The 2019 London Broncos season was the 40th in the club's history and their first season back in the Super League. Competing in Super League XXIV, the club was coached by Danny Ward, finishing in 12th place and reaching the Fourth Round of the 2019 Challenge Cup. They were relegated on points difference on the final day of the season.
It was their fourth at the Trailfinders Sports Ground, competing in the Super League for the first time since 2014. Danny Ward was assisted by former England and Great Britain international, Jamie Langley for the second consecutive season, and picked Jay Pitts as captain for a second campaign.
The month began with London Broncos making their eagerly awaited return to the Betfred Super League and a home fixture against Wakefield Trinity. An inauspicious start saw the hosts trail 18-6 after the game's first quarter, Matty Fleming's close range riposte the only score to counter a quick fire three try salvo from the visitors but four point doubles from Rhys Williams and the irrepressible Eddie Battye were added too by tries for Kieran Dixon, Matty Fozard on his London Broncos Super League debut and Elliot Kear as the southern based outfit earned a memorable (42-24) come from behind victory.[4][5][6]
The Broncos travelled north a week later to play Salford Red Devils in their first away fixture, and despite a gutsy defensive effort the Londoners return south on the wrong end of a (0-24) score line.[7]
Another battling display, on the road at Hull Kingston Rovers the following Sunday is not enough to prevent Danny Ward's men falling to a second defeat of the season (12-22). A converted Matty Gee try in quick response to an early opener for the hosts had the Londoners narrowly ahead at half time, but a hat-trick of four-pointers early in the second stanza from the home side are enough to secure the spoils for Tim Sheens' Robins, despite a late try from Broncos captain Jay Pitts and goal from Kieran Dixon, the latter's 100th for the club.[8]
After successive Sunday road trips the London Broncos returned to Ealing six days later, and a match against much fancied Castleford Tigers in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras. A never-say-die performance from the Broncos on an unseasonably warm late winter Saturday evening ultimately proved fruitless as the West Yorkshiremen reaffirmed their credentials as genuine contenders for the end of season Super League Grand Final, running in seven tries during a scintillating exhibition of fast open rugby to condemn the Londoners to defeat (6-40), the hosts only score coming from leading try-scorer, Rhys Williams early on in the contest.[9]
One afternoon the London Broncos set a new ground attendance record, as 2,586 witnessed an enthralling contest with the Londoners battling back from an early two try deficit to narrowly defeat the 22-time champions (18-16).[10][11] Four point scores by Eddie Battye and Matty Gee are added too by two conversions from Kieran Dixon to have the home side narrowly in front at the break (12-10), and the latter soon increased the advantage early in the second half with a trademark length of the field effort. The lead stretched to eight as Kieran Dixon then added a penalty, and despite a converted try by former Bronco star Tony Clubb for the visitors, Danny Ward's men held firm for a famous victory to move them up to ninth position in the Super League table.
Preparations for the next fixture, away at St. Helens had been severely disrupted by injuries to key players. Captain, Jay Pitts and on loan St. Helens centre, Ryan Morgan had left the field during the Wigan Warriors victory, and when the squad was announced in midweek, Kieran Dixon, James Cunningham and Nathan Mason were further notable absentees. On a wet and blustery Friday evening in England's northwest, the Broncos battled gamely, and a now trademark defensive display from Danny Ward's men kept the southerners in the contest for long periods, although ultimately could not prevent a (0-26) loss as St. Helens returned to the summit of the early season league ladder.[12]
The following week, the Broncos came from behind to triumph at Leeds Rhinos, and a second (18–16) Super League victory inside a fortnight. The Broncos, buoyed by a return to the starting line-up of skipper, Jay Pitts, James Cunningham and Kieran Dixon led 8–0 at half time, thanks to a try from the captain and four points from the trusty boot of the last-mentioned. The lead was not to last though, and 16 unanswered points for the hosts saw the visitors trailing as the match entered its final six minutes before a dramatic late rally garnered tries for Matty Fozard and Will Lovell, the latter converted by Kieran Dixon, which managed to turn defeat into victory and silence the majority of the 11,000 plus crowd inside the Headingley Stadium.[13]
