London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:28 pm  

London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? Some things seem to remain constant in Super League. Hull FC are the perennial under achievers, Leeds season comes alive in the play-offs where as Warrington’s goes to pot, and then there are the trials and tribulations of the London Broncos. Once more the talk about the Capital’s only professional Rugby League club has been unsurprisingly negative given the precarious position they have found themselves in over the close season. One in which their very existence was threatened like never before with no home ground or training facility to use, a threadbare playing roster and back room staff. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? Some things seem to remain constant in Super League. Hull FC are the perennial under achievers, Leeds season comes alive in the play-offs where as Warrington’s goes to pot, and then there are the trials and tribulations of the London Broncos. Once more the talk about the Capital’s only professional Rugby League club has been unsurprisingly negative given the precarious position they have found themselves in over the close season. One in which their very existence was threatened like never before with no home ground or training facility to use, a threadbare playing roster and back room staff. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:45 pm  

Which is why the return of P & R so some ex pit village with a SL team within 10 miles of it can get promoted is absolutely ridiculous. Should follow the Aussie model, once you are in you are in, end off, and then build from there.

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:38 pm  

Fresh start id say but due to late nature of deal with barnet the same old struggles may well have have followed them only time will tell. Im hoping for a NZ warriors 2001 like type scenario all the warriors had was Stacey Jones and 12 other players and a ground and debt, new owners came in, new coach, smarter recruitment within there budget of certain types of players, new marketing approach...from "loyal to the bitter end" changed to "its a matter of faith", new sponsors, changed name from Auckland warriors to NZ warriors... made semi's that year unexpectedly and the grand final a year or 2 later.

hope bronco's over next couple of years emulate something similar to that and if not that they have a plan B if relegated. Bronco's used to be London crusaders in 2nd division they did ok at that level getting crowds around the 1,000 mark. If relegated under new system you can win your spot back and london stll needs representation in any 2nd division, This clubs been around 30 years in different forms and does have some loyal and passionate fans and ex players and staff all around the world, there would be a bit of dormant support in London who could be won back by better results, off field organization and marketing etc and Londons a huge place so thinking optimistically there is no shortage of potential new fans to try and attract.


I'd like to see a coordinated marketing drive organised with RFL, Skysports, other media partners, sponsors of the game, local governments, bronco's, skolars, hemel, all golds form a London and the south rugby league events group to promote the sport in the London and the south for test matches, challenge cup final other big league events in london and the south, also there to promote and cross promote Bronco's, skolars, hemel, and all golds games to promote to potential fans and lift media profile and boost participation at youth an amateur level in the area. Funding in full or part by the RFL of london youth academy with players who graduate going to the bronco's, skolars, hemel etc or clubs in the north if need be. these initiative need to set up with a 10 year plan and funding locked in. Its not about the broncos in particular but they wiil get a lot out of it. Its about promoting rugby league in London and the south from big one off event level to super league and or championship, academy to local amatuers. Something like this was done in Melbourne with rugby league with the big events, melbourne storm and local development all tied in and it needs to be done in london whatever happens to the bronco's!

and i would like the Bronco's to do better than predicted and beat relegation zone, a semi final spot would be amazing but whatever happens it will be interesting so people need to concentrate on the positive

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:42 am  

There are no new investors, we are renting yet another ground, we've let most of the back office staff go, are being marketed by the landlord, who gets EXTRA rent if he attracts more fans, but who gets rent all the same and we are still owned by a megalomaniac with a puppet as his CEO and we have assembled a team of cast offs and youthful exuberance in the hope of avoiding the drop into a division that this years squad would do well to finish in the top half of.....
....without a shadow of a doubt, 2014 is the Year of the Bronco....

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:36 pm  

Paddock Punter wrote:

Which is why the return of P & R so some ex pit village with a SL team within 10 miles of it can get promoted is absolutely ridiculous. Should follow the Aussie model, once you are in you are in, end off, and then build from there.

Fair enough maybe it would have been shut of but teams continue to struggle.
Like yourself s always moving no fans and money worries constantly how can this be good for the game.
You should drop down have a great season win a league and build your fan base.
People keep going on about how your youth is getting better and all the good work thats been done so why are you still so dependent on Aussies.
Like i said my opinion you need to rebuild from the bottom

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:40 pm  

outrun wrote:

People keep going on about how your youth is getting better and all the good work thats been done so why are you still so dependent on Aussies.

Oh dear I'll nibble anyway!
Have a look at the team sheets for the games v Catalans and Leeds over the last couple of weeks.....I believe the only member of the Criminal Element we had is our coach!

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:10 pm  

outrun! have to agree with gutters here!
Hmmm leeds team 4 from aus or NZ and a PNG international in that team we played.
We have the same rules as everyone else

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:44 am  

gutterfax wrote:

Oh dear I'll nibble anyway!
Have a look at the team sheets for the games v Catalans and Leeds over the last couple of weeks.....I believe the only member of the Criminal Element we had is our coach!

Not interested in the friendly matches im talking about the bigger picture.
Moving grounds constantly money troubles and low crowds year after year.
They are the facts !!!!!
And ill reserve judgement on your aus imports and team sheets when you come our gaff a week Sunday

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:18 am  

outrun wrote:

Not interested in the friendly matches im talking about the bigger picture.

Well, actually my little newbie, you were the one who declared we were reliant on Aussies. All I did was point out your error.

outrun wrote:

Moving grounds constantly

Yep.....on our 4th official "home" now in 19 seasons of SL....that's every Superleague season BTW

outrun wrote:

money troubles

Ah....a Widnes fan throwing stones in a glass house.....whatever next?

outrun wrote:

and low crowds year after year.

Yet we are debt free....go figure.

outrun wrote:

They are the facts !!!!!

Did you feel the need to add this after your earlier claim about reliance on Aussies was shown to be total fiction?

outrun wrote:

And ill reserve judgement on your aus imports and team sheets

well, I am sure that Knock-down Nigel and the rest of the RFL will rest easy knowing you have reserved judgement. As it stands, we have the same allowance as the rest of SL when it comes to overseas players.......but you reserve away

outrun wrote:

when you come our gaff a week Sunday

Ah....YOUR gaff is it? I could have sworn it was owned by the Council. Still, at least you have always played there......I mean, your earlier quip about other stadiums and moving would look really stupid if Widnes had moved a number of times before settling in the council owned stadium they rent now.

I too am looking forward to the seasons start. Widnes are the only current SL team we have a positive record against, having beaten you 12 times in 20 meetings. I suspect a Widnes win by 24 points to be the outcome, but it is the performance of the London side not crammed with Aussies that will be of most interest........are Phelps, Galea, Hanbury, Ah Van, Cahill, Isa and Leuluai all expected to start are they? That's 7 ANZACS there......I believe we might have 2 or possibly 3 on Sunday week at the Council owned stadium you play out of

Re: London – Fresh New Start Or Same Old Struggles? : Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:04 am  

Ha ha ha no excuse for awful attendances after 18 superleague seasons.we've always played there it was built for widnes rlfc and the local community.because the council knew they would get people through the gates.we will show u what a decent home crowd should look like next week bring it.o and when u did used to beat us in seasons gone by I'm shure u had over the quota on more than 1 occasion.