Exclusive: Hakim Miloudi reveals he struggled to afford his house, car and food because of Toronto Wolfpack and is still waiting on payment

Toronto Wolfpack’s Super League story is brief but interesting. They showed the potential of the sport in North America as they climbed the leagues, attracting star players to the club, as money was funnelled in by wealthy Australian owner David Argyle.

They climbed all the way to Super League and even brought in star name Sonny Bill Williams as they made their debut in the top-flight of the English league system in 2020.

However, after the pandemic they never returned to action as financial problems tore through the club spelling the end of their place in Super League, but also in British rugby league overall.

Speaking exclusively to Serious About Rugby League, a player involved with the club at the time, ex-Hull FC star Hakim Miloudi has given the inside story of what it was like to experience the collapse of the club.

However, he is grateful for the initial adventure: “I think it’s one of the best adventures I’ve been on. We were playing in England for four to six weeks and after that in Canada for another four to six weeks. It was class.

“I really enjoyed every moment of it. It was unique and very different to what you would experience at another club. The lifestyle is different too, but you quickly learn to love it.”

However, he described the end of the club itself as terrible, but also surprising, with the fall of the Wolfpack rapid as they departed without playing a single home game.

“It was terrible news for me, for the club and for the players, we had never thought that it could happen.”

This was before he opened up on the impact it had on him financially revealing he struggled to pay for his home and his food in light of their problems, also revealing he still hasn’t been repaid even now.

“Financially the situation impacted us really badly. For me, the house was in my contract and the club stopped paying it so I had to use the money I saved for 8 months paying for that.

“Then on top of that I had all the usual life stuff to contend with – my car, food and personal things all becoming hard to afford because of the situation.

“We all lost a lot there. We are still waiting for the money back. We’re not sure when it will come, if it will come or where it will come from.

“Of course we are all hopeful it will be resolved and not all the players have been able to cope without looking for other work or lending money off other people – it was a sad end to something that was really promising.