LONDON BRONCOS coach Mike Eccles is looking forward to having fullback Alex Walker – and the rest of his players – firing on all cylinders.
The capital club have had a tricky pre-season adjusting to the departure of long-time financial backer David Hughes in the wake of their exit from Super League.
Eccles is still putting a squad together, but managed to field a side who gave hosts Bradford a test in the opening round of the league programme.
The Broncos were 6-4 up before eventually being beaten 20-6, with Walker playing only his second game since June after recovering from injury.
The first was the 17-10 Challenge Cup second-round defeat by Goole in January, and Eccles pointed out: “That was the only game of any kind we had played, so we were massively undercooked going to Bradford, and it showed.
“Even so, we were disappointed with the result, because while we have progress to make in terms of match fitness and combinations, we let ourselves down for a period in the second half.
“Had we been able to dig in a little bit more, we might have come away with something.
“We don’t want pats on the back for working hard, we want wins.”
The Broncos played two new halfbacks in Australians Luke Polselli, an Italy international signed from Queensland Cup team Sunshine Coast Falcons, and Connor O’Beirne, who helped Maitland Pickers win last year’s Newcastle Rugby League title.
They also had a new hooker in Wales international Curtis Davies, who has joined from Dewsbury, and Eccles added: “It’s a new spine, and I thought there were some exciting combinations which will come together with more matches.
“We couldn’t quite find that extra gear to push on in the second half, but with time, we will be able to.”
Eccles has signed former Leeds and Hull winger Liam Tindall and taken teenage Wigan loose-forward Taylor Kerr on loan.
And the club has entered a dual-registration partnership with Cornwall.