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Just two months into life in League One, Toronto Wolfpack have been busy turning heads, creating talking points and breaking new boundaries.

The Wolfpack’s fortunes have already been reported in the New York Times and Financial Times, while brushing aside their opposition in the third tier of the British game.

This weekend they face by far their biggest test yet at Super League side Salford in the Challenge Cup.

Mirror Sport caught up with coach Paul Rowley in the latest rugby league Q&A.

Q: How would you sum up Toronto’s first two months as a competitive team?

PR: It’s been really successful - we’re moving forward at an exciting pace on and off the field. Probably the biggest success has come off the field in terms of social media and the value and numbers that has created.

But also the media attention in difference parts of the world - to be in the Financial Times and the New York Times, with the clientele that reads those papers, is great for us. Many, many rich businessmen in and around New York and Chelsea and Mayfair might want a piece of these sporting teams they’re reading about - that’s how these things start and it can only be good for the game.

(Image: PA)

Q: How important is the opening home match against Oxford on May 6?

PR: Really important. The people in Toronto have been built up about the team, they’re looking forward to seeing us play and it’s important that they see us live. It’s also key that our team experiences their enthusiasm for it. I’ve no worries that it will be a success - it’s a given for me. But it’s important for everybody that this is one more tangible realism on this amazing journey so far.

Q: You’ve run up some big scorelines recently which has attracted criticism of placing the Wolfpack in League One - is that bad for the competition?

PR: Most people have answered this on our behalf. We wanted to do this from the bottom, although we would have happily accepted a place above us. We are where we were put - it’s as simple as that.

And when you look at the table, Barrow aren’t that different from us in terms of points for and against. We had a blow-out against Doncaster that was just freakish I think - they are far better than they showed on that day, and I don’t think that will happen to them again all year.

But the attention should also be on whether some of the teams at the bottom are in the right league as well. Certainly we’ve played against one amateur team in Siddal that provided far sterner opposition than some of the League One teams. The question of whether we’ve been placed in the right league could be aimed at several clubs for different reasons.

(Image: PA)

Q: There’s also been criticism that your North American players have been scarcely used to date - how do you respond to that?

PR: It’s quite simply that because they are trialists, their visas haven’t allowed us to loan them out to other professional clubs. We have facilitated up to six North American players in and around Yorkshire at amateur clubs, and they are getting game time there while remaining under our stewardship. Some of them train with us every week. It’s the best place for them at the moment because they are not up to League One level yet.

Q: What will Sunday’s Challenge Cup tie against Salford tell you about your early progress?

PR: I’m not sure, although it will obviously be a big test. One thing we’ve not really had in several weeks is having to maintain our concentration levels for 80 minutes, which we know we’ll have to do to get anywhere near Salford. We know we’re not where we need to be yet, but this will tell us how far off we are, and what we need to do to be at that level.

Q: Is there a belief in the squad you can win?

PR: One thing I’ve never lacked is belief, and if anyone in my squad lacked it as well they they wouldn’t be here much longer. Belief is standard here.

Q: What have you made of Salford this season?

PR: They’ve been brilliant - a breath of fresh air for Super League. They play really good rugby with the ball, are very aggressive in defence and have clearly been well coached. It’s no coincidence that the teams at the top of Super League are the ones playing good rugby. We’re certainly going to be challenged.

Q: What are the key markers for a successful first season for the Wolfpack?

PR: Promotion to the Championship, and interest in Toronto. Those two are key, plus growth and awareness off the field in different countries and attracting the right kind of business people. We’ve got one goal ticked off already having been featured in the Financial Times - these are strategic targets that are important to us. There are some smart people running this business.