It didn’t take much for the Toronto Wolfpack to shatter their two-week-old attendance record.

The rugby league club’s home opener attracted an announced crowd of 6,281 fans to Lamport Stadium, and Saturday’s showdown with the Barrow Raiders drew 7,144.

That number included a crew of Barrow supporters, who had flown here from England and clustered in the stadium’s northeast corner, glad to embark on a rugby-themed vacation but frustrated with the 70-2 beatdown the Wolfpack laid on their squad.

More than the final score, Barrow supporters took issue with the circumstances that made it possible. Visa delays and day-job duties forced Barrow to leave at least five key players at home. Factor in jet lag and the Barrow faithful wondered if the Wolfpack have an unfair, transatlantic home-field advantage.

“We are at a disadvantage, but we’re not going to let that spoil the game,” said Brian May, who travelled from Cumbria in northern England for Saturday’s match. “We might get a chance to play Toronto at home in Barrow, where we will have a full-strength team and we’ll kick their behinds.”

The lack of on-field drama didn’t deter Wolfpack supporters, many of whom stayed until the end of Saturday’s blowout and gathered along the sidelines to pose for selfies with players.

“I’ve come from a club where we get about 1,000 to our home games,” said fullback Quentin (QLT) Laulu-Togaga’e, who scored three tries Saturday. “(Fan support) helps us out with our performance and gives us a rev-up.”

Wolfpack management is aware of the skill disparity between their club and its third-division peers.

Toronto’s squad is stacked with players experienced at the sport’s highest level. Ryan Bailey has played more than 300 games in Super League, England’s top competition and the league to which the Wolfpack hope to earn a promotion. Prop Fuifui Moimoi spent more than a decade in Australia’s NRL and remains a celebrity down under.

In contrast, Barrow starter Brad Brennan stayed in England because he couldn’t secure time off from work.

Based on records, Barrow — undefeated until this weekend — entered Saturday as the third-division club best equipped to topple Toronto in league play, and the Wolfpack steamrolled them anyway.

Through eight games, Toronto has scored 482 points and conceded just 71. Head coach Paul Rowley recognizes the first-year club is ready compete with Super League teams on the field, but days starting in the third division made logistic sense.

“Building the business, I think we needed this time to get things right,” he said. “If it was in Super League, I think it would be too challenging for us in terms of, we’ve not got our infrastructure as a club ready yet … You appreciate things a lot more when you start from the bottom.”

As for the contention that the Wolfpack exploited a jet-lagged, short-handed Barrow club, Rowley points out that Toronto has also endured a punishing travel schedule. Six days after their home opener they played in England, then returned to Toronto for Saturday’s match.

Fans at Lamport didn’t show Barrow much sympathy, either.

Midway through the second half, Toronto’s Shaun Pick scored a try, leaving several Barrow Raiders scattered in his wake.

As Wolfpack captain Craig Hall teed up the convert kick, Barrow’s Jarrod Stack limped to the sideline, grimacing with a hand on his back.

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When he reached the bench, a trainer gave him an ice pack and a vocal Wolfpack fan gave him the business.

“His feelings are hurt!” the spectator shouted. “You can’t put an ice pack on your ego!”