RUGBY league arrived with a bang on Canadian soil as the Toronto Wolfpack made history, Greg Bird’s been busted up again and more player and coach swapping between the NRL and Super League.

Get all the latest from the northern hemisphere in this week’s edition of Exile Files.

RUGBY LEAGUE HITS NORTH AMERICA, LITERALLY

“I’ve been watching too much ice hockey” — Toronto Wolfpack’s Jake Emmitt explains his 68th minute send-off for his part in an all-in, and why as he was leaving the field he stopped, turned around and belted another opponent again after being marched.

And with that rugby league landed in Canada, with the Wolfpack making a stunning debut on home soil that had a bit of everything.

The first trans-Atlantic team in world sport have been blazing through the English third tier competition, winning their first five matches by a combined 310-37 as they hunt an eventual promotion to the Super League.

Toronto Wolfpack's Ryan Burroughs scores a try in their thumping win over Oxford. Source: AP

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover chat to Newcastle coach Nathan Brown about his plans for the future including key recruitment targets.





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Playing in Toronto for the first time they demolished Oxford RLFC 62-12 in near-freezing conditions that saw them rack up 14 tries and finish with 10 men in front of a 6,281-strong crowd.

Oxford resorted to violent tactics early on in the piece — prompting Toronto coach Paul Rowley to declare that his players could “only get punched so many times” — in explaining the three red cards and two yellows in a fiery contest.

“Whilst we were convincing winners, it was a terribly grubby, awful team to play against,” Rowley said.

“It was disappointing to get a couple of boys sent off, so we needed something to make us smile.”

That came in the euphoric scenes from the Toronto locals, who well and truly embraced the side with banners, drums and flags all on show.

Great crowd, great atmosphere ... & a bloke throwing a punch on the way 2 the sin bin. @TOwolfpack finish wth 10 men pic.twitter.com/UXkrVshNZS — Steve Mascord (@therealsteavis) May 6, 2017

“It’s been a red hot day, you can see it’s going to build to something significant,” Rowley said of the Wolfpack’s supporters.

“The fans loved it, (there was) a bit of everything, as promised, so we delivered, they delivered and welcome rugby league to Canada.”

BIRDY’S BUSTED

Catalans import Greg Bird can’t take a trick, suffering a fractured eye socket in the early minutes of a tight 30-24 loss to Leeds over the weekend.

The former Titans skipper had only just returned from a broken thumb and was joined on the sidelines later in the contest by fellow NRL expats Brayden Williame and Louis Anderson.

Despite being short on troops the French outfit was still tracking for a gutsy win until three tries in the final 15 minutes saw Leeds storm home.

FLYER RETURNING DOWN UNDER

Widnes winger Corey Thompson will return to Australia at the end of the Super League season after activating a release clause in his contact.

Thompson, who played 35 NRL games for Canterbury before moving to England in 2016, is in the Wests Tigers sights with a two-year deal in the offing.

Former Bulldog Corey Thompson has always been able to find the line. pic. Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

The 26-year-old has been prolific since landing in the UK last year, racking up 30 tries in a season and with the Vikings.

“The Vikings supporters have been brilliant with me during my stay, and I cannot thank them enough for their support,” Thompson said.

“To score 27 tries in my debut season here was absolutely fantastic. It is an achievement that I am proud of, and to do it in a Vikings team that recorded the club’s best ever position in the Super League made it even better.

“I will continue to give my all for the club for the remainder of 2017 before heading back to Australia for the next stage in my career.”

DRAGON BACK TO ENGLAND?

Rumours are swirling that St George Illawarra prop Mose Masoe could return to English outfit St Helens.

Mose Masoe is rumoured to be on the move. Pic Stephen Cooper Source: News Corp Australia

Masoe was a star for Saints and helped them to the 2014 Super League title before signing with the Dragons ahead of last year’s NRL season.





The human wrecking ball has only just recently returned to the playing field after an ACL injury ruled him out for the entirety of 2016.

With the Dragons’ pack firing this year Masoe has been unable to crack the first grade side, instead playing for Illawarra in the Intrust Super Premiership.

MARVEL JERSEYS

Apparel company ISC has unveiled five jerseys that their Super League clubs will wear during the Magic Weekend on May 20-21.

Catalans have an Ironman themed kit, Leeds have Captain America, Hull FC the Hulk, while Wakefield will wear a Spiderman strip.

Former NRL player Ashton Sims will again have a chance to channel his inner Thor when Warrington adopt the Marvel character’s colours.

MAMO HAT-TRICK CAN’T SAVE GIANTS

A hat-trick from former Newcastle flyer Jake Mamo wasn’t enough to stop Castleford running out winners over Hudderfield 26-21.

The Tigers managed to snatch the contest late when Huddersfield skipper Danny Brough was sin-binned, with ex-Manly and Cronulla forward Jesse Sene-Lefao bagging the matchwinner for Castleford.

They maintain their position as surprise Super League ladder leaders, while Mamo’s impressive start in the competition continues.

Once touted as the Knights long-term fullback, Mamo now has six tries in his first four Super League outings after missing the first two months of the season with a broken ankle.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

St Helens have appointed Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook as head coach on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Holbrook takes over from Keiron Cunningham, who was sacked last month after a 24-year association with the club.

“We are delighted to secure Justin; he is widely experienced and has a track record of coaching at the highest level,” Saints CEO Mike Rush said.

“He impressed us with his knowledge of the British game and his work with younger players.

“In his role as head of the Junior Kangaroos, a position he has held for three seasons, he has done a superb job in nurturing young talent and developing the next wave of Australian internationals.

“During the process Justin clearly identified himself as an attack minded coach and the importance of the transition between defence and attack.

“He also understands the club and our philosophy which is important moving forward.”

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