Toronto Wolfpack calling for support ahead of League 1 decider

Toronto Wolfpack head coach Paul Rowley has settled nicely into Toronto lifestyle and has become a big Toronto Blue Jays fan. In watching the Jays he is reminded of how desperate this city is for a winning team.

“We are fully aware that this city last tasted success 25 years ago,” head coach Paul Rowley said at a press conference on Thursday, “I think this city deserves the taste of some more silverware, and we’ll take a lot of inspiration from the success of the Blue Jays.”

They have their first of two opportunities on Saturday in the sixth round of the Super 8s. The Toronto Wolfpack sit top of League 1 with 37 points. In second place is Saturday’s opposition the Barrow Raiders.

Barrow are undefeated in the Super 8s and just two points behind Toronto. Rowley’s men had an undefeated regular season but lost in the first round of the Super 8s to York.

“The Super 8s are a completely different ball game, It’s just a series of cup finals,” Rowley said on the loss to York, “The gap between us and {the other teams} has significantly decreased.”

A win on Saturday will guarantee the Wolfpack promotion into the Championship where Rowley coached his hometown Leigh Centurions to great success. The goal of the Wolfpack from its inception has been to make it to Super League, a League 1 title would be step one in that mission.

A win for Barrow would see the League 1 title go down to the last weekend. The pressure would be on for the Wolfpack who do hold a scoring differential of 525 over the Raiders. That would be the deciding factor should both teams end up with the same amount of points come the end of the Super 8s.

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“We could do with a lot of noise and a lot of people.” Director of rugby Brian Noble said at the press conference, “It’s not over till the fat lady sings.”

The two sides met earlier in the season where Toronto came out with an emphatic 70-2 win at Lamport. Since then the Wolfpack have lost their first game and only managed a draw against the Keighley Cougars.

“We watch five or six games of every opposition, and I can tell you right now the performances they put in against us they don’t replicate on a weekly basis. We get everyone at their best and highly motivated,” Rowley said.

The larger crowds and atmosphere of the big city seem to invigorate opposition teams who may only play in front of as little as 100 people in the UK.

Despite this, the team is still calling out more fans to come out and potentially get a team-first sellout crowd at Lamport Stadium.

“We’d really, really like a huge crowd on Saturday, and for people to come and support what has been an unbelievable adventure,” Noble said.

Throughout the league season the Wolfpack have been selling the experience of rugby league, not just the game itself. A dominant and exciting team, and vibrant atmosphere, as well a beer garden with a band after games where players mingle amongst fans. This has quickly become a staple of Wolfpack games.

“In which other sport, would you get to rub shoulders with the people who are out there on the field?” Noble said.

The Wolfpack have delivered on their promise to be different from other major sports in the city.  A win Saturday would mean they can confirm even more excitement for next season. The Wolfpack will be hoping a championship can inspire legions of fans the way Joe Carter did all those years ago.

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“I think (winning) means a lot to a lot of people and we’re here to represent the city,” Noble said, “If you’ve got a mate then drag him along because they’re going to absolutely love this game.”