London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[RP London]

15 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Oh god, the "but there are hundreds of thousands of Aussies in London" argument is back.

Jesus. Nobody has a clue, do they?

To be fair it's nice to be able to say to the kids "but in my day" I honestly thought I'd never get the chance (or at least this early)

[Click]

2 hours ago, londonbronco said:

 

Because I’ve looked into it. Brisbane Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has publicly denied any plans to buy into a UK club. That’s straight from the source - so unless someone knows better than the guy running the Broncos, I’ll take his word over rumours.  As for the Dolphins, the only solid link is around Gary Hetherington stepping into a role with the London Broncos, which might involve some kind of partnership. But there’s no credible evidence of any takeover or stake being bought.

Happy to be proven wrong, but until then, I’ll stick to what’s been reported.

No one has mentioned Brisbane taking over the club in about 2 months.

[lucky 7]

7 hours ago, londonbronco said:

 

Dolphins Buying into London Broncos. Really - or could they???  Let’s clear up some of the nonsense floating around. Despite all the chatter, there’s zero confirmation that the NRL’s Dolphins have bought a stake in the London Broncos. But that doesn’t mean nothing is going on. Recent reports say Leeds Rhinos’ CEO Gary Hetherington is about to step into a new role with the Broncos as executive chairman. This move could potentially tie into an arrangement involving the Dolphins, aimed at giving the sport a boost in London, but that’s a far cry from the Dolphins owning the club.  Let’s keep things in perspective here: The Broncos are still a work in progress, and some connections to the NRL are definitely in play but don’t buy into the clickbait that says the Dolphins are taking over. The reality is, we’re talking about partnerships, not a full-blown acquisition. Keep your eyes on the ball and what Matt Adamson will propose for the northern hemisphere game!!

In Gary Hetheringtons case I think he wanted a new challenge and the London Broncos fit that bill.

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Speculation on my part, but I think you will find that the "arrangement" with The Dolphins is about some of their NSW cup side coming over to the UK for a season. Which would strengthen any championship side.

A sort of dual - registration agreement but this time with an NRL side rather than a Super League club.

[Archie Gordon]

4 minutes ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

Speculation on my part, but I think you will find that the "arrangement" with The Dolphins is about some of their NSW cup side coming over to the UK for a season. Which would strengthen any championship side.

A sort of dual - registration agreement but this time with an NRL side rather than a Super League club.

Would be nice if they took some young London lads back for a spell with them.

[M j M]

17 hours ago, londonbronco said:

 

Dolphins Buying into London Broncos. Really - or could they???  Let’s clear up some of the nonsense floating around. Despite all the chatter, there’s zero confirmation that the NRL’s Dolphins have bought a stake in the London Broncos. But that doesn’t mean nothing is going on. Recent reports say Leeds Rhinos’ CEO Gary Hetherington is about to step into a new role with the Broncos as executive chairman. This move could potentially tie into an arrangement involving the Dolphins, aimed at giving the sport a boost in London, but that’s a far cry from the Dolphins owning the club.  Let’s keep things in perspective here: The Broncos are still a work in progress, and some connections to the NRL are definitely in play but don’t buy into the clickbait that says the Dolphins are taking over. The reality is, we’re talking about partnerships, not a full-blown acquisition. Keep your eyes on the ball and what Matt Adamson will propose for the northern hemisphere game!!

There is no way Hetherington is going to have given  up his role at Leeds without there being something of substance lined up or already signed. You "doing your own research" means nothing because these things are rarely done in public.

Edited March 16 by M j M

[londonbronco]

2 hours ago, M j M said:

There is on way Hetherington is going to have given  up his role at Leeds without there being something of substance lined up or already signed.

Absolutely. You don’t leave a role like that without something solid in place. Hetherington’s too experienced to leave things to chance, so I’m quietly confident he’s got a good opportunity lined up for his two days a week with the Broncos. It’ll be interesting to see where he lands, but I’m sure he has some big plans.  Let's hope they work out and the future of the Broncos is ensured for the long term!

[Londonbornirishbred]

On 15/03/2025 at 20:35, gingerjon said:

Oh god, the "but there are hundreds of thousands of Aussies in London" argument is back.

Jesus. Nobody has a clue, do they?

I can honestly say that in every public house I ran in the capital 1988-1998, of all the Anzacs I employed, not one wore a Rugby League shirt, but 80% would have had a wannabe or AB shirt. I even bought a springbok shirt to wind them up, saying the only reason they wouldnt play the saffas was because they would lose.....my point being, those on their 2 year trips to europe or evwn those that have stayed and made London their home, aren't RL fans and are not the target audience.

Ask yourself this. If you were looking to build a sustainable supporter base, would you target a demographic that will no longer be relevant in 2 years time? 

Locals are key and the only ground that London left with more fans than they arrived with was Brentford and that is the one borough/area that we...THE VOLUNTEERS regularly leaflet dropped. 

It really is neither Roxket Surgery nor Brain Science, but it is a lot of effort, hard work and consistency.

