London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[Coggo]

The inestimable Phil Caplan has revealed the RFL is hosting the event at the Aussie embassy, it is being filmed by Sky, and Brian Carney & Jenna Brooks are comperes.

It is understood the big story is rugby league in London & the South is coming under “an umbrella”. We just don’t know who is holding the umbrella. 

[17 stone giant]

Only two more sleeps until we find out.

[Angelus]

Interesting that the event is "London and the RFL" and not "London and the NRL".

We'll find it all out at 10:30am tomorrow....

Sky Sports news will be covering it apparently. 

[SinBinSid]

Reading Coggo's excellent post (I can't find Caplin's comment) it indicates this may not be a full-blown takeover but a possible realignment combining semi-pro clubs, junior pathways, and performance structures under one body and maybe linked to IMG’s grading framework to give the South a proper shot at sustainability, talent retention & promotion.  What I've found interesting is taht Mike Eccles has, in the past, been quite open in interviews even after poor results on the pitch. The sudden lack of pre- and post-match comments could point to him to possibly instructed to keep a lid on developments until an official announcement drops. That would make sense. And as others have said... roll on tomorrow... and please be good news for the club!!!!

[dealwithit]

50 minutes ago, SinBinSid said:

Reading Coggo's excellent post (I can't find Caplin's comment) it indicates this may not be a full-blown takeover but a possible realignment combining semi-pro clubs, junior pathways, and performance structures under one body and maybe linked to IMG’s grading framework to give the South a proper shot at sustainability, talent retention & promotion.  What I've found interesting is taht Mike Eccles has, in the past, been quite open in interviews even after poor results on the pitch. The sudden lack of pre- and post-match comments could point to him to possibly instructed to keep a lid on developments until an official announcement drops. That would make sense. And as others have said... roll on tomorrow... and please be good news for the club!!!!

Would this realignment help with their IMG score? Unless they up their crowds and finances, I struggle to see how. 

[Deadcowboys1]

12 hours ago, Coggo said:

The inestimable Phil Caplan has revealed the RFL is hosting the event at the Aussie embassy, it is being filmed by Sky, and Brian Carney & Jenna Brooks are comperes.

It is understood the big story is rugby league in London & the South is coming under “an umbrella”. We just don’t know who is holding the umbrella. 

Please God, it's not Fatty Wood!

[SinBinSid]

2 hours ago, dealwithit said:

Would this realignment help with their IMG score? Unless they up their crowds and finances, I struggle to see how. 

Good question. AS you know the IMG grading system isn’t based on announcements. It’s based on hard numbers such as attendances/revenue/digital presence/facilities/results etc etc. So if tomorrows press release/announcement does not lead to more fans through the gates it won’t shift the needle one jot for bigger IMG points and neither will 'new people in charge' or another 'rebrand'.  But if it kicks off a proper long-term rebuild i.e. better marketing/stronger youth links/more visibility/a team worth watching that could help improve their IMG score down the line. Until then, it’s just potential.   Roll on tomorrow.....

[Gooleboy]

15 hours ago, Coggo said:

The inestimable Phil Caplan has revealed the RFL is hosting the event at the Aussie embassy, it is being filmed by Sky, and Brian Carney & Jenna Brooks are comperes.

It is understood the big story is rugby league in London & the South is coming under “an umbrella”. We just don’t know who is holding the umbrella. 

Steve McClaren???

[Deadcowboys1]

3 hours ago, Gooleboy said:

Steve McClaren???

RL has enough Wallies of its own, doesn't need him to add to them. 

[Coggo]

To me it sounds less of a bright new dawn for London’s only professional rugby league club and more the Aussies are coming to develop - and then plunder - its player pool.

Good for London RL, but not necessarily for the Broncos.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

1 hour ago, Coggo said:

To me it sounds less of a bright new dawn for London’s only professional rugby league club and more the Aussies are coming to develop - and then plunder - its player pool.

Good for London RL, but not necessarily for the Broncos.

