Then The Stoop. London even rebranded as Harlequins Rugby League during the mids for a brief period. So much has changed since , but as the Broncos prepare for their 40th season in as a Super League side once again, following promotion from the Championship, one suspects none of it would have been possible but for the persistence — and sacrifice — of Hughes.
I wanted to keep earning and I keep making money that I could use for the club. The new-look London are keen to establish roots as they take on the top-flight again. But it is home. The challenge for us now is to build a gate and a local fanbase. If London were to have any chance of going up they would need to beat Salford Red Devils and they duly did by 11 points to eight in Ealing. There was still a chance of going straight up had results gone their way but in the end a home win over Halifax by 23 points to 16 secured a place in the Million Pound Game.
Toronto who had finished above London would host it and so the squad travelled to Canada for the biggest game in the clubs history since the Challenge Cup Final in The game in Toronto was one of the most surreal that the club had ever seen but two goals from the boot of Jarrod Sammut secured a place in the Super League and London were back at the top table for the first time since with a two points to four victory in a try less match. London Broncos started as being written off by the press on all sides but the club were determined not to underperform and that was shown when in the first game of the season they scored 42 points against Wakefield Trinity at Trailfinders much to the surprise of the Rugby League fraternity.
The Broncos were however brought back down to earth as they lost the next three games with Wigan Warriors to come. The Londoners again shocked rugby league by beating the reigning Super League Champions by 18 points to 16 and then, on a windy Friday evening, backed it up by beating Leeds Rhinos at Emerald Headingley, by the same score, in a nail biting finish.
The season progressed and London went on a disappointing run of 8 loses on the bounce with a Challenge Cup exit to Halifax on the way to the next visit of Wakefield Trinity to Ealing. Surely Wakefield had learnt their lesson from the first game of the season and would not take the hosts for granted? The score said it all and London had yet another win under their belts again scoring 42 points in taking the much needed win. Both sides had their chances and the Broncos would end the weekend disappointed as they lost by just two points in a game that was there for the taking.
The Broncos returned to London and prepared for their biggest test so far and the visit of runaway leaders St Helens. On a rainy Sunday the Broncos produced a result that fans will remember for a lifetime as the game went to Golden Point for the first time in Ealing and Morgan Smith dropped the goal that meant the Broncos had won 23 — 22 and sent the fans into delirium.
Next up Catalans Dragons away from home and the intimidating Stade Gilbert Brutus… or so you would have thought but the Broncos backed up their win over St Helens and became only the second team to win in France in Back to Back wins for the London side and next a bottom of the table crunch match in front of the Sky cameras at home to Hull KR.
The game swung backwards and forward in a tight encounter but at the hooter London had won three on the trot and won 26 — 24 to move from the foot of the table. Another run of three losses saw the Broncos slide to the bottom of Super League again but the side and their never say die attitude bounced back and once again took the points at Trailfinders against St Helens this time by a margin of 20 as they won 32 — Two more losses to Castleford and high flying Salford Red Devils followed before another trip to Perpignan and another tremendous win against Catalans Dragons.
It seemed that London were determined to stay up and would clearly be fighting all the way until the end of the season. Three games to go and destiny was in their own hands. The first of the three did not go to plan as a now much stronger Leeds Rhinos side took the points at Trailfinders.
As London travelled to Craven Park to face Hull KR in yet another huge game they new that anything but a win would mean relegation. The side played magnificently and the three points were theirs. One games to go and the Broncos needed one more win and for results to be kind to them elsewhere and the job would be done. In addition to the move we will also move to a new training facility and news on this will be given as soon as all of this is confirmed.
I expect it to be mid to late January when we can put these on sale. Until we are presented with them it is difficult to make conclusive and detailed statements however the Broncos are determined to ensure that the year is successful both on and off the field and our wonderful fans are there to share the journey with us. We cannot dictate the rules regarding attendance but we will be fighting for you to be back in the stands as soon as possible.
A strong business network around the club will give us a platform to build from in the future and we are heading in the right direction in this sense. Enjoy the last few hours of and from David, myself and the staff of the London Broncos we wish you a very Happy New Year. You must be logged in to post a comment.
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