Brian Carney feels Toronto Wolfpack have been prejudged

Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney feels that the Super League clubs have prejudged Toronto Wolfpack ahead of Friday’s board meeting on their future in the top flight.

The fate of the Canadian club could be determined by the end of the week as the Super League board – essentially the club owners – meet on Friday morning to make a decision to either reject their re-application outright or seek more information.

Carney said: “I think they’ve been prejudged already. I think the decision by the majority of clubs has already been made psychologically that they don’t want Toronto.

“Toronto came out with a charm offensive in recent weeks that had some people worried that they might win over public favour and that they might put pressure on clubs to win over Toronto. I think their fate has already been sealed and I don’t think Toronto will be admitted.

“To determine that there is no future for the Toronto club without having properly assessed the North American market is scandalous and it’s a dereliction of duty to the game, not just by Super League but by the governing body (RFL).”

Carney added that he believes Toronto Wolfpack will be “gone forever” if they aren’t accepted back into Super League next season.

He added: “It has been over four and a half years since the Toronto club were admitted, and we have not yet had a thorough assessment of the North American market and whether or not rugby league should go there, and if it does… have we put a strategic plan together? None of that has been done by either the RFL, the International Rugby League or the Super League – that’s a major problem.

“After 50 months, you haven’t assessed the market in which one of your club’s sits.

“Now you are going to judge that club and judge its future and if they vote against Toronto, in my opinion that is Toronto gone forever.”

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