Wolfpack return home for long-awaited home opener

Some 6 ½ months after losing to London Broncos in the Million Pound Game, the Wolfpack are back in Toronto.

Entire seasons have come and gone in the interim. The Maple Leafs have played 86 games since, the Raptors 87 and counting. But for assistant coach Kurt Haggerty, the 4-2 loss to London on Oct. 7 that ended the Wolfpack's Super League dream seems like yesterday.

"The Million Pound Game's still a little bit stuck in my head," he said with a wry smile. "But it's good to be back."

The Wolfpack (10-1-0) have been in action since last year's failed promotion push. But the transatlantic rugby league team has played its games in England, with one stop in France.

Now that the bubble has been removed from Lamport Stadium, home beckons. Toronto hosts the 11th-place Swinton Lions (2-9-0) on Sunday in its first North American outing this season.

While the Wolfpack top the second-tier Betfred Championship, the London Broncos (3-9-0) languish in the Super League basement. But at least they are living life in the top tier.

The Wolfpack have 16 games remaining in the regular season with Sunday's contest the first of 10 at Lamport. Three earlier home games were staged at neutral sites — Newcastle, Hull and London — because of the Toronto winter and Lamport's unavailability.

Back to routine

For captain Josh McCrone, it was back to routine after Thursday's first practice back at Lamport. The Australian veteran got on a bike to ride back to the team's temporary digs in the city.

For former England and Great Britain international Jon Wilkin, in his first season with the Wolfpack after a stellar 16-year career with Super League's St. Helens, Toronto is all new.

"We landed, I dropped my bags and I probably walked 10 miles around the city. Up to Yorkville, the Annex and around bits of the city centre," said the 35-year-old Wilkin, who serves as a TV analyst and restaurateur in England when not banging bodies on the playing field. "It's an amazing city as you and everyone who lives in the city well knows. I've never heard anybody say a bad word about the city.

"I really love exploring on my own, backpack on, just wandering around. I intend to do that a lot more while I'm here."

Toronto is also new to star centre Ricky Leutele, who left the Cronulla Sharks of Australia's NRL to join the Wolfpack this season. The soft-spoken Aussie likes what he sees of Toronto so far, even if his wife and three young kids are back home in England for the time being.

"It's cool," he said. "There's always something happening. It's busy. You won't get bored, that's for sure. I went for a bike ride with a few of the boys yesterday. I enjoyed it."

Leutele finished his first practice in Toronto by introducing himself to reporters in attendance.

Toronto is essentially the Wolfpack's home away from home. The players, mostly English with a smattering of Australians and French, live in the north of England and commute to Canada thanks in large part to a sponsorship deal with Air Transat.

The Wolfpack's home half of the regular season essentially amounts to four trips here of varying length this year. Families usually join the players for longer stays on this side of the Atlantic.

Home debut for new coach

Sunday's game will mark the Canadian debut of coach Brian McDermott, the former Leeds Rhinos boss who took over from Paul Rowley after last season.

Toronto started in the third tier in 2017, battering part-time opposition in League 1 to move up to the Championship. The Wolfpack won that as well last season but fell just short in the Super League promotion playoffs.

While Toronto continues its playoff push, other groups are looking to join them in North America.

Wolfpack founder Eric Perez is looking to bring a team to Ottawa while another group has its sights set on New York City.

Toronto is without leading try-scorer Matty Russell, who is nursing a shoulder injury. Liam Kay (ankle) and Greg Worthington (knee) are still working their way back from long-term injuries, although Kay took part in his first practice Thursday.

With Joe Mellor nearing a return from injury, the Wolfpack have loaned halfback Ryan Brierley to Leigh Centurions.

Forward Olsi Krasniqi will be available after only receiving a caution for what was deemed dangerous contact in Monday's 23-14 win over Featherstone Rovers.