Homegrown hero: Quinn Ngawati is the first authentic Canadian to play for Toronto Wolfpack, who are chasing a Super League spot

These are strange days in a sport obsessed by the desire to expand beyond its narrow confines. By February next year, Super League could embrace two French clubs and, remarkably, another in Canada. Cause for celebration? Up to a point.

The pioneering Toronto Wolfpack would appear to offer everything rugby league has wanted to spread the code’s message: a toehold in North America, exposure in an untapped market and the chance, finally, to cast off the “M62 northern corridor” shackle.

Wolfpack have been embraced by Toronto, a sports-mad city where ice hockey and baseball hold sway, yet league has captured a slice of the market in two successful seasons.

“The team is fully invested in our city. From the first day, from the opening press