Toronto match-day experience “pound-for-pound better than Grand Final and Wembley”

Veteran back-rower Jon Wilkin says Toronto Wolfpack would be an asset to Super League and has hailed their match-day experience.

Wilkin, 35, is in his first season with the Wolfpack after leaving St Helens after 17 years at the end of last season.

He said: “It’s probably pound for pound the best match-day experience that I’ve experienced whilst I’ve been playing and that includes Challenge Cup finals and Grand Finals.

“There are a lot of people putting a lot of effort into the detail of the match-day experience which is something the game over here can learn from.

“I’ve been to Twickenham to watch England rugby union and I don’t go because I love the rugby, I go because it’s an occasion, a big event, and they put on a match-day experience.

“I can’t really say that about many clubs in Super League. Some do but not like Toronto.”

Wilkin admitted he had signed for Toronto thinking they would be in Super League this year, which didn’t happen when they suffered a shock loss to London Broncos in the Million Pound Game.

He added: “I think Super League would be a better competition for having Toronto in it, having been out to Canada and seen the appetite for the game there.

“There’s some rugby to be played yet and there’s also some political stuff going on within the game so we’ll have to see how it plays out but Toronto would be an unbelievable asset for Super League, I have no doubt about that.”

Wilkin played in victorious St Helens Challenge Cup teams in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

He also won the Grand Final with them in 2006.