AT TIMES during the launch of the Toronto Wolfpack at the University of Leeds on Wednesday afternoon, it felt almost surreal.

Brian Noble was holding court about the newly-formed Canadian outfit ahead of their entry into League One next year as a full-time team.

A video link enabled chief executive Eric Perez, head coach Paul Rowley and RFL supremo Nigel Wood to join the press conference live from Toronto.

This was expansionism at its finest, with director of rugby Noble the man on the ground to wax lyrical about his aims for the remarkable trans-Atlantic venture.

The initiative came from Toronto-born businessman Perez and is financed largely by wealthy Australian businessman David Argyle, a 55-year-old mining investor.

Also on the club's board will be rugby player-turned-actor Adam Fogerty, who made the initial approach to Noble.

"Adam has been a friend of mine for years and he knew Eric and David, so there is no doubting the substance and professionalism of the people involved," explained Noble.

"It's something new, fresh and the first major trans-Atlantic sports team to exist, so it's another breakthrough for rugby league and something I really wanted to be a part of.

"The excitement being generated in Toronto should make it a winner. It's certainly going to be a great blast."

Toronto will play home and away fixtures in four or five-match 'blocks', staying in residential accommodation while in the UK and using the Bulls' Tong training ground as their base.

The Wolfpack will also fly out other teams at their expense for home matches at Lamport Stadium in the Liberty Village area of downtown Toronto.

Noble explained: "We are pretty much going to be based in Bradford during pre-season because it can be minus 35 degrees in Canada at that time of year.

"There will probably be three one-month trips to Canada to play our home games and the management are pretty confident we can fill 'The Den' (Lamport Stadium) with up to 10,000 fans."

Aside from the huge logistical challenges that Toronto face, the main task is assembling a squad for next season.

Noble said: "Paul Rowley and I are going over in the next couple of months for a road trip where we will be identifying north American talent.

"We want to fill the playing ranks with a bit of potential and there will be a bit of reality TV involved as well.

"From May 1 we are allowed to speak to players and the phone has been red-hot already with agents getting in touch.

"I personally have had a lot of phone calls from notable people in the game who want to be a part of it.

"We have to be sensible and work to the financial parameters, but we are interested in speaking to any players who want to be part of this adventure. We will definitely be spending up to the salary cap."

Desire is both visible and audible in former Bradford boss Noble as he talks of the plan to take Toronto into Super League in the coming seasons.

There was even talk of Jamie Peacock joining the Wolfpack next season and, while it will not happen, it was a benchmark of their ambition.

"It didn't quite work out with JP, but that doesn't stop us going for these sorts of players in future," said Noble.

"Eric Perez and Dave Argyle have been absolutely magnificent and the types of players they have mentioned as potential signings are rugby league legends.

"I try not to be big-headed about anything, but I've done pretty much everything in the coaching ranks.

"Yet I've never led a team right from the bottom into Super League, which is the ambition of the owners.

"We want to be successful as we can as quickly as we possibly can."

Clearly.