Where are they now? The inaugural Toronto Wolfpack squad from 2017

Toronto Wolfpack announced earlier this week that they will be making a return to action later this year, so we’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane.

The Canadian club have not played since their 42-6 win over Washington DC Cavalry in the Canada Cup in September 2021.

But they will return to the field this year as they look to grow their own competition in the shape of the Canada Cup.

Toronto Wolfpack were founded in 2016, with their inaugural season in the Rugby Football League starting in 2017 in League 1.

The Wolfpack went on to rise through the divisions, with their maiden season in Super League being in 2020. However, the professional dream was over that year after they withdrew from the competition.

Following on from the news that they are returning to the field in 2023, we’ve decided to take a look at Paul Rowley’s inaugural 2017 squad, and what they’re doing now…

A throwback to the 2017 Toronto Wolfpack squad

Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e

Photo: Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com

QLT joined the Wolfpack for their first-ever season from Sheffield, where he had scored 183 tries in 218 appearances.

The former Samoa international left the Wolfpack in 2018 after scoring 22 tries in 31 games. He is now enjoying life back at Sheffield after enjoying spells at Halifax, Castleford, Newcastle and Keighley.

Jonny Pownall

The 31-year-old was a Leigh favourite back in the day, scoring 58 tries in 92 games before becoming part of the Wolfpack’s journey.

Pownall scored 31 tries in 32 games for Toronto in League 1 before departing the following season. He had brief loan spells with Barrow and Bradford before returning to Leigh. The winger decided to step away from the game in 2019.

Greg Worthington

One of the most consistent performers in the Championship for several years now, Worthington enjoyed four seasons with Toronto, scoring 19 tries in 52 games for the Canadian club.

Since leaving Toronto in 2020, the 32-year-old spent two seasons with Halifax before joining Barrow ahead of this season.

Craig Hall

The 35-year-old only spent one season with the Wolfpack in 2017, scoring 25 tries and kicking 171 goals in 25 appearances, racking up more than 400 points.

Utility back Hall has been playing for promotion-chasing Championship side Featherstone since the 2020 campaign.

Liam Kay

Photo: Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com

The Ireland international spent four seasons with Toronto between 2017-20, scoring 66 tries in 70 appearances for the club.

Kay returned to Wakefield, the club where he started his career, in 2020. He has since become a utility player for Trinity, featuring at hooker and full-back as well as wing.

Blake Wallace

The Australian joined the Wolfpack after spending time in the Queensland Cup and New South Wales Cup competitions.

Wallace scored 16 tries in 74 games for Toronto between 2017-20. He joined Leigh in Super League after the Wolfpack’s withdrawal. However, he would only play three games for Leigh before retiring due to recurring concussions.

Rhys Jacks

The Canada international linked up with Toronto for 2017 having played for Sheffield the previous season.

Rhys played alongside his brother Ryley for Canada in 2015. They were both born and raised in Australia but are of Canadian heritage.

Jacks returned to his Australian homeland in 2018 with Sunshine Coast Falcons and has since played for Easts Tigers and Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup.

James Laithwaite

The former Warrington forward was forced to retire at the age fo 27 in 2019 after suffering a fourth leg break.

Laithwaite now runs Fuel Hub – a healthy food business – alongside his partner.

Fuifui Moimoi

Photo: Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com

The NRL legend was a headline signing for Toronto’s inaugural season. Moimoi, who made more than 200 appearances for Parramatta in the NRL, made 20 appearances for the Wolfpack.

The Tongan powerhouse went on to spend three seasons at Workington and then two with Rochdale in League 1. He hasn’t played since the end of last year.

Bob Beswick

The Ireland stalwart, who won 26 international caps for the Wolfhounds, spent three seasons with Toronto between 2017-19, making 65 appearances.

Beswick retired from playing after two years with Newcastle Thunder in 2021. He is now lead strength and conditioning coach with Championship club Widnes.

Dan Fleming

Fleming is another player who only played the one season with the Wolfpack. The Wales international is now playing for Halifax after spells with Castleford, Bradford and Featherstone.

