Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell accuses Super League clubs of self-interest over Toronto Wolfpack vote

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS chairman Mark Campbell has accused Super League clubs of self-interest after Toronto Wolfpack were not admitted back into the competition for 2021.
Post Office Road, Featherstone. Picture: Allan McKenzie\SWpix.com.Post Office Road, Featherstone. Picture: Allan McKenzie\SWpix.com.
Post Office Road, Featherstone. Picture: Allan McKenzie\SWpix.com.

Top-flight clubs voted yesterday to not allow the Wolfpack into Super League after they pulled out of the 2020 campaign due to financial difficulties.

The Rugby Football League also voted and wanted to see Toronto re-admitted but Campbell feels it is wrong that the governing body had the same voting power as one Super League club.

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Campbell argues that rugby league is at risk of being dictated by the elite sides with Toronto losing their bid to return by eight votes to four with one abstention. Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Catalans Dragons and the RFL were the only ones eager to keep the Wolfpack in the top flight.

Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone felt it would not have been “right” to accept Toronto Wolfpack back into the competition in 2021.

However, Campbell said: “First of all, we are extremely disappointed to see this unfortunate situation happen with the Toronto Wolfpack, we feel it’s a missed opportunity for rugby league and we hope that when the world gets over this pandemic they can rise again stronger.

“Everyone at Featherstone thoroughly enjoyed our encounters with Toronto over the previous two years and nobody wants to see this happen to any club.

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“Unfortunately, this outcome is the product of a self-interested league and a toothless governing body which is powered by the clubs within it, and the sport is currently at risk at being dictated by its elite sides, closing the doors to ambitious clubs at other levels.

Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com - 05/10/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Championship Grand Final - Toronto Wolfpack v Featherstone Rovers - Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Canada - Blake Wallace of the Toronto Wolfpack scores a try.Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com - 05/10/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Championship Grand Final - Toronto Wolfpack v Featherstone Rovers - Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Canada - Blake Wallace of the Toronto Wolfpack scores a try.
Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com - 05/10/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Championship Grand Final - Toronto Wolfpack v Featherstone Rovers - Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Canada - Blake Wallace of the Toronto Wolfpack scores a try.

“Two years ago, when the Super League broke away from the RFL, we as a club, fought tooth and nail for the RFL to keep their power as it was obvious to everyone in the game what would happen once the power was handed to the individual clubs and not the governing body.

“The RFL, were at the time, architects in their own demise as they manipulated and bullied clubs to vote in favour of Super League, we expressed our concerns at the time, and these concerns have been proven to be true with this week’s vote.

“I find it disturbing that the sport has found itself in a position where the RFL – the sport’s governing body, has the same voting power as just one Super League club, how can the game grow with this unjustifiable system of clubs having the power to determine the other club’s futures and the format of our elite competition."

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Super League will meet again today to decide what to do in 2021 – stick with 11 clubs as has been the case since Toronto’s withdrawal or work out a way of adding a 12th club back into the competition.

Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com - 05/10/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Championship Grand Final - Toronto Wolfpack v Featherstone Rovers - Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Canada - Captain Josh McCrone of the Toronto Wolfpack lifts the Betfred Championship Trophy.Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com - 05/10/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Championship Grand Final - Toronto Wolfpack v Featherstone Rovers - Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Canada - Captain Josh McCrone of the Toronto Wolfpack lifts the Betfred Championship Trophy.
Picture by Vaughn Ridley/SWpix.com - 05/10/2019 - Rugby League - Betfred Championship Grand Final - Toronto Wolfpack v Featherstone Rovers - Lamport Stadium, Toronto, Canada - Captain Josh McCrone of the Toronto Wolfpack lifts the Betfred Championship Trophy.

Featherstone lost the Championship Grand Final to Toronto in 2019 and Campbell feels there must be a 12-team Super League and that his club have earned the right to be promoted.

He continued: “I sincerely hope that the correct decision is made, the game needs to retain its integrity and ensure a 12-team Super League will start in 2021, if the clubs vote for an 11-team competition this will be another nail in the rugby league coffin, which will result in more and more supporters walking away from the game in a year we should all be looking forward to, especially with the UK hosting the upcoming World Cup.

“It seems that a majority of the current 11 Super League sides primary focus lies with safeguarding their own central distribution, and although adding a 12th side to the league would preserve the integrity of the division, it would mean these clubs having to share income with a new side, if this is their priority the game is at a very low point.

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“If the Super League is to become an 11-team division for 2021, it shows that the RFL holds little influence over the teams currently still in the Super League, who can feel free to act in their own self-interest and refuse a 12th participant to cement their place in the elite competition for another year without the risk of relegation, despite the TV contract for a 12-team competition.

“We hope that the Super League sides, alongside the RFL, come up with the correct decision and show some leadership, by ensuring a 12th team competes in the 2021 Super League, whoever that may be.

“Promotion to Super League should be decided on the pitch and not in a boardroom. On that basis, Featherstone Rovers has earned the right to be the 12th team in the 2021 Super League season.”