London Broncos went in search of a fourth league victory of the campaign in their next Super League contest, at home to Hull F.C. On a beautiful early spring Sunday afternoon, and before another respectable crowd of 2,357 the hosts began brightly and finished strongly. Elliot Kear and Éloi Pélissier tries had Danny Ward's troops ahead at the break (14-10), while late four pointers from Jordan Abdull and leading try scorer, Rhys Williams left the visitors hanging on in a frantic finale. However, a slow start to the second stanza extended into a near half hour unproductive spell for the home side with the Black & Whites registering 18 unanswered points, a period that ultimately proved decisive in the final reckoning as the Londoners slipped to a narrow (24-28) reversal.[14]
Well-founded optimism generated from the brave loss to Hull F.C. preceded the next Super League fixture a week later, another home clash, against lowly but improving Huddersfield Giants. The upbeat mood was soon to be displaced after kick-off by the rampant visitors however, who left the Broncos spending the majority of the first half going backwards much as the clocks had done earlier in the day to signal British Summer Time, as the Yorkshiremen registered five tries. The hosts only response had been a wonderful 50 metre solo effort from full back, Alex Walker and a try from erstwhile captain, Jay Pitts, the skipper's four pointer just prior to the interval restoring hope amongst the home faithful. This was further reinforced by another long range Rhys Williams score early in the second half, the leading marksmen's fifth try of the campaign, but the away side were soon to extinguish any realistic aspirations of an unlikely comeback and the remainder of the contest saw the teams trade four tries, a Kieran Dixon brace in a season-best-to-date fourteen point personal haul unable to prevent a (26-38) defeat.[15]
London Broncos returned to Super League action on the month's first Friday, with a fixture away at high-flying Warrington Wolves. The much changed Londoners, with local products, James Meadows and Matt Davies making their top-flight debuts began brightly, but crucially failed to turn possession into points during a competitive opening forty minutes, and despite managing to cross the whitewash twice in the second half courtesy of Nathan Mason and Matty Gee, Danny Ward's outfit ultimately fell to a brave (12-48) loss in front of a healthy crowd of 11,718, to leave the Broncos in eleventh position and the Wolves top of the twelve team Super League table.[16]
Catalans Dragons rolled into London town on Maundy Thursday, and the London Broncos were to suffer a fourth Super League defeat in succession. The hosts had begun brightly on a lovely spring evening before a combination of individual errors and a sickening injury to Jordan Abdull severely disrupted their rhythm, and helped contribute to a second half to forget as the Broncos fell to a disappointing (6-39) loss, the only consolation being a Mark Ioane try.[18]
The search for an elusive fourth Super League league victory of the campaign continued on Easter Monday with a trip to Huddersfield Giants. The Broncos played their full part in an exciting contest right up until the final hooter, and with the score poised at (19-24) following tries from skipper, Jay Pitts, Rhys Williams, Ryan Morgan and a Morgan Smith field goal, Alex Walker was denied a late potentially match winning under the sticks try by an ever vigilant in-goal touch judge.[19]
London Broncos poor spell extended to the last Saturday of the month with another home defeat, this time at the hands of away day specialists, Salford Red Devils.
The visitors, fresh from a stunning Good Friday victory at Grand Final aspirants, Warrington Wolves on their last road trip repeated the trick at the Ealing Trailfinders Sports Ground, as they ran in four unanswered tries in a one-sided first half. The Broncos hinted at a comeback in the second forty, scoring first and last, through leading try-scorer Rhys Williams and Matty Fleming, but the damage had long been irreparable as the Broncos were downed (10-30) to remain bottom of the Super League table ahead a trip to champions, Wigan Warriors in front of the Sky Sports cameras on the first Thursday in May.[20]
May
With the season edging towards its mid-point London Broncos travelled to Wigan Warriors, and in front of a national TV audience acquitted themselves admirably. Man of the match Australian import, Luke Yates spearheaded a heroic defensive performance as he completed an impressive 62 tackles, although ultimately a first half try from Jay Pitts, the skipper's fifth of the campaign, and a goal and penalty from the reliable boot of Kieran Dixon were to prove insufficient as the Londoners succumbed to a narrow (8-18) defeat.[21]
Following a mid-season interlude to afford an enthralling weekend of sixth round Challenge Cup action, London Broncos resumed Super League hostilities on the month's middle weekend, playing host to Wakefield Trinity for a second time in 2019.
Buoyed by victory over the West Yorkshiremen on the season's opening day, and looking for a first win in nine, London Broncos impressed during a dominant first half display, notching five tries. Four of these came from the increasingly influential Jordan Abdull, whilst the other was scored by Rhys Williams, the 100th of the Welshmen's prolific career with the Broncos.