[Ivarr the Boneless]

The post Brexit trade deal with Australia saw an agreement the visa would become up to three years. Not sure if it has kicked in yet.

I'd also say in my twenty years as a season ticket holder, I rarely heard Australian accents at Broncos. In the unlikely event they think they can turn the club around solely by selling tickets to Australians, I respectfully disagree.

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

The post Brexit trade deal with Australia saw an agreement the visa would become up to three years. Not sure if it has kicked in yet.

I'd also say in my twenty years as a season ticket holder, I rarely heard Australian accents at Broncos. In the unlikely event they think they can turn the club around solely by selling tickets to Australians, I respectfully disagree.

Spot on. London’s success will be delivered when Londoners stack out 10k averages for Broncos games.

I see there is talk of Wasps returning with land in Kent proposed for a new “stadium”.

I wonder if Broncos long term future belongs outside the M25 in the home counties somewhere.

[Deadcowboys1]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Spot on. London’s success will be delivered when Londoners stack out 10k averages for Broncos games.

I see there is talk of Wasps returning with land in Kent proposed for a new “stadium”.

I wonder if Broncos long term future belongs outside the M25 in the home counties somewhere.

No!

[THE RED ROOSTER]

5 hours ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

I'd also say in my twenty years as a season ticket holder, I rarely heard Australian accents at Broncos. .

Glad to hear you were not one of those who were anti- Chris Warren during his time as mstchday host..

Seriously it's a internet media beat up, about focusing on the backpackers doing the OE. Everybody knows you need a local audience for the club.

[THE RED ROOSTER]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

I see there is talk of Wasps returning with land in Kent proposed for a new “stadium”.

I wonder if Broncos long term future belongs outside the M25 in the home counties somewhere.

Now that is an option but only the basis that London Broncos (or whatever new name is devised) are an equal partner in the new stadium just off the M25 near Sevenoaks. 

That would mean that the club could generate non-matchday revenue something it has never been able to do in the past making it much more of a going concern.

It would also mean that the reserve garde and womens team could train and play at the new stadium and there would be common use if equipment genetic to both sides

Gary Hethrington as we know managed both Leeds,Rhinos and Leeds Tykes in his time so knows how to get the XV code on board. But as I say this only works if the Broncos are an equal partner and not a tenant.

I also think west kent is fertile territory not having too many sporting counter attractions. But it is my no means guaranteed that any Wasps Phoenix club will be readmitted by the RFU due to opposition from existing RFU championship clubs.

Sports Prophet your idea has merit,but highlights the London conundrum in that there are god knows different opinions as to the solution to the clubs problems none of which everyone agrees on...

 

 

 

 

[Sports Prophet]

2 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

Now that is an option but only the basis that London Broncos (or whatever new name is devised) are an equal partner in the new stadium just off the M25 near Sevenoaks. 

That would mean that the club could generate non-matchday revenue something it has never been able to do in the past making it much more of a going concern.

It would also mean that the reserve garde and womens team could train and play at the new stadium and there would be common use if equipment genetic to both sides

Gary Hethrington as we know managed both Leeds,Rhinos and Leeds Tykes in his time so knows how to get the XV code on board. But as I say this only works if the Broncos are an equal partner and not a tenant.

I also think west kent is fertile territory not having too many sporting counter attractions. But it is my no means guaranteed that any Wasps Phoenix club will be readmitted by the RFU due to opposition from existing RFU championship clubs.

Sports Prophet your idea has merit,but highlights the London conundrum in that there are god knows different opinions as to the solution to the clubs problems none of which everyone agrees on...

 

 

 

 

Wasn’t necessarily considering a ground share with any re-emerged Wasps, however I was more highlighting the availability of land outside the M25 rather than inside it.

In saying that, I am sure government backing for a project like that in Kent would feel safer having more than just one revitalised failed club as a resident.

Edited March 17 by Sports Prophet

[Ivarr the Boneless]

The Wasps stadium is planned for a relatively small village. I anticipate serious planning issues for them. Turning it into a 52 week a year use stadium would exacerbate that.

I'm also not sure building a stadium pretty much everyone in London would have to haul round the M25 to would be a great idea for Broncos. Basically doing so would be waving goodbye to nearly all the current support base and trying to build a totally new one. It's been proven enough times moving a few miles across London sheds a large chunk of the fans, never mind that sort of move.

Let's be honest the current support base isn't big enough, if there was evidence Kent is a potential RL hotbed there may be a logic. But...

[gingerjon]

16 minutes ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

if there was evidence Kent is a potential RL hotbed there may be a logic. But...

The same zombie argument that says there are hundreds of thousands of anticipating Aussies also believes that as there is no major RU in Kent that it must be just waiting for RL.

[Father Gascoigne]

12 hours ago, Londonbornirishbred said:

I can honestly say that in every public house I ran in the capital 1988-1998, of all the Anzacs I employed, not one wore a Rugby League shirt, but 80% would have had a wannabe or AB shirt. I even bought a springbok shirt to wind them up, saying the only reason they wouldnt play the saffas was because they would lose.....my point being, those on their 2 year trips to europe or evwn those that have stayed and made London their home, aren't RL fans and are not the target audience.

