League 1 Rank N/A Challenge Cup N/A Chairman Eric Perez | Play-off result N/A Points scored For: 14; Against: 6 | |
2017 record Wins: 1; Draws: 0; Losses: 0 | ||
This article details the Toronto Wolfpack's rugby league football club's 2017 season. This is the Wolfpack's 1st season in rugby league history and they will start their campaign in League 1.
Contents
April 2016
After becoming the first North American team to join the RFL it was announced that former Leigh Centurions coach Paul Rowley would be taking the head coach's role for the Canadian team. Shortly after Brian Noble joined the club as the director of rugby. Coach Rowley announced that his assistant manager would be ex Super League and Ireland international Simon Finnigan. The Wolfpack announced that they would be playing their home games at the 9,600 capacity Lamport Stadium.
July 2016
Toronto made their intentions clear as they announced their first two signings. They came in the form of experienced Wakefield Wildcats centre Craig Hall and try scoring winger Liam Kay from Leigh Centurions. The Wolfpack announced that they had signed Warrington Wolves pair, back rower James Laithwaite and halfback Gary Wheeler, in a bid to recruit a competitive squad for the 2017 season.
August 2016
The month started off with the announcement that Toronto had signed its first Canadian player (and Canada's captain) in the form of Sheffield Eagles halfback Rhys Jacks. Following this young Australian halfback Blake Wallace signed for Toronto from the Illawarra Cutters. Further recruitment in the forwards was made as Wales prop Dan Fleming signed with the Wolfpack. 19-year-old halfback Reece Dean also joined the Toronto ranks from Challenge Cup winners Hull FC, identified as a player for the future by coach Rowley. The Wolfpack also announced that Leigh Centurions duo, loose forward Andrew Dixon and winger Jonathan Pownall, were to join for the 2017 season.
September 2016
The first signing of the month came in the form of loose forward Jack Bussey who was signed from RFL Championship side London Broncos. Toronto bolstered their pack further by bringing in experienced Ireland international hooker Bob Beswick from Super League side Leigh Centurions. Beswick will take up the role of head of strength and conditioning at Toronto along with his playing duties. Greg Worthington was the next to join Paul Rowley's roster with the powerful centre being sign from the coach's former club Leigh.
October 2016
Toronto announced their first American player. Centre Ryan Burroughs is the current captain of the United States national side and signed for Toronto from USA Rugby League team the Northern Virginia Eagles. Bradford Bulls player Kurt Haggerty retired from playing rugby league in order to become part of Paul Rowley's coaching staff at Toronto. In the middle of the month the 2017 fixtures were released and it was revealed that Toronto's first ever league match would be away to London Skolars in March 2017, their first home game would be in Round 6 against Oxford RLFC in May 2017. Following the fixture release, Toronto announced that they had signed young prop forward Toby Everett from the London Broncos on a season-long loan.
November 2016
The Wolfpack announced that they had signed former England international and veteran centre Richard Whiting from Super League side Leigh Centurions. In addition to this, young prop forward Steve Crossley signed for the Wolfpack from RFL Championship shield winners Bradford Bulls. Experienced Championship fullback Quentin Laulu-Togaga'e was signed from Sheffield Eagles. Toronto announced the signing of American born prop forward Jerome Veve from the Gold Coast Titans, in addition to this prop Jacob Emmitt signed for the Wolfpack from Swinton Lions. At the 2016 Four Nations final, the Wolfpack held a press conference where it was announced that Tongan prop Fuifui Moimoi had signed a one-year deal with the club from Leigh Centurions. In addition to this it was revealed that Premier Sports had acquired the rights to all of Toronto's matches for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Furthermore, current Super League champions Wigan Warriors and Challenge Cup winners Hull FC will play Toronto in the pre-season friendlies.
December 2016
During this month the final 18 trailists from Toronto's Last Tackle campaign traveled to the UK to compete in a friendly match against Brighouse Rangers (Toronto's training partners) in order to win a full time contract with the Wolfpack. With a record crowd of over 500 at Brighouse, the Wolfpack were victorious 28-26 thanks to a try in the last 5 minutes from Nathan Campbell. After the match it was announced that Jamaican born Campbell will join the first team squad for the 2017 season, in addition to this Canadian born Quinn Ngawati, the 17 year old stand off, was also offered a contract thanks to a try and 4 goals in the match. The final player to receive a full time contract was USA born Joe Eichner, a second row forward who has previously played for Jacksonville Axemen.
January 2017
Due to the liquidation of the Bradford Bulls, prop Adam Sidlow announced that he had signed with Toronto. Trialist Chad Bain (a Canadian born prop) was called up to the first team by Brian Noble following a man of the match performance in the friendly against Brighouse. During the month Toronto played their first ever pre-season friendly against reigning Challenge Cup champions Hull FC. The Wolfpack took an early lead through halfback Blake Wallace but Hull soon took the lead and won the match 26-20 with further Toronto tries coming from Fuifui Moimoi, Jonathan Pownall and Liam Kay with captain Craig Hall kicking two conversions.
February 2017
It was announced that Toronto would enter the 2017 Challenge Cup in the 3rd round along with the other League 1 sides. The Wolfpack were drawn away to National Conference League premier side Siddal.
2017 Milestones
Pre Season Friendlies
Wolfpack score is first.
Player Appearances
= Captain
= Injured
= Suspended
2017 Fixtures and Results
2017 League 1 Fixtures
Player appearances
2017 Squad Statistics
= Captain = Injured = Suspended