Plundering the player pool as you say actually IMO will be very good for the club. It will provide more development opportunities and widen the amount of players at semi and SL (sic) level if the very best move to the NRL. 

[SinBinSid]

For so many years talented players from the southhave either been lost to the game or go to union. If any Oz involvement means serious coaching/structure/professional standards being put in at academy level, it’ll raise the bar for everyone including the Broncos. And let’s not kid ourselves.... if anything, this kind of link could attract more quality players/better coaches/long-overdue credibility to the London setup. If a few stars get snapped up in the process, so be it. They’ll only go if they’re good enough, and that’s a success story in itself.  Done right, this could finally turn London from a rugby league outpost into a talent pipeline. And that benefits the whole game, not just the south and something the NRL would be very interested in.

[Coggo]

35 minutes ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

Plundering the player pool as you say actually IMO will be very good for the club. It will provide more development opportunities and widen the amount of players at semi and SL (sic) level if the very best move to the NRL. 

Does London actually need the Broncos for that? Genuine question. 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

3 minutes ago, Coggo said:

Does London actually need the Broncos for that? Genuine question. 

London needs a club at the top of the pyramid here and Broncos occupy that place. Tell the kids I coach at school that there’s no local pro team and the ones with real ability would drift away to union or back to soccer.  There’s already a union club based less than 400m from my school who are desperate to get these kids playing RU.

RL in London needs the Broncos.

Edited May 20 by Pen-Y-Bont Crusader

[SinBinSid]

Coggo gets to the heart of it. Rugby league in London needs a top-tier club to anchor the game, and like it or not, that is the Broncos right now. Pen-Y-Bont makes a fair point too. Player development can and does happen outside the Broncos set-up. Smaller clubs like Skolars, Eastern Rhinos, Elmbridge Eagles, North Herts Crusadersetc and others have been putting in the hard yards for years. But without a pro club at the top of the pyramid, the whole pathway becomes less visible. Young players need something clear to aim for. Coaches need a route to the top to point their best kids towards. And fans need a team they can support at a serious level. Without that, rugbyleague in London risks fading into the background.

That is why tomorrow’s possible announcement feels so important - should it even take place!    If it turns out to be a genuine investment by people who want to build something here, not just raid the best young players and fly home, then it could be massive. If the Aussies are bringing coaching know-how, proper planning and serious connections, and they want to work with the Broncos to make London a real part of the rugby league landscape  It could finally be the turning point we have been waiting for  BUT remember the NRL does not need London, London/southern  rugby league absolutely needs something to rally around. Right now, the Broncos are the best shot at that.  So yes, London does need the Broncos. But it needs them to step up, connect better with the community and actually deliver. Maybe, just maybe, this is the start of that. I'm sure I;ve jinxed tomorrow now as I as as a fan fave had so many hopes for the game in the south.

[Coggo]

21 minutes ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

London needs a club at the top of the pyramid here and Broncos occupy that place. Tell the kids I coach at school that there’s no local pro team and the ones with real ability would drift away to union or back to soccer.  There’s already a union club based less than 400m from my school who are desperate to get these kids playing RU.

RL in London needs the Broncos.

I think London needs RL club(s) that can pay a retainer, yes, but it doesn’t need the Broncos. 

[DEANO]

What London really need is interest from the public

[SixSet]

 

Bit of help for a  dummy in the slow lane, please! 

I'm really confused about this. Is it something like this that you're envisaging:  that Aussie involvement will take the form of quality structures and coaching and more input at youth and grassroots levels? 

Because if Australian interest yields better coaching systems and more input at academy levels then I can see that's definitely a result, as they say.

I can see that it would really help our youngsters if London had a professional club, to motivate and incentivise young lads interested in league and give them something to aspire to. I get that. It's got one, albeit not much of an attraction, currently, one could argue ( all right, I'm playing Devils advoacate here, though not the Salford red variety) and a thriving successful club would, naturally, be even more of an encouragement for youngsters.