Jack Bussey

The 30-year-old prop has spent the past five years with Featherstone in the Championship following his two seasons with Toronto in 2017-18.

Prior to his move with the Wolfpack, Bussey spent the 2016 campaign with London Broncos.

Andrew Dixon

Photo: Chris Mangnall/SWpix

The 33-year-old helped the Wolfpack gain promotion to Super League, having spent four seasons there. Dixon spent two seasons in France with Toulouse after leaving Toronto, and linked up with his former coach Rowley at Salford ahead of this season.

Ryan Burroughs

The 31-year-old was born and raised in the United States. He has won 10 caps for his country, playing in the 2017 World Cup.

Burroughs scored four tries in 11 appearances for Toronto in 2017. He then went on to spent time in England with London Skolars and Barrow. He is the current owner of DC Cavalry Rugby League Club.

Shaun Pick

The former Featherstone forward played eight games for Toronto in 2017 before going on to have spells with Sheffield, Batley and Oldham before retiring in 2021.

Pick now runs his own sports massage business.

Richard Whiting

Whiting hung up his boots following his two seasons with Toronto in 2018.

The former England international spent his best years with Hull between 2004-16, making more than 250 appearances for the club.

Ryan Bailey

Photo: Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com

Toronto pulled off a major coup when they signed six-time Super League Grand Final winner Bailey midway through their debut season.

Bailey had short spells with Leigh and Workington after leaving Toronto before announcing his retirement in 2018.

Sean Penkywicz

The 40-year-old had a short spell with the Wolfpack in their first-ever season. He then went on to make two appearances for Workington and then three seasons with Rochdale.

Penkywicz announced his retirement from the professional game in 2022. The former Wales international has since made a couple of appearances in the community game for Rochdale Mayfield.

Steve Crossley

Crossley had one season with Toronto in 2017, which came between his seven seasons with Bradford.

The 33-year-old is currently playing in League 1 with Hunslet, who he joined ahead of this season.

Gary Wheeler

The 33-year-old has recently announced his retirement from the game after spending the last two seasons in the Championship with Barrow.

Wheeler has made 29 appearances for the Wolfpack during his time in Canada between 2017-20.

Tom Dempsey

Dempsey made three appearances for the Wolfpack in 2017. Like the Jacks brothers, he was born and raised in Australia but is of Canadian heritage. He represented Canada in 2015.

Adam Sidlow

Photo: Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com

Sidlow spent four seasons with Toronto between 2017-20, making 80 appearances for the club. He then joined Leigh in 2021, playing 41 games over two seasons.

The 35-year-old prop returned to Super League with Salford ahead of this season.

Toby Everett

The 27-year-old spent time on loan with Toronto Wolfpack in 2017 from London Broncos, playing three games for the Canadian club.

Everett, who was born in Hampshire, is currently plying his trade in the Championship for Keighley.

Joe Eichner

A Florida native, Eichner made a solitary appearance for Toronto in 2017. He has won 10 caps for the USA and represented his country at the Nines World Cup in 2019.

Eichner had a spell in Australia with Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup after leaving Toronto in 2018.

Ryan Brierley

Photo: Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com

The Scotland international was at the Wolfpack between 2017-19, scoring 26 tries and kicking 83 goals in 40 appearances.

He is currently in Super League with Salford alongside his former Toronto team-mates Sidlow and Dixon, nailing down the number one shirt at his boyhood club.

Quinn Ngawati

Ngawati was born and raised in Canada and is of New Zealander heritage through his father. He made three appearances for the Wolfpack as well as representing Canada on the international stage.

The 23-year-old is currently playing for Rugby New York in Major League Rugby.

Jacob Emmitt

The 34-year-old was well-travelled throughout his career, playing for St Helens, Castleford, Salford, Leigh, Swinton, Toronto, Carcassonne and Barrow.

Emmitt spent three seasons with Toronto Wolfpack between 2017-19, making 51 appearances.

The former Wales international hung his boots up at the end of the 2021 Championship campaign with Barrow.

Oh what could have been with the Wolfpack…

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