OPPOSITION GUIDE | LONDON BRONCOS

AHEAD of Sunday's Betfred Championship opener against London Broncos, we take a look at Danny Ward's side in detail...

FORMBOOK

Danny Ward’s London Broncos have enjoyed two pre-season outings against established Super League sides ahead of Sunday’s season opener.

A trip to tackle Lee Radford’s Hull FC saw London-born star Sadiq Adebiyi go over for the Broncos’ early score in a 20-6 defeat.

The Totally Wicked Stadium then saw St Helens host London in Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook’s testimonial – where the 2019 Super League Champions ran out 36-6 winners, with Adebiyi again the only scorer for London. 

THE CAPTAIN

Will Lovell will lead the London Broncos out on Sunday, having been named captain by Danny Ward in early January. 

Lovell’s London journey began with a stint in the ‘Harlequins RL’ Academy before going on to enjoy a brief spell for hometown team Northampton Saints in Rugby Union.

Lovell returned to the Broncos in 2018 having also featured for London Skolars in Betfred League One and Will recently became a Dad for the first time in December.

THE BOILER ROOM

Former Leeds Rhino Josh Walters and front-row star Eddie Battye are two forwards in Ward’s ranks who will pose a threat in 2020. 

Battye is an experienced Betfred Championship option for Danny Ward having enjoyed spells in the second tier with both the Broncos and Mark Aston’s Sheffield Eagles.

Rhys Curran is a new recruit who looks set to feature in the second-row having joined from Toulouse Olympique, while French hooker Eloi Pelissier enters his third year at the club having enjoyed a spell in Super League with Catalans Dragons. 

THE BACKS

The Broncos back-line in 2020 could feature ex-Super League wing/centre’s Kieran Dixon and former Bull Tuoyo Egodo.

Dixon – who boasts an impressive try-scoring record in first-grade rugby – enjoyed spells in the top tier with London and Hull Kingston Rovers, and his pace will threaten teams throughout the year.

Egodo broke through into the Castleford first-team before enjoying loan spells at Betfred League One outfits York City Knights, Newcastle Thunder and John Kear’s Bradford Bulls.

Ward’s side will be led round the park by half-backs Cory Aston and former Warrington Wolves star Morgan Smith. 

THE COACH

39-year-old Danny Ward enjoyed a distinguished career as a player before turning to coaching duties – starting at Leeds Rhinos in 1999 where he spent eight years.

Stints at Castleford Tigers and Hull Kingston Rovers preceded a move to Harlequins RL (now London Broncos) – where he finished his playing career in 2011.

Dewsbury-born Ward acted as assistant to Ian Henderson from 2015 before the former Bradford hooker’s move to Warrington Wolves – leaving Ward to take the reins.

His first year in charge saw the Broncos earn promotion to Super League in stunning fashion – seeing off Toronto Wolfpack in Canada in the 2018 £1Million Pound Game.

CONNECTIONS

Danny Ward’s 2020 roster boasts three former Bulls players in its ranks – in the form of Olsi Krasniqi, Cory Aston and Tuoyo Egodo.

Krasniqi enjoyed a brief loan spell at the club in 2019, making two appearances before returning to parent club Toronto Wolfpack while Aston also enjoyed a temporary spell in 2017.

Egodo also spent time on loan with the Bulls in 2018, emerging as a key figure in John Kear’s promotion-winning side to rejoin the sport’s second tier.

Ward’s number two, Jamie Langley, broke through to make his professional debut at the Bradford Bulls, going on to win two Super League titles, three World Club Challenges and a Challenge Cup in his 12-year spell at the club.

PAST MEETINGS

The two sides have met twelve times since the Broncos’ regeneration from Harlequins RL in 2012 – with Bradford winning eight to London’s four.

London have had the upper hand on the more recent occasions the two sides have met however, doing the double over the Bulls in 2017.

London, then known as Fulham RLFC, beat Bradford Northern in 1981 in the first-ever fixture between the two sides in a Challenge Cup tie – 20-8 winners in front of nearly 12,000 spectators. 

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