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“We’re champions, we’re proud of it and this is the start of something special,” said hooker Bob Beswick after downing what looked to be the first of many cans of beer.

Added Rowley: “This is a success already and the rugby league world needs to take notice. This is the future, this is the future of sport not just rugby league. The world is a smaller place.”

Toronto now has its sights on the elite Super League. But it will have to get through the Championship first.

The Wolfpack, a fully professional side albeit one with a small squad, had its way with semi-pro opposition in the third tier. Playing in the Championship means tougher, full-time foes.

Beswick is convinced the sky’s the limit.

“I’m not sure what the owners are thinking, I’m not sure what the fans are thinking but we’ve had what nearly 8,000 here today for a sport nobody’s heard of in Canada. So I think we’re going to touch on something special.

“Next year we’ll probably get close to 10,000. Super League, which is our premier division, isn’t getting that consistently.”

For CEO Eric Perez, this title is just the start. He is working on placing another franchise in Canada while scheming to keep the Wolfpack moving up.

“Stage 1 is complete. It’s a three-stage game. Stage 3 will be Super League. So when we get there, then we’ll really see what the potential of this team is,” he said.

A showdown between No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the third-tier league, it was a hard-hitting contest with more than one player left wobbly by a huge hit, some of which were illegal. Toronto can thank its defence for resisting numerous early Barrow attacks after an error-strewn start.