The Londoners began the second half in similar vein, and another Rhys Williams four pointer was added to by a Kieran Dixon brace, the second a trademark length of the field effort, scores which were ultimately sufficient to withstand a late four try in five minutes Wakefield Trinity riposte as London Broncos registered two crucial points with a (42-34) victory.[22]
The Broncos in action against the Leeds Rhinos at Anfield
London Broncos headed to Anfield for the Magic Weekend in fine fettle, level on points with fellow strugglers Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds Rhinos and an intriguing match-up with the latter, who had recently dispensed with the services of coach, David Furner. In the event a slow start to each half was to prove extremely costly for the Londoners as they fell to a narrow (22-24) reversal despite a brace from the in-form Jordan Abdull and further tries from Ryan Morgan and the much sought after Alex Walker.[23]
June
Following another enforced weekend break to accommodate the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, London Broncos returned to Super League action to entertain long time leaders St. Helens on the month's second Sunday, and a new Trailfinders Sports Ground RL record attendance of 2,801 witnessed history as the Londoners recorded their first-ever golden point extra-time victory.
The portents for the hosts were not good early on as the visitors raced into a (12-0) lead, although converted home scores from on loan St. Helens centre, Ryan Morgan and a fine individual effort by James Cunningham had managed to restore equality by the interval. The away side were to edge ahead again early in the second half with an unconverted try, but a second Ryan Morgan effort and a sixth four-pointer of the season from Jay Pitts, a goal scored by Kieran Dixon looked to have secured an unlikely home victory, only for St. Helens to hit back in the last minute to level the scores at (22-22) apiece through a Regan Grace try and a Danny Richardson conversion off the left-hand touchline.
London Broncos were not to be denied however, and two minutes into extra-time a St. Helens error coming away from their own goal line afforded the Southerners excellent field position, and when the ball was funnelled back to Morgan Smith he managed to shovel the ball between the sticks for a memorable drop goal, to kick-start scenes of joyous celebrations for all connected with the London club on another unforgettable afternoon in West London.[24]
With confidence high and passports at the ready London Broncos travelled next to face third placed Catalans Dragons the following Saturday evening, looking to register back to back Super League victories for the first time in 2019.
Hull Kingston Rovers surprise home win over second-placed Warrington Wolves earlier in the day had once again left the Broncos marooned at the bottom of the table, but this did nothing to deter the capital side from producing a spectacular display of attacking rugby to demolish the French outfit, a Rhys Williams double, taking his tally for the season to eleven, was added to by further scores from Kieran Dixon, Elliot Kear and man of the match Jordan Abdull, enough to see the visitors record an eye-catching (30-12) victory.[25]
The triumph in the south of France lifted the London Broncos competition points tally to twelve and had drawn them back level again with Hull Kingston Rovers and Leeds Rhinos, ahead of a crucial Sky Sports televised fixture against the East Hull side at Ealing's Trailfinders Sports Ground five days later. London Broncos were to dominate the majority of the opening stanza and led 8-0 close to half time, a Morgan Smith try, his first for the club, sandwiched between two penalties from the ever reliable boot of Kieran Dixon. The visitors, under the tutelage of the recently appointed, Tony Smith needed a riposte, and energised by a large travelling contingent, hit a purple patch either side of the interval, scoring three unanswered converted tries to leave the Broncos trailing by ten with little over half an hour left. Hull born Broncos playmaker, Jordan Abdull remained determined to showcase his skills in front of a wider TV audience and kept the hosts in the contest, Alex Walker soon reducing the deficit at the back end of a set which followed a game-changing 40/20 from the former, before the talented stand-off himself was given a benefit of doubt four point score, following a close hand-on-ball first video referee referral. Kieran Dixon added the extras to both scores to nudge the hosts back into a tenuous lead they were not to lose for a second time, a converted 75th minute Rob Butler effort, his first for the club, eventually proving sufficient despite an even later Hull Kingston Rovers' six point score. The final whistle heralded a release of tension and sparked wild celebrations, similar to those of eleven days earlier following the St. Helens home victory, and a third consecutive win (26-24) had hauled London Broncos from the foot of the Super League table for the first time in three months, ahead of a Sunday away trip to play-off chasing Castleford Tigers on the month's last day.[26]
London Broncos winning run came to an abrupt halt in West Yorkshire, as a rampant Castleford Tigers registered forty points against the capital outfit for a second time in 2019, tries from Kieran Dixon, another stunning length of the field sprint, and a 12th of the campaign from leading marksmen, Rhys Williams providing little comfort as the Broncos fell to a disappointing (10-42)[27] reversal, a result which consigned them back to the bottom of the Super League table, albeit level on 14 competition points with Hull Kingston Rovers, Huddersfield Giants, and Leeds Rhinos with nine matches of the regular season remaining.
