Theyve got two other cities that are nothing more than suburbs

Why should SL clubs get a fair playing field if Toronto do get promoted given what we've seen so far? If we have some consistency throughout their rise through the leagues, then they shouldn't be given any Sky funding in SL, but equally they shouldn't be hindered by anything as silly as a salary cap. That way they can buy in NRL standard players throughout the squad and blast their way to an unbeaten run topping the league and winning both the Grand Final and Challenge Cup. Good for the game in the UK? I think not.

Stupid? It won't happen? No it won't, but why should they be granted such an advantage in League 1 and the Championship and not have to adhere to the same operational rules as their adversaries?

Btw, of course Leigh, Halifax and others in the Championship would like them to fail (on the field), as that gives their own team a better chance of success.

funny that coming from a place that houses the National Coal Mining Museum.

What advantage have they been given so far exactly?
They are operating under the same cap as Fax and every other champ club right now.

No they not. They have cap discrepancie so they can go over. No one has ever actually said how much more, but it's there.

First I've heard of this, got a source to prove it?

Have you got the source to disprove it?

Playing home and away games in blocks is a massive advantage as they don't have transatlantic flights and jet lag to worry about. They do seem to have the same maximum cap as everyone else, but that gives them a big advantage in the Championship as established teams don't have anyone bank-rolling them to anywhere near the same extent as they do. What's less clear is how they're keeping their salary bill within 50% of their "relevant income"?

It was supposed to be both funny and ironic, although, I dont think having a museum denotes village, town or city status.
Mind you, Wakefield, years ago, was at the very centre of both mining and rugby league. Mining definietely wont be making a comeback but the Rugby League side do keep battling against the odds and confounding their critics, of which there are many.

1) Surely this is mitigation of a disadvantage rather than gaining an advantage as no other club would routinely have to face a transatlantic flight prior to a game. The others only have to do the trip once (or the odd ones do it twice if in the same 8s group). If alternating home and away Toronto could face as many as 23 flights pre split plus up to 7 post split.

2) What has Derek Beaumont been doing then? Leigh also had a parachute payment this year (not meaning to pick on Leigh btw). A club backer doesn't need to be as rich as Argyle is, if they can fund full cap, they can compete financially. Ok most of the division aren't on the same financial footing but at least one team is capable of matching their cap spend. That one competitor could yet steal a march and grab promotion ahead of them. Part time Fev don't look like they will be shaken off too easily either despite the difference in finances.

Toronto have been in the UK for the first half of the season, and won't have had issues (more than any other club) around travel fatigue or time differences. For the second half of the season, all their games in Canada will be against teams that have had to travel across the Atlantic from a different time zone. Feels like a big advantage to me.

Fair comment around Leigh, but having a rich backer on its own doesn't mean that you can spend up to the full cap. Sustainability rules mean that you can only spend 50% of "relevant income" on salaries. With all the free tickets, relatively cheap season season tickets, and limited merchandise sales, how can they be paying for the players they've recruited using 50% of their income? It's possible they have some dispensation, but again that would be granting a massive advantage to them.

The half and half fixture list for this season does seem to work more in their favour you are correct, whilst it was due in part to the redevelopment of Lamport Stadium the RFL should really have insisted on them finding an alternative venue that was playable in Canada and stuck to the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away that was used last season. I think in the future the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away would be the fairest way to proceed with them or any other proposed NA clubs. Following a standard pattern of fixture alternating I think would disadvantage them too much while as you say having half and half blocks disadvantages the opponents.

Regarding Leigh, having Derek Beaumont backing them does mean they can spend the cap. It was him that got the RFL to equalise the caps between SL and Championship so that he could compete on an equal footing after the first qualifiers campaign by spending his money. I assume that money put in by the club owner (at any club) is able to be counted as relevant income (they all put money in to their club). Otherwise a club like Salford with poor crowds and lacking match day income from food etc. would probably be spending the same as Fev, Fax, Dewsbury and co.

The "relevant income" scenario is complex, but I don't believe that Director loans are included. Donations probably are, which is possibly a way round it (albeit it's a one-way street for the cash). Decent point about Salford, but I guess they have some corporate deals that will bring in some income, plus their marketing will bring in some cash as well.

Have to disagree....home and away is what they should be made to do, regardless. If they don't like it, then tough, but why should they get 4 home games with no travel when facing a team fresh off the plane? It's their choice to play in a UK comp and they should be made to fit in with our schedule......I can understand the need for them missing 2 home games in Feb, but thereafter the weather in Canada is fine in March......
...if they are given a block of 3 and then 4 in the 8's it will be a farce IMHO.

Another great win for London today, their incredible points difference moves them up to 2nd.

I'm sure they'll enjoy it whilst they temporarily can. .

Do they play Sheffield every week?

If Only

The +/- is a handy buffer though.....it's anyone's guess who will be joining Toronto in the Qualifiers, but I suspect that unless London wi the next 2 games they won't be part of the mix!

Lovable London are a mixed bag. They could well be the third team to get promoted, after tremendous Toronto and terrific Toulouse, if three out of silly Salford, witless Widnes, hopeful Hull KR, and hapless Huddersfield get relegated.

Leigh still have to play Toronto twice, if they don’t win at least one of those games they won’t make the top 4. Toronto, Toulouse, London and Featherstone is how I expect it to be.

Dont forget Catalan in all of this

London are going no where.

A crucial game for Leigh next weekend, but losing to Toronto twice wouldn't matter for the top 4 so long as they win every other game. They'd have 32 points then, which is almost certainly enough for top 4. 30 or 31 might be enough, but it depends how other results go.

The top 6 all play one of the other top 6 next weekend, which could change the shape of the table somewhat.

Come the M8's, I can only see Toronto and Leigh troubling the SL teams. That said, if one of the other Championship teams could spring a win against SL opposition then there might be quite a switch-round for next season.

Charlton, Twickenham, Charlton, Brentford, Twickenham, Barnet, Ealing and if they were to stumble into SL they'd be on the move again............but as you say, they're going nowhere!

There's a rumour going round that I wondered if anyone on here can validate.

That if Toronto get into the playoffs (which they're more than likely going to be). They will be playing there play off games at New river Stadium London.

Is it true?