1 Sept: SL: London Broncos v Leeds Rhinos KO 3pm

[John Drake]

Discuss London Broncos v Leeds Rhinos here.

[fieldofclothofgold]

Dont ask I darent think about it 

[paul hicks]

2 weeks off will have been what London needed after a trip to France.

as a Leeds supporter I hope for a Leeds win but am I confident well no I'm not  but its a vital win with games against Salford and Warrington to finish the season  for Leeds 

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

London by 8 (please).

[Harry Stottle]

Would like a London win simply because I am enjoying the jeopardy of the relegation issue. London winning will keep that momentum going.

[Quinskolar]

Leeds know they have to win this, if they lose they are in the relegation mix. London know that they have three bites at the cherry. Nerves may get the worse of Leeds, who will be expecting to win, London love the underdog tag. 

[paul hicks]

25 minutes ago, Quinskolar said:

Leeds know they have to win this, if they lose they are in the relegation mix. London know that they have three bites at the cherry. Nerves may get the worse of Leeds, who will be expecting to win, London love the underdog tag. 

after losing to London earlier in the season I don't think Leeds will be taking it lightly .

its not a game I would be walking into the bookie and putting any money on either 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Probably best for London to go down and regroup again, now. I say that having read that Williams and Kear are off to Salford and with them two key players going along with Abdull and Walker (and I’m sure someone else) and with Battye having his suitors, how are any club supposed to recover from losing 4-5 key players like that so late in a year and expected to compete the following year? 

I suppose it’s one of the big reasons why I don’t like P&R really. 

[Phil]

My heart says London my head says Leeds 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

London all the way to the Bank

[londonbronco]

Humm…. this will be an interesting one.  Neither club has released their 19 while Leeds has had the upper hand in these crunch matches over London in the Super 8’s since 2016.  A London win leaving Leeds & Hudds in the relegation mix.

[Magic XIII]

11 hours ago, Oliver Clothesoff said:

Probably best for London to go down and regroup again, now. I say that having read that Williams and Kear are off to Salford and with them two key players going along with Abdull and Walker (and I’m sure someone else) and with Battye having his suitors, how are any club supposed to recover from losing 4-5 key players like that so late in a year and expected to compete the following year? 

I suppose it’s one of the big reasons why I don’t like P&R really. 

I think this is one of the problems with the current system. It leave clubs like us vulnerable at point in the year.

That said I want us to stay up, regardless.

If rumours are true Yates and Williams off to Salford along with Kear. Given their depth in backs, I am puzzled what Williams and Kear will add.

Walker and possibly Pitts to Wakefield and Abdull to KR. Then again, if either of these clubs are relegated, I assume all bets are off ?

Williams, Kear, Pitts and Walker have given the Broncos OUTSTANDING service over the last few years. Abdull and Yates have been sensational this year. I am certain they will give their all to keep us in the SL.

Our recruitment has started. Several players committing for 2 more years and add to that Aston and Egodu so I am sure Wardy has all paths covered.

Hopefully a good game on Sunday.

 

 

[Harry Stottle]

12 hours ago, Oliver Clothesoff said:

Probably best for London to go down and regroup again, now. I say that having read that Williams and Kear are off to Salford and with them two key players going along with Abdull and Walker (and I’m sure someone else) and with Battye having his suitors, how are any club supposed to recover from losing 4-5 key players like that so late in a year and expected to compete the following year? 

I suppose it’s one of the big reasons why I don’t like P&R really. 

The major problem with P&R is the promotion part of it, we have just to few player's of the required quality or in many cases expierence for clubs to take a punt on.

The trouble is not having the luxuary of a 1.85 million handout, the prospective teams vying for a SL spot do not know if they can commit to offering and paying contracts for the next season until promotion and therefore the handout is confirmed by winning the Championship, and by that time - the penultimate week of the season - the best player's are already commited somewhere to the following season, so it is inevitable that the promoted team will struggle and the better player's or the one's who have exhibited they are well capable of performing in SL will get picked off. Perhaps as was once mooted by Ian Leneghan that the promoted team should have a years grace and be exempted from being relegated in their first season? 

Not liking P&R is not a good reason for abolishing it, it would decimate the Championship which is improving year on year which is completely down to the opportunity to gain promotion, take it away Ollie and it will have dire consequences on the game as a whole, including the SL.

[Oliver Clothesoff]

8 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

The major problem with P&R is the promotion part of it, we have just to few player's of the required quality or in many cases expierence for clubs to take a punt on.

The trouble is not having the luxuary of a 1.85 million handout, the prospective teams vying for a SL spot do not know if they can commit to offering and paying contracts for the next season until promotion and therefore the handout is confirmed by winning the Championship, and by that time - the penultimate week of the season - the best player's are already commited somewhere to the following season, so it is inevitable that the promoted team will struggle and the better player's or the one's who have exhibited they are well capable of performing in SL will get picked off. Perhaps as was once mooted by Ian Leneghan that the promoted team should have a years grace and be exempted from being relegated in their first season? 

Not liking P&R is not a good reason for abolishing it, it would decimate the Championship which is improving year on year which is completely down to the opportunity to gain promotion, take it away Ollie and it will have dire consequences on the game as a whole, including the SL.