July
The first Saturday of the month saw London Broncos play host to second placed Warrington Wolves, and in front of another good crowd (2,357) it was the visitors who were to return to Cheshire with a resounding victory following an impressive six try first half display, a Matty Fozard second half effort ultimately proving to be of scant consolation as the Broncos slid to their sixth home reversal of the campaign (6-36).[28]
London Broncos were back in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras the following Thursday as they travelled north to the KCOM Stadium, home of third in the table, Hull F.C. Injuries were beginning to take their toll on Danny Ward's team, and a much changed line-up saw Kieran Dixon revert to full back in place of Alex Walker, whilst other notable absentees included Ryan Morgan, Morgan Smith, Greg Richards, Nathan Mason and Éloi Pélissier. The changes seemingly had an adverse effect on the capital side in a one-sided first half and London Broncos were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat as they headed into the sheds at the break on the wrong end of a (0-34) score line. However, a stirring second half performance not only kept their hosts try less, but four point scores from Matty Fleming, Jordan Abdull against his former club, and a late double from Sadiq Adebiyi ensured respectability despite another loss (22-35).[29]
Adebiyi scored a brace of tries away at Hull FC in July
Sat two points adrift of the field despite a number of sterling performances London Broncos needed a lift going into their final seven matches of the campaign, and they found it in unusual circumstances as St. Helens Head Coach, Justin Holbrook revealed in a press conference during the lead up to their Round 23 fixture that he intended to field a virtual second-string side against London Broncos, citing a recent run of demanding matches, and an upcoming Challenge Cup semi-final against Championship club, Halifax R.L.F.C. as mitigating factors.
London Broncos were to take full advantage of the opportunity to register an unlikely home double over the runaway league leaders, and a stellar five try display swept them to their biggest victory of the season; a brace from former Saint, Matty Fleming and efforts from Luke Yates, Alex Walker and Matty Gee enough to see the hosts record a well-deserved (32-12) win over a youthful and determined St. Helens.[30]
The month began with a second visit of the season of play-off chasing Salford Red Devils to Trailfinders Sports Ground with London Broncos looking to avenge two earlier defeats against the Manchester-based side, and hoping to maintain pressure on the four relegation threatened teams immediately above them in the Super League table.
The ensuing break for the Challenge Cup semi-finals (won by St. Helens and Warrington Wolves) had seen Head Coach, Danny Ward strengthen his squad for the final six matches of the campaign with the recruitment of highly rated former NRL rookie, Brock Lamb. The Australian's debut was not to be one to remember though as the Broncos succumbed to a heavy (28-58) defeat,[31] 36 of those points yielded prior to half time to an impressive Red Devils outfit which effectively ended the game as a contest, the home side's only riposte, a length of the field interception try from Rhys Williams, the Welshman's 13th of the season. To their credit, the Londoners battled gamely in the second half and were rewarded with three further four point scores through Matty Fleming, Sadiq Adebiyi and Rob Butler, but the weekend was to end with London Broncos two points adrift of the field following Hull KR's dramatic (27-26) golden point victory over Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos (44-0) away success at Huddersfield Giants.
The following Saturday evening saw London Broncos return to the Mend-A-Hose-Jungle, home to Castleford Tigers and scene of a heavy Round 20 reversal at the end of June which had ended a season best three match winning streak.
The Broncos were to lose again, although this time the contest was much closer, and they led (6-4) at the break following recent Sydney Roosters signing, Brock Lamb's first try for the club. A resolute defensive effort in the second stanza kept the capital outfit firmly in the game, although the hosts were eventually to score 16 unanswered points, leaving the visitors to return south down the M1 on the wrong end of a (6-20) score line.[32]
London Broncos were on their travels the following weekend too, returning to the south of France looking for a repeat of the stunning Round 18 victory over Catalans Dragons nine weeks previous.
Kieran Dixon was standout in a terrific team performance as the Broncos registered a memorable away league double, racing the length of the field to add to an earlier penalty, and his impressive touchline conversion saw the capital outfit lead (8-0) inside the game's opening ten minutes, an advantage they would maintain until the interval. Catalans Dragons hