Josh McCrone: Rugby league has to grow to survive

BY JOHN DAVIDSON

Toronto Wolfpack halfback Josh McCrone says rugby league has to grow to survive across the world and Canada is a fantastic place to start the expansion.

McCrone helped Toronto snare promotion to Super League last night with a victory over Featherstone Rovers.

The Wolfpack will join the top flight in their fourth season, after one year in League 1 and two in the Championship.

“Rugby league has to grow to survive, everywhere in the world,” McCrone said. 

“Not just Australia – Australia is lucky at the moment, they have got a bit of a stranglehold there but that won’t last forever. We need to get it right across the world. 

“Toronto is a fantastic city to start the expansion. It’s one of the best cities I’ve been to in the world, they’ve embraced us, this is three years and they’ve packed out our stadium. 

“The sky’s the limit for football in Toronto.”

McCrone joined the Wolfpack at the end of 2017 from the NRL and has made more than 30 appearances for the club.

After securing promotion the 32-year-old said Toronto have a new task.

“This is 104 weeks for me, this is two years of hard work,” the Australian said. 

“Now that’s wiped, we’re there now, now we’ve got another job to do. Super League starts, let’s enjoy it. 

“We’ve got five weeks off and then we get back in the grind and we go again. Let’s get Super League over here. 

“Let’s get Wigan, St Helens, Castleford, the lot of them. Let’s get them over here and have a party.” 

A sellout crowd of more than 10,000 at the Lamport Stadium witnessed the Wolfpack’s history-making win.

“This is hard to explain,” McCrone admitted. 

“The new experience atmosphere today and I we get a fair following in the UK too, there’s a loyal fanbase. 

“This is about them, they put a lot of time and effort into us to create this atmosphere and it’s a pleasure to play in front of it. 

“I can’t wait to bring those big Super League teams out here and have a party with them.”