Brian Noble defends Toronto shifting a home game to London

TORONTO director of rugby Brian Noble has defended the Wolfpack’s decision to shift a home game to London.
The Canadian club has attracted criticism for the decision to play Halifax at New River Stadium on April 28; they are already away for the first third of the debut Championship season due to renovations at Lamport Stadium.
But Noble says the club is targeting the Canadian expat community in the capital.
“People are asking the question: why are we taking it down to London?” Noble said on the Talksport Rugby League Show.
“But it’s quite clear. There are 90,000 expat Canadians that live in this country- I think it’s the second largest expat community for Canadians – and the majority of those people live in the London area.
“Last time we played at the Skolars, against the Skolars, we had just over 1000 Canadians there. We’re confident we can do that again. We understand the market that is London and how many successful businesses – banks and things – are there.
“So I think we have to be open minded. We’re a believer in rugby league in the capital because we believe Super League may have a London team in as well. Who knows what shape it’s going to go with all the discussions behind the scenes?
“We’re hugely looking forward to our game in London, which in essence is one of our home fixtures. That’s why we’re going to promote the game and push really, really hard to get a big attendance there.”
Noble also waded into the reaction to comments from the Rugby Football League’s interim chief executive Ralph Rimmer, who said the Wolfpack would not automatically qualify for Super League of they top the Championship.

He said: “We were a little bit surprised. I think if you were to ask all the commercial partners and media partners and everything we’ve got going on … the 10,000 fans in Toronto we’ve got rocking up most weeks… probably the majority of people involved in rugby league over here, I think they’d be as surprised as you are.
“We’ve been reading elsewhere and everywhere that there are changes afoot, that the Super League have a grab of power back in their own hands and away from the RFL.
“It doesn’t surprise me that kind of talk. However it did surprise me in terms of the public manner in which it was done.
“But nothing fazes us. We’re determined to be part of a fantastic Championship this year and the Super League, moving forward. So as always, diplomatic moves have to be made behind the scenes and we’re   quite capable of doing that as well.
“I just thought there might have been a slightly different agenda from Mr Rimmer’s comments, when he said there might have to be certain criteria. There’s always criteria … and we think we will tick all the boxes.”
On the apparent sacking of three players – Dave Taylor, FuiFui MoiMoi and Ryan Bailey – Noble made a curious reference to the British sweet, Wine Gums.

“I think there will be an element of shock when anything like that happens,” he said when asked about trio’s departure, which occurred during a training camp in Portugal.
“It’s sad but there was a difference of opinion and it was agreed we needed to part company in relation to those three boys plying their trade where they need to and the Wolfpack moving on.
“It’s very important that you do set you principles and your own particular values. A difference of opinion … they fully deserve to ply their trade somewhere else. It wasn’t with us. We wish them all the best. Fui, in particular, played a huge part in what we achieved this last 18 months.
“Nobody’s bigger than the club. If you think you are, on whatever level, if you think you should have five wine gums or three wine gums, everybody has to play their part.”