Rugby League: Olympic Toulouse facing the “huge challenge” of the Super League
Through Anthony Assemat
Published on
We left Toulouse Olympique XIII on its cloud, on October 10, 2021, after its victory in the Championship final in front of the more than 9,000 delirious spectators of Ernest-Wallon. Success synonymous with a historic rise in the Super League, one of the best rugby league championships in the world.
“Scoring Points and Our Territory”
Four months later, the men of Sylvain Houlès, the Toulouse coach, will discover the very high level of treiziste with the reception of the Huddersfield English at Ernest-Wallon, Saturday February 12, 2022 at 8 p.m. at the Ernest-Wallon stadium, the home of the Rouge et Noir. A first English opponent rather intended for the middle of the table but who has strengthened and who will be hard to handle. “It will be difficult, especially since we had only one warm-up match. But it will be necessary, from the start, to score points and our territory, ”said the coach.
𝐋’𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐞 #𝐓𝐎𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 🔵⚪
🔜 @SuperLeague 𝕁-𝟙𝟘, See you February 12 at 𝘌𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘯.🎟 https://t.co/ylQy2Pvgnw pic.twitter.com/dwxuYE8wQy
– TO XIII (@TOXIII) February 2, 2022
“A huge challenge” for the TO
Sylvain Houlès knows it: it’s a “huge challenge” that awaits the TO. But the only preparation match, Saturday January 29, 2022, lost 26-10 to the neighbors of the Catalan Dragons (finalists of the 2021 edition against the ogre St-Helens, three-time defending champion), gave a lot of indications.
“It was a good test, and we were aggressive and united. We know what areas we’re going to have to work hard to be competitive.”
Four recruits but a disturbed preparation
The TO XIII received the reinforcement of four players during the off-season: Christopher Hankinson – “a competitor, very athletic, who comes from Wigan” -, James Cunningham – “a good tackler” -, Matthew Russell – “a very explosive winger” – and Gadwin Springer – “a beautiful 115 kg baby, who has good leg speed”. “We have a squad of 26 players, but perhaps a bit lacking in depth. The Super League, it hits hard, there is breakage, ”warns the coach of the treizistes.
But the preparation was disrupted by the Covid and questions related to compulsory vaccination. Johnathon Ford, a member of the workforce, has left the club. “It was hard to take. But most of the other cases have returned to normal, ”says the coach.
The TO XIII wants to “fill Ernest-Wallon”
In Super League, the club that finishes in last place automatically drops. And in recent seasons, the lift has been working at full speed… What’s to add to the pressure on Toulouse’s shoulders? “We will have to remove this pressure”, indicates Sylvain Houlès.
For this first season, the Toulousains dream of filling the Ernest-Wallon stadium (why not March 19 against St-Helens or August 25 against the Catalan Dragons). In the immediate future, a first victory in front of his public would be more than enough to make him happy.
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