Rugby league is a working-class sport in Australia. These are not the folks that typically take two-year sojourns to foreign lands. Your experience aligns perfectly with logic. 

Even assuming that wasn't an issue, the other problem with relying on Australians is that it's very easy to live anywhere in the world today and still follow the NRL closely. There's no reason to start following a new club unless you're completely wedded to the live gameday experience.

[Worzel]

5 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

Glad to hear you were not one of those who were anti- Chris Warren during his time as mstchday host..

Seriously it's a internet media beat up, about focusing on the backpackers doing the OE. Everybody knows you need a local audience for the club.

Precisely this. Chris did decent work with very little money, at a time when the club back office was pretty much just him, Nic and Steve the kitman. There was nothing wrong with sticking TNTs logo on the shorts in exchange for some contra advertising, it didn't mean that the club thought they could build a fanbase on expat barmen.  

[fighting irish]

41 minutes ago, Father Gascoigne said:

Rugby league is a working-class sport in Australia. These are not the folks that typically take two-year sojourns to foreign lands. Your experience aligns perfectly with logic. 

Even assuming that wasn't an issue, the other problem with relying on Australians is that it's very easy to live anywhere in the world today and still follow the NRL closely. There's no reason to start following a new club unless you're completely wedded to the live gameday experience.

This chimes in with my experience.

My wife and I met an Australian mother and (adult) daughter, travelling in (Europe) Swansea and we began chatting. They were from Sydney and I mentioned I'd been there and was a big Rugby League fan.

They were speechless!

The old lady was very quiet and struggled to disguise her flared nostrils and contorted upper lip. Her expression was akin to someone who'd just stepped in dog poo. They virtually denied any knowledge of the game. 

The conversation didn't go far after that. 

[Jeff Stein]

15 minutes ago, fighting irish said:

This chimes in with my experience.

My wife and I met an Australian mother and (adult) daughter, travelling in (Europe) Swansea and we began chatting. They were from Sydney and I mentioned I'd been there and was a big Rugby League fan.

They were speechless!

The old lady was very quiet and struggled to disguise her flared nostrils and contorted upper lip. Her expression was akin to someone who'd just stepped in dog poo. They virtually denied any knowledge of the game. 

The conversation didn't go far after that. 

The most snobby people I have ever met were a couple at a Mozart opera at the Sydney Opera House. In deep Bruce and Sheila accents they were discussing how Glyndbourne had gone downhill now they just let anyone in

[Click]

6 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

Now that is an option but only the basis that London Broncos (or whatever new name is devised) are an equal partner in the new stadium just off the M25 near Sevenoaks. 

That would mean that the club could generate non-matchday revenue something it has never been able to do in the past making it much more of a going concern.

It would also mean that the reserve garde and womens team could train and play at the new stadium and there would be common use if equipment genetic to both sides

Gary Hethrington as we know managed both Leeds,Rhinos and Leeds Tykes in his time so knows how to get the XV code on board. But as I say this only works if the Broncos are an equal partner and not a tenant.

I also think west kent is fertile territory not having too many sporting counter attractions. But it is my no means guaranteed that any Wasps Phoenix club will be readmitted by the RFU due to opposition from existing RFU championship clubs.

Sports Prophet your idea has merit,but highlights the London conundrum in that there are god knows different opinions as to the solution to the clubs problems none of which everyone agrees on...

 

 

 

 

No it doesn't.

We're a London club, not a Kent one.

[giasf]

It doesn’t matter where the Broncos setup shop (within reason), they have no hope of success without an NRL expansion style support package and protection from relegation for at least five years. 
 

I’ve lived in London for 13 years now, founded and ran an amateur side for about five, and it’s abundantly obvious to me that there is no inherent interest in the sport down here at all. I think there could be but it’d require a serious medium term capital investment that the sport simply doesn’t have, and isn’t minded to spend anyway in my honest opinion. Perhaps an NRL takeover would be the only route forward there. 

[Anita Bath]

8 hours ago, fighting irish said:

This chimes in with my experience.

My wife and I met an Australian mother and (adult) daughter, travelling in (Europe) Swansea and we began chatting. They were from Sydney and I mentioned I'd been there and was a big Rugby League fan.

They were speechless!

The old lady was very quiet and struggled to disguise her flared nostrils and contorted upper lip. Her expression was akin to someone who'd just stepped in dog poo. They virtually denied any knowledge of the game. 

The conversation didn't go far after that. 

Had the same experience on a recent cruise holiday….sydneysiders who thought mauls were a thing of beauty …all educated in private schools.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

London development pathway sessions begin in early April with Broncos coaching staffU12 U14 U16. Origin series in September for U14 and U16

[Jack-A-Roe]

There must be 15m people within commuting distance. Twice the population of Yorkshire and Lancashire put together. And they need what 10k crowds to be considered a success? Was there inherent interest in ice hockey in Belfast before their success? It needs vision and a bit of money of course. But very doable imo