JASON DEMETRIOU has highlighted the three key points which persuaded him to return to England and join the bold new London Broncos project.
Between 2000 and 2012, the 49-year-old Australian played for Lancashire Lynx, Rochdale, Widnes, Wakefield and Keighley, also coaching the Cougars.
Since then, he has worked on the staff at North Queensland Cowboys, St George Illawarra Dragons and Brisbane Broncos as well as having a spell in charge of South Sydney Rabbitohs.
He is the current coach of Papua New Guinea who, having won this year’s Pacific Bowl, are being tipped to make a mark at next year’s World Cup.
And by the time the big tournament comes around, Demetriou hopes to have guided London to success in the new-look Championship, so underpinning the capital club’s claims for a return to Super League.
Bankrolled by new Australian owners Darren Lockyer, the Brisbane legend, and mining magnate Grant Wechsel, London have brought in Demetriou on a three-year contract and lured Danny Ward back to the club as his assistant after he played his part in Hull KR’s treble triumph this year.
Former coach Mike Eccles has been made director of rugby, and an impressive and mainly full-time squad, so far including six Papua New Guineans as well as former New South Wales and Australia prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, has been assembled.
As revealed by League Express, Demetriou and his players will work at the impressive Hazelwood training complex in Surrey, which was once used by rugby union club London Irish.
Telling Sky Sports of the process which led to his appointment, Demetriou said: “I got a phone call from Locky, and he asked if I’d go back to England. I said yes, but I would need a few boxes ticked first.
“He asked what they were, and I said one, I would want a direct relationship with the owners, two, I’d want to know there’s a business plan to grow the club, off the field as well as on, and three, I’d want to know it’s a long-term investment.
“He invited me to Brisbane to talk with him and Grant some more, and I was blown away by their enthusiasm, professionalism and plans.
“I have always felt the game over here needs a strong presence in London, and it’s a privilege to be able to lead the investment they are putting in.”