I wouldn't be so sure that they will be competing in the top half of the league Wrencat, based on a ridiculous bid for a once world class name, now probably decent mid table NRL player (If he was currently playing league). Lets be honest, last year there squad was lower level SL, lets not forget for the past few seasons Andrew Dixon and Liam Kaye have been two of there best players, no offence to those 2, but could you see them getting into a top SL team? A few have retired, a few rumoured to be moving on and they have signed nobody yet.... Even if they do pull off some top signings I will reserve my judgement - People are quick to forget the days of MK bringing over the likes of the world class Kevin Locke - Who apparently had options to sign with the majority of NRL clubs, 5 months later he was playing down at Belle Vue for Wakefield!

So basically it's all stopping the same as previous years. Why would they do that?

Agree with that. Even their coach said they're keeping the same squad and bringing in just a couple, which made me think those couple better be good. If they have cash it's pretty late in the day now to get some quality SL players in, just about every club is still on the look out for that last player or two to fill their squad. Toronto look to me they need a fair few signings imo.

Noticed how Phil Clarke never said that like he did about the Salford players, and I personally think the comment is more applicable to Toronto, I agree with you and its 2 or 3 games we should be winning, just like London. Oh.....wait

One thing is for certain. Phil Clarke will be tipping Toronto as Grand Final winners. He is the worse tipster in the world and also the best at stating the obvious eg " super League games are usually won by the team that scores the most points !"

Whether their bid for SBW is successful, we have to wait and see and I agree with you that money itself, is no guarantee of success.
However, with money spent in the right direction, they "should" be able to put together a squad that sees them well clear of the wooden spoon and pushing for a mid table spot and you would expect a top 8 finish.
Whether you rate McDermott and Noble doesn't matter, what is undeniable is their experience at coaching / managing top SL sides.
I know that Noble failed at Salford but, I dont see Toronto as wanting to just make up the numbers and assuming that their backers are happy to keep throwing stacks of money at the project, you would gamble that they will be pushing for a play off spot within a few years.

Btw, I still think it's crazy having a "plastic" side from N. America competing in SL and taking the lace of a "traditional" club and I believe that the league should have been expanded to 14 clubs to prevent yet another side crashing and burning in the Championship - a move that I seriously struggle to understand but, with big money to burn, they will at some point challenge the big 4/5 SL clubs.

Maybe someone could confirm whether they will have to run academy and reserve sides and compete in the Challenge Cup ?

Fairly sure they're not running a reserve side.

I do believe Toronto are in the Challenge Cup in 2020