpack’s rise to the top flight has been "We know now when we’re in Canada, it’s not a
meteoric, but it hasn’t all been perfect for the time to relax, it’s a working environment."
ambitious expansion club.
Ka
a b t ous e pa s o c ub. Kay was the first-ever signing made by the egy was t ey was t e st eve s g g g ade by t
al season, so
Before they had even stepped on a pitch h
B ef or e the y h a d e v en st epped on a pit c Wolfpack ahead of their inaugural season, so
a
ahead of their inaugura
Wolfpack a
ws more than
for the first time in 2017, the club’s
he know
e
for the first time in 2017, the club’s he knows more than
l
short-term goal was to get into Super
short-term goal was to get into Super anyo one what
anyone what
League, and after being promoted
e
League, and after being promoted the e Wolfpack's
the Wolfpack's
from League 1 in their first season, jo urney has
from League 1 in their first season,
journey has
n
looked likely to get promoted to Super been like so far.
looked likely to get promoted to Super
b
een like so far.
League in year two.
w
League in year two.
h
h
e final hur
ell at t
y f
he
T
They fell at the final hurdle in dle in
2018 to the London Broncos in
2018 to the London Broncos in
n
the Million Pound Game, which
the Million Pound Game, which
u
obviously stung at the time,
g
obviously stung at the time,
but there seems to be a
but there seems to be a
s
o
consensus among
consensus among
the players
the players
that the extra
that the extra
year in the
year in the
FANTASTIC