What I don't get is how any plundering of a London "player pool" -  a player pool that is surely something that is in the future, as we stand, because very few youngsters play league in London, currently - will provide more development opportunities and widen the amount of players at semi and Super League level ?

Are the NRL looking "up over" because it's like they've exhausted their resources on Aussie "earth" and  need to widen their horizons and try their luck on England "moon" ( if you'll pardon the clumsy analogy ) ?

NRL will nurture talent in London so that they can harvest it and take the pick of the crop? And a by product of that is that there will be an overall better standard left behind ( rising tide and all that) ?

Apologies for my ignorance but I 'm struggling to see what's going on here ( or might go on here). It's the eve of what could be exciting news but I'm suddenly finding myself all at sea! 

Edited May 20 by SixSet

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

22 minutes ago, SinBinSid said:

Coggo gets to the heart of it. Rugby league in London needs a top-tier club to anchor the game, and like it or not, that is the Broncos right now. Pen-Y-Bont makes a fair point too. Player development can and does happen outside the Broncos set-up. Smaller clubs like Skolars, Eastern Rhinos, Elmbridge Eagles, North Herts Crusadersetc and others have been putting in the hard yards for years. But without a pro club at the top of the pyramid, the whole pathway becomes less visible. Young players need something clear to aim for. Coaches need a route to the top to point their best kids towards. And fans need a team they can support at a serious level. Without that, rugbyleague in London risks fading into the background.

That is why tomorrow’s possible announcement feels so important - should it even take place!    If it turns out to be a genuine investment by people who want to build something here, not just raid the best young players and fly home, then it could be massive. If the Aussies are bringing coaching know-how, proper planning and serious connections, and they want to work with the Broncos to make London a real part of the rugby league landscape  It could finally be the turning point we have been waiting for  BUT remember the NRL does not need London, London/southern  rugby league absolutely needs something to rally around. Right now, the Broncos are the best shot at that.  So yes, London does need the Broncos. But it needs them to step up, connect better with the community and actually deliver. Maybe, just maybe, this is the start of that. I'm sure I;ve jinxed tomorrow now as I as as a fan fave had so many hopes for the game in the south.

It’s taking place don’t you worry. 
 

 

Edited May 20 by Pen-Y-Bont Crusader

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

21 hours ago, Coggo said:

The inestimable Phil Caplan has revealed the RFL is hosting the event at the Aussie embassy, it is being filmed by Sky, and Brian Carney & Jenna Brooks are comperes.

It is understood the big story is rugby league in London & the South is coming under “an umbrella”. We just don’t know who is holding the umbrella. 

 

[SinBinSid]

 

10 minutes ago, DEANO said:

What London really need is interest from the public

You’re not wrong, Deano. Public interest is key. No crowds, no cash, no club. But it’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation. You need something worth watching to spark that interest in the first place.  Londoners will turn up for rugby league if it’s done right - there’s been that appetite before.  THere's even the first Ashes Test in October placed here in the smoke too, which was a massive injection eevn for somewhere as big as Wembley Stadium.  The issue has always been poor ambition from the club.

If tomorrow’s news brings a clear plan, proper backing, and a club people can believe in, then the interest can grow. But it has to be earned. Londoners won’t just show up because someone sticks “Broncos” on a shirt – they need a reason to care. Hopefully that’s finally what’s coming

[Coggo]

9 minutes ago, SixSet said:

 

Bit of help for a  dummy in the slow lane, please! 

I'm really confused about this. Is it something like this that you're envisaging:  that Aussie involvement will take the form of quality structures and coaching and more input at youth and grassroots levels? 

Because if Australian interest yields better coaching systems and more input at academy levels then I can see that's definitely a result, as they say.

I can see that it would really help our youngsters if London had a professional club, to motivate and incentivise young lads interested in league and give them something to aspire to. I get that. It's got one, albeit not much of an attraction, currently, one could argue ( all right, I'm playing Devils advoacate here, though not the Salford red variety) and a thriving successful club would, naturally, be even more of an encouragement for youngsters.