P&R is great. Look at the battle we’ve got developing at the bottom, it’s great for me to watch each week as a complete neutral, though I wouldn’t be as keen if my team were involved. Look at that Toronto v London game, the underdogs shocked the favourite. Look at some of the MPG’s we had, that Salford v Hull KR one will forever be one of the best games I’ve watched, for example. There’s a lot of positives for it. 

However, there’s certainly some negatives to it. The whole contracts becoming null and void, relegated teams decimated by players moving on, teams unable to plan for life the following year till they’re aware of what league they’ll be playing in and the late ‘arrival’ of a promoted side picking up the scraps left behind by everyone else, amongst other things. 

I like P&R but in its current form and in Rugby League, I don’t like it. I think we need to find a solution where we potentially keep it, however, with some slight changes. 

[The Future is League]

13 hours ago, Oliver Clothesoff said:

Probably best for London to go down and regroup again, now. I say that having read that Williams and Kear are off to Salford and with them two key players going along with Abdull and Walker (and I’m sure someone else) and with Battye having his suitors, how are any club supposed to recover from losing 4-5 key players like that so late in a year and expected to compete the following year? 

I suppose it’s one of the big reasons why I don’t like P&R really. 

Which raises the question that if by some miracle London do stay up ( very unlikely i know) where will they get some Super League players from for next season as they can't attract quality players from up here and they don't appear to be able to attract many overseas players?

[Magic XIII]

2 hours ago, The Future is League said:

….. as they can't attract quality players from up here and they don't appear to be able to attract many overseas players?

 

 

I think this is a gross assumption on your behalf. It is conceivable that Wardy has taken the position of standing by the players who won the MPG and more importantly having faith in their ability to compete.

 

Bear in mind (and I stand to be corrected) we only recruited Abdull, Yates, Fozzard, Smith, Mason and Richards (and more latterly Krasniqi and Lamb) …… all of them northern and one Aussie. We offloaded Spencer and Evans and few fringe players and then Sammut darted.

 

I think we've done rather well all things considered. I think these wholesale changes were inevitable and I wouldn't be surprised if a few others haven't been offered a contract for next year or at best a reserve grade contract.

 

#COYB

[Quinskolar]

Nothing unlikely about London staying up, they have every chance! One win out of three and they are in the mix, two wins and they are probably safe, win all three it is guaranteed. Punters have lost a lot backing against London this season. 

[Loiner]

I think Leeds will win but not by much, I'm expecting a very physical game with the Broncos taking it to the Rhinos. Leeds +4.

[Mr Plow]

I think London will win this just. But Leeds have a couple of tricky games v Salford and Warrington coming up so I think it will be close. London by 4

[hullste]

London by lots hopefully. 

[THE RED ROOSTER]

I am going to post this prior to the Leeds game and this remains my opinion regardless of how the rest of the season pans out. I have been watching the club since the dawn of Super League and while the Broncos have had better players, and sides they have mnot had a better team than the one that has been on the park this season.

Written off before the start of the season and writen off again by some, including myself, mid way through the season, the club has defies the odds and if they have not silenced the critics then certainly give them food for thought. To still be in the mix to stay up in the penultimate game is tribute enough to the players and coaching staff.

I read a lot that Danny Ward was never considered head coaching material but let this be a lesson to all reading this in your professional life, that individuals who possess leadership skills are not always the most obvious candidates.

Can the Broncos defy the odds again - who knows.

Not to jinx them as is traditional I tip the opposition - Leeds by 10

[Manfred Mann]

London's future in Super League is mostly in its own hands. London must beat Leeds at home, and then Hull KR and Wakefield away, because of its terrible points differential. If Wakefield also loses to Wigan tomorrow (probable but not certain) and Wakefield also loses against Warrington next week (also probable but not certain) London would then retain its place in Super League and Wakefield would be relegated.

However if London only wins one of its next two games, and Wakefield loses both its next two, then there is every possibility that the side to be relegated will be decided only in the last round when London plays Wakefield.

[Southern Reiver]

2 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

I am going to post this prior to the Leeds game and this remains my opinion regardless of how the rest of the season pans out. I have been watching the club since the dawn of Super League and while the Broncos have had better players, and sides they have mnot had a better team than the one that has been on the park this season.

Written off before the start of the season and writen off again by some, including myself, mid way through the season, the club has defies the odds and if they have not silenced the critics then certainly give them food for thought. To still be in the mix to stay up in the penultimate game is tribute enough to the players and coaching staff.

I read a lot that Danny Ward was never considered head coaching material but let this be a lesson to all reading this in your professional life, that individuals who possess leadership skills are not always the most obvious candidates.

Can the Broncos defy the odds again - who knows.

Not to jinx them as is traditional I tip the opposition - Leeds by 10

I agree, though think we can defy the odds. The season started with gallant defeats being potentially acceptable. Unfortunately or fortunately the results have exceeded everyone’s expectations. Now near loses and gallant defeats are not acceptable the bar has been raised by the players performances we now expect that each week. If we are relegated I will be bitterly disappointed, at the beginning of the season it was just not to be embarrassed. That might be cruel but its a compliment to the players and the team, we now expect rather than just hope. 

 

 

 

[Leeds Wire]

My favourite two games by far this year have both been in London. The trip to Trailfinders was fantastic - great pub down the road with a massive beer garden and lots of rugby chat, then a lovely atmosphere in the little stadium, with all fans mixed up and a great view from anywhere.

Good luck Broncos. 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Slammed down a £25 ponder for LONDON to win!