T’Other Side: London Broncos

T’Other Side: London Broncos

 

 

 

Head Coach: Andrew Henderson

Andrew Henderson is an Australian who was born in Devon and played internationally for Scotland! He took over as Broncos coach in March 2015 following the departure of Joey Grima. In a long career (2002-2015) in England he played (primarily at hooker) for Barrow, Castleford, Gateshead, Sheffield and Broncos and 23 times for Scotland. He is often tipped as a future Super League coach. Henderson also has evident media skills having proved very popular as an excellent pundit on Premier Sports TV.

 

 

Captain: Daniel Harrison

 

London Broncos signed Daniel Harrison from Manly Sea Eagles for the start of the 2015 season. This year he was appointed as club captain, succeeding Wes Naiqama. Harrison is a second row forward and last season played in 30 of the Broncos 31 matches. Although he had started as a junior with Manly he spent several seasons with Canterbury Bulldogs but didn’t ever play in the NRL for them. He also had a season (2013) with Parramatta Eels and played 7 NRL games there. He won’t be playing in this match as injury looks like kepping out for the rest of the season.

 

At the Back

 

Kieran Dixon is a highly rated winger who can also fill in at fullback. He has spent the last two seasons at Hull KR and has played three times for England Knights. He is the Broncos 2nd highest try scorer this season with 15 tries and can also step up to kick goals when required. Elliot Kear plays in the three-quarters or at fullback. He has played 20 times for Wales and is a genuine Welsh International having been born in Cardiff. He started with Crusaders and played in Super League for them and for Bradford Bulls. Rhys Williams is another genuine Welshman but this time hailing from North Wales. He has 23 caps for his country and scored a hat trick against Scotland in 2010. He began his career with Warrington and also played for Castleford, Salford and Swinton before joining the Broncos in 2015.

 

Michael Channing plays at centre. He began his career with the Broncos in 2012. After loan spells with London Skolars and Castleford in 2013 he signed for the Tigers in 2014. He played for Fev in 2016 before returning to Broncos for this season. He is another Welsh international. Usually partnering Channing in the centres is Ben Hellewell. Ben also had a spell with Rovers in 2013 and 2014. Although born in Bradford, he has played 13 times for Scotland including successful appearances in both the 2013 World Cup and the Four Nations last year. Recently the fullback spot has been filled by Alex Walker. Still only 21, he made his Broncos debut in 2014. He has had loan spells with London Skolars and Hemel Stags and played for Scotland in 2015.

 

 

In the Halves

 

For London Broncos, the halfback positions are very much a United Nations affair with the two positions being usually filled by permutations of two from three.

 

Frenchman, William Barthau, has filled the scrumhalf position in 20 out of 25 matches so far this season. He first played in the Championship with Toulouse back in 2009 and joined Catalans during 2010. He had a loan spell with Dewsbury in 2011 and moved from Catalans to London in 2015. He has played 16 times for France. New Zealander, Ape Pewhairangi, is an Irish international! He has played at both scrumhalf and stand off this year. Before joining London he had been with Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels and New Zealand Warriors. Jarrod Sammut, is an Australian and a Maltese international. He is London’s main goal kicker and is also their leading try scorer so far this year he has scored 206 points. He usually plays at stand-off. He spent the last two years with Workington. He originally came to the UK to play for Crusaders RL and has also been in the squads at Bradford Bulls and Wakefield.

 

In the Pack

 

Ben Evans, who can play at prop, 2nd row or loose forward, joined London this year from Warrington where he came through their academy system before becoming a member of the first team squad in 2014. He spent most of 2013 on loan at Bradford. He has played for England Academy level and as a full international for Wales. He is the twin brother of Warrington centre Rhys Evans. Mark Ioane is a prop forward who joined London last year, having previously played for Gold Coast Titans and Saint George Illawarra Dragons. Broncos have signed Jay Pitts from Bradford. Pitts is a back-row forward who started with Wakefield in 2008 and has since played for Leeds, Hull FC, Doncaster before joining the Bulls in 2015.

 

Andy Ackers is usually the starting hooker for the Broncos. He joined the Broncos last year after 2 year with Swinton Lions. Recently, Ackers has shared the hooking role with Frenchman, John Boudebza, who signed for them last month from Toulon RU. He played for Hull KR in 2015 and 2016 and is a French international. Matty Gee has appeared in 19 matches this year (mostly off the bench). Before joining London he began at North Wales Crusaders in 2014. Salford signed him he following year and he went out on loan to Hunslet, Workington and North Wales. He usually plays in the second row or at loose forward but he can also fill in at centre.

 

 

The Fev Connection

There are three members of the London Broncos squad who have previously played for Fev. Michael Channing was at Rovers last season. Ben Hellewell came to Rovers for two seasons from the Warrington Academy in 2013. Ben was a prominent member of the Scotland team in last year’s Four Nations tournament. Jarrod Sammut played just one game for Fev on dual registration from Wakefield in 2014. During that match against North Wales he kicked 10 goals out of 10 attempts!

 

There are 4 members of this year’s Fev squad who have played for London: Kyle Briggs, James Duckworth, Richard Moore and Jason Walton.