Australian Luke Dorn for the London Broncos
THE London Broncos Rugby League team have enjoyed a successful pre-season match at the Honourable Artillery Company, defeating the London Skolars 74-6 in the annual Capital Challenge last Friday. The Broncos starting line up consisted of nine Australian players, including Captain Craig Gower.
The Broncos scored thirteen tries in total, with Michael Channing and Michael Robertson both going over for doubles. Craig Gower, Michael Witt, Chris Melling and Oscar Thomas kicked eleven goals between them.
Coach Tony Rea was pleased with the result, but stressed that the score line was irrelevant, and the most important thing to come out of the game was the control his team showed.
A former Broncos player himself, Rea ventured back to the UK mid last season to take over coaching duties following a stint in Australia coaching the Brumbies Rugby Union team. His return to the club resulted in a successful finish to last year’s season, with the Broncos winning four of their final five matches.
However, Rea stressed 2013 was a new campaign.
“We’ve got to build momentum, but certainly those wins enabled us to have a little more confidence in what we are doing.
“That didn’t hurt us today, we just need to find a way to keep it going and work hard.”
Widely regarded as having one of smallest fan bases in the Super League, Rea is hoping the Broncos can improve on their second-to-last finish last year to draw in larger home crowds.
“From my point of view, we just want to make sure that when the fans get there, they are watching a really hungry, determined performance. That’s the best way that the team can market themselves.”
Former NRL player Shane Rodney is aware of what is required for a successful 2013 campaign, having won premierships in Australia with both the Penrith Panthers and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Despite the smaller crowds, he says there is no less pressure to perform.
“I think as a player you always want to perform to the best of your ability. You put the pressure on yourself, and you don’t want to let your team down.”
When asked about the banning of the shoulder charge in the NRL, Rodney said he hoped a similar rule would not be implemented in the Super League.
“It’s a great spectacle of the game. It’s what the fans like to see. Hopefully we can keep it in the game over here.”
SLTV: Broncos school Skolars -
[ Source: Australian Times ]