LONDON BRONCOS coach Jason Demetriou hailed a “special” achievement by Alex Walker as the homegrown fullback reached 200 club appearances, scoring four tries in the process.
The 30-year-old Essex-born Academy product and Scotland international hit the milestone as Goole were beaten 92-6 last Sunday, in the first game back at the Cherry Red Records Stadium following pitch-maintenance work at the Wimbledon venue over football’s close-season.
Walker also converted the last of 17 tries by table-topping London as he became only the third player, after current teammate and backrower Will Lovell and Australian forward Steele Retchless, to reach 200 matches for the Broncos.
Having enabled Lovell to earlier this season surpass Retchless’ 202 outings between 1998 and 2004, Demetriou was delighted to hand Walker his landmark game.
“I knew Alex was keen to get to 200 and while he has had to wait a little while, I knew it would happen sooner or later,” he explained.
“I felt it was important to do it at home, with friends and family watching and able to celebrate with him, because it’s a great achievement.”
Brentwood Eels product Walker, who made his London debut in 2014, has had two spells at the club sandwiched around two years at Wakefield, during which he was loaned to Featherstone.
He figured in London’s Championship promotion-winning matches of 2018 (against Toronto in Canada) and 2023 (over Toulouse in France) and played in both the 2017 and 2022 World Cups.
“Alex is a class player. Now he’s firmly in the club history books, and the whole thing was very special,” added Demetriou.
The Goole win was a 21st in 21 league games for London, who visit Oldham this Sunday.
Demetriou’s side then host Halifax before their 1895 Cup final meeting with Widnes at Warrington on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.