What I don't get is how any plundering of a London "player pool" -  a player pool that is surely something that is in the future, as we stand, because very few youngsters play league in London, currently - will provide more development opportunities and widen the amount of players at semi and Super League level ?

Are the NRL looking "up over" because it's like they've exhausted their resources on Aussie "earth" and  need to widen their horizons and try their luck on England "moon" ( if you'll pardon the clumsy analogy ) ?

NRL will nurture talent in London so that they can harvest it and take the pick of the crop? And a by product of that is that there will be an overall better standard left behind ( rising tide and all that) ?

Apologies for my ignorance but I 'm struggling to see what's going on here ( or might go on here). It's the eve of what could be exciting news but I'm suddenly finding myself all at sea! 

The NRL thinks strategically. They realise sport is about players, not crowd figures.

I don’t think it’s an accident that PNG, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have got stronger in the past decade. Money has gone into Pacific pathways (including New Zealand).

The IRL is now targeting France and Wales, and we’ll see tomorrow the plans for London. 

In my view, it’s all part of a wider plan to develop the player base - ultimately - for the NRL.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

13 minutes ago, SinBinSid said:

 

You’re not wrong, Deano. Public interest is key. No crowds, no cash, no club. But it’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation. You need something worth watching to spark that interest in the first place.  Londoners will turn up for rugby league if it’s done right - there’s been that appetite before.  THere's even the first Ashes Test in October placed here in the smoke too, which was a massive injection eevn for somewhere as big as Wembley Stadium.  The issue has always been poor ambition from the club.

If tomorrow’s news brings a clear plan, proper backing, and a club people can believe in, then the interest can grow. But it has to be earned. Londoners won’t just show up because someone sticks “Broncos” on a shirt – they need a reason to care. Hopefully that’s finally what’s coming

You get that through kids playing and watching the game. They need to feel a sense of belonging as you (and others ) have stated. Fingers crossed.

[SinBinSid]

7 minutes ago, Coggo said:

The NRL thinks strategically. They realise sport is about players, not crowd figures.

I don’t think it’s an accident that PNG, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have got stronger in the past decade. Money has gone into Pacific pathways (including New Zealand).

The IRL is now targeting France and Wales, and we’ll see tomorrow the plans for London. 

In my view, it’s all part of a wider plan to develop the player base - ultimately - for the NRL.

That’s a really good point, Coggo. I hadn’t connected the dots like you, but it makes a lot of sense. The NRL has been quietly building talent pipelines for years, and it’s working looking at how strong the Pacific nations are these days and how many of their players are thriving in top competitions.

If London is next on the map, then we’ve got to make sure the infrastructure is in place to actually support that development. That means local clubs, schools, and coaches being involved from the start, not just dropping in academies and hoping for the best. Investing in pathways here could be huge, but it needs to be a proper partnership, not just a talent grab. Done right, it could lift the whole southern game, not just the Broncos. Let’s hope tomorrow is the start of something with that long-term vision in mind.

[Coggo]

2 minutes ago, SinBinSid said:

That’s a really good point, Coggo. I hadn’t connected the dots like you, but it makes a lot of sense. The NRL has been quietly building talent pipelines for years, and it’s working looking at how strong the Pacific nations are these days and how many of their players are thriving in top competitions.

If London is next on the map, then we’ve got to make sure the infrastructure is in place to actually support that development. That means local clubs, schools, and coaches being involved from the start, not just dropping in academies and hoping for the best. Investing in pathways here could be huge, but it needs to be a proper partnership, not just a talent grab. Done right, it could lift the whole southern game, not just the Broncos. Let’s hope tomorrow is the start of something with that long-term vision in mind.

Yes, it’s back to development officers, schools, amateur clubs. It’s certainly not about pumping millions into what is frankly the husk of a club that is the Broncos.

Someone told me last month that the RFL has one development officer for the whole of the South and Midlands. That’s the first thing that has to change, starting tomorrow!