Wednesday 13 September 2017 21:09, UK
Australian duo Dave Taylor and Josh McCrone and Salford's Albanian-born forward Olsi Krasniqi have been unveiled as the latest signings for ambitious Toronto Wolfpack.
The Canadian club, fresh from clinching promotion from Kingstone Press League 1, have confirmed the signing of Warrington's Fijian Test prop Ashton Sims and followed up their earlier recruitment of Widnes centre Tom Armstrong with further eye-catching additions as they prepare for the step up to the Championship.
The capture of former Queensland and Australia forward Taylor, known as the 'Coal Train', in particular is a statement of intent as Toronto set their sights on promotion to Super League for the 2019 season.
I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be part of the first transatlantic pro sports team and our journey to the Super League.
The 29-year-old was in Super League last year with Catalans before being released and has spent this season kick-starting his career with Canberra Raiders in the NRL, where he also played for Brisbane and South Sydney.
"I'm excited about the challenge of joining the Wolfpack," said Taylor, who made eight State of Origin appearances for Queensland and made his debut for the Kangaroos in 2012.
"There's clearly some crazy good things happening with rugby league in Toronto and I can't wait to get there.
"I'm pretty sure they'll like my style of play and hopefully it will excite Canada."
McCrone, 30, has made more than 150 NRL appearances since making his debut for Canberra in 2009 and has played alongside England stand-off Gareth Widdop for the last two years.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be part of the first transatlantic pro sports team and our journey to the Super League," McCrone said.
The 25-year-old Krasniqi was born in Tirana but raised in London and played 62 times for the Broncos in Super League before joining the Red Devils in 2015.
The Wolfpack, who play their final match of the season against Doncaster in Toronto on Saturday, are also being linked with a move for Huddersfield's out-of-contract second rower Ukuma Ta'ai.
