London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[fieldofclothofgold]

Well GH created Sheffield Eagles and was part of the takeover at Leeds Rlfc when they weren't in the best shape to say the least 

[Wigan Riversider]

Didn't Barry Marantua take over in the 1990s and London were theoretically a Brisbane Broncos feeder club?

The project didn't last.

What will be so different 30+ years later?

Please note that my intention is not to be negative, nasty or cynical.

[PREPOSTEROUS]

Brisbane taking over London could be the shot in the arm the club needs. Massive entity built up from an expansion club back in the 80's, and has enough capital to build a strong presence in the capital. I guess London will have first dibs on their better younger players, and conversely top London talent could head the otherway.

[Worzel]

40 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said:

Didn't Barry Marantua take over in the 1990s and London were theoretically a Brisbane Broncos feeder club?

The project didn't last.

What will be so different 30+ years later?

Please note that my intention is not to be negative, nasty or cynical.

Who knows whether this is true or not eh, it almost sounds too good to be true in fact. But in terms of what’s different, I’d say two things:

1. The NRL, and Brisbane Broncos, financial position is night and day compared to how it was back then. The $2m or so per season it would take to transform London into a viable Super League side is relatively small change to them now. 

2. The new grading model provides them with far greater security of investment. If London got back into Super League under their ownership, they’d be guaranteed a place come what may. 

[League of XIII]

This is very exciting. You'd assume Brisbane know what they're getting into, having been here before. I hope they see it as an opportunity to expand their brand rather than being just an elaborate feeder club (although this would still be better than teams of the David Hughes era). If it's successful it may lead to other NRL takeovers of British clubs e.g. London Skolars. It could even lead to NRL games in London, which arguably could be bigger than Vegas considering the amount of RL fans and Aussie and Kiwi expats in London. I can't wait!

[gingerjon]

Someone probably knows better than me but I thought the rules around sportsperson's visas had changed and it would now be next door to impossible for London to be a testing ground for Brisbane's academy players as they simply couldn't get in to the country to play paid sport now (nor could they turn up on a holiday visa and play a few games).

[JonM]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

Someone probably knows better than me but I thought the rules around sportsperson's visas had changed and it would now be next door to impossible for London to be a testing ground for Brisbane's academy players as they simply couldn't get in to the country to play paid sport now (nor could they turn up on a holiday visa and play a few games).

That's correct.

Detail here: https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/docs/RFL - GBE Criteria _2024-25.pdf

[JonM]

Although note that for those aged under 24, playing in 75% of your team's matches in Queensland Cup will get you a visa, which I would suggest likely covers Brisbane Broncos 'testing ground' requirements quite nicely.

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, JonM said:

Although note that for those aged under 24, playing in 75% of your team's matches in Queensland Cup will get you a visa, which I would suggest likely covers Brisbane Broncos 'testing ground' requirements quite nicely.

Interesting ...

[EastLondonMike]

Article does mention Brisbane but also other parties. So who knows. 
 

it’s highly unlikely it’s going to be everything you’d hope it would be, but here’s hoping.

[The Daddy]

If I remember correctly, the Brisbane Broncos never owned London it was a Brisbane Broncos director Barry Maranta that owned the club, big difference. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. It's a big difference 

[JonM]

5 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

If I remember correctly, the Brisbane Broncos never owned London it was a Brisbane Broncos director Barry Maranta that owned the club, big difference. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. It's a big difference 

IIRC, London Crusaders was initially bought by the board of Brisbane Broncos, but they quickly lost interest with the onset of the SL/ARL war in Australia and Maranta & one other (Gary Balkin) stayed with it until Richard Branson bought them out.

[Dave T]

30 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Interesting ...

Calm down Elon.

[Dullish Mood]

4 hours ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

I won’t read the #### but thanks for the love rugby league link.

Genuinely would rather not wipe my aris with it.

[londonbronco]

9 minutes ago, Dullish Mood said:

Genuinely would rather not wipe my aris with it.

Good God. There are fewer and fewer tabloids/board sheets reporting on RL, and then I read this. Why not try supporting rather than... well... never mind. 

Otherwise, if the rumours are true this will be the start of taking RL national interest outside of the M62.

[The Future is League]

3 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Someone probably knows better than me but I thought the rules around sportsperson's visas had changed and it would now be next door to impossible for London to be a testing ground for Brisbane's academy players as they simply couldn't get in to the country to play paid sport now (nor could they turn up on a holiday visa and play a few games).

 

3 hours ago, JonM said:

That's correct.

Detail here: https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/docs/RFL - GBE Criteria _2024-25.pdf

British passport holders could be used I guess

[JohnM]

4 hours ago, Dullish Mood said:

Genuinely would rather not wipe my aris with it.

Encouraged by your eloquent and well-reasoned expression of sentiment, I've just spent 20 mins clicking on various SUN articles to boost their on-line numbers and ad revenue. 

[Sports Prophet]

If I was a willing buyer, or acting on behalf of one, I think I would also want any purchase of London Broncos to include responsibility for exclusive management of grassroots RL in London and the South East

[hunsletgreenandgold]

London is an easier sell to young Brisbane talent than <insert northern town> so this could work out very well if done right. 

[olliethehut]

If I was a willing buyer, or acting on behalf of one, I think I would also want any purchase of London Broncos to include responsibility for exclusive management of grassroots RL in London and ANY AREA SOUTH OF THE M62.

Just fixed that for you...

[Coggo]

It’s like 1941 after Pearl Harbor all over again. The New World comes to the rescue of the Old (Dart). 

[Click]

3 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

If I was a willing buyer, or acting on behalf of one, I think I would also want any purchase of London Broncos to include responsibility for exclusive management of grassroots RL in London and the South East

They would prerry much have that already, with the lack of any investment from the RFL in the South.

[The Future is League]

With a population of close to 9 million there will be young athletes out there who could be very good Rugby League players given a chance.

[EastLondonMike]

Surprised the Aussie media haven't picked up on this more - such news usually breaks over there. People like the Mole for instance. Maybe its just not considered newsworthy.

[The Future is League]

4 minutes ago, EastLondonMike said:

Surprised the Aussie media haven't picked up on this more - such news usually breaks over there. People like the Mole for instance. Maybe its just not considered newsworthy.

It was discussed on League Unlimited today in the English Super League section, and probably is still being discussed.