Eye on the Championship #2 - Toronto on the brink of glory

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Welcome to week 2 of our Eye on the Championship blog. This week we learned the identity of one of the finalists in each of the promotion finals…or Grand Finals…or Million Pound Games…or whatever incarnation it may be!

It was the highest ranked teams that progressed on both occasions, but that does not tell the full story of the week.
Toronto secured their place with an impressive first half-performance that blew Toulouse off the park. Against this writer’s advice, Toulouse sent a full strength team to Canada even though the risk seemed to outweigh the benefit. But that would be to look at matters in a black and white way. Toulouse played a straight bat and decided that avoiding the criticism that such a decision would have resulted in was wise.
You cannot blame them for that. In any event, the result would have been the same. Toulouse ended up stood behind their posts far more than they would have liked. I doubt they would have been too concerned by the result. If they are to beat Toronto away this year, the time to do it is in the Million Pound Game. Come 2 weeks time, this result will be immaterial.
That is not to say Toulouse won’t take anything from it. They managed to score 4 tries against Toronto and not many teams do that at the Lamport. They will be encouraged and, should they make the Million Pound game, will no doubt have the belief that they can do what London did 12 months hence.
Meanwhile Toronto would have been delighted with their first half performance. Their second half, not so. Whether they eased off with the game won is hard to know, but Toulouse did narrow the margin, which will rankle Brian McDermott. Maybe he will take that as a positive though. He may use that as a warning bow to fire at his players in two weeks. Whoever they face, they need an 80 minute complete performance to make Super League.
If Toronto play to their best, they make it to the promised land of Super League (subject to Robert Elstone inventing some intangible criteria to prevent them making it of course).


Highlights: Toronto vs Toulouse

What is uncertain is their opponents. Toulouse will be favourites in their home semi final against Featherstone, but they will underestimate them at their peril. Featherstone were imperious at the weekend, dismantling York with ease. It is credit to York that they managed to keep the scoreline tight for such a long time.

Fifth placed Featherstone have breezed past Leigh and York both away from home and have done so with style. Both sides struggled to lay a glove on them. They will now travel to Toulouse without fear and without pressure. That, combined with impressive form means they will feel on the crest of a wave. It is a situation which has all the ingredients of a significant upset.
A word on York too. It is easy to forget that this is a side that were promoted just last year. It is even easier to forget that this is a club that almost ceased to exist a few years ago. The transformation has been incredible and will offer a template for other ambitious League 1 sides such as Newcastle to follow. Yes, they disappointed in the play offs, there is no getting away from that. But to finish 3rd in a highly competitive Championship, to get the crowds that they have got and achieve that feel-good factor is not easy and is credit to the club. With a new stadium on the horizon, the future is bright for the Knights.

 Highlights: York vs Featherstone
The League 1 play offs both went as per the league table. Oldham secured a Grand Final spot at the first time of asking with a hard-fought win over Doncaster. They will now travel to Newcastle again next Sunday, by virtue of Thunder’s comfortable win over Workington Town.
It defies sense and logic that Doncaster are away. They beat Newcastle not two weeks ago but because they finished below them in the league, still have to travel away. To achieve promotion to the Championship, they will have to play 4 away games, two against Newcastle and two against Oldham. That is scant reward for defeating Newcastle in this very series.
Nonetheless, that is how the structure goes! Newcastle and Doncaster have played out a number of thrilling games this year and on Sunday the stakes are raised yet higher in the second semi-final.
The game will be played at midday at Kingston Park, before Newcastle Falcons first home match of the season. Here’s hoping that the Thunder can tempt some curious observers to get in early to watch what should be a great game.
We’ll be back with another review next Monday night, when the identity of both of the Grand 
Finalists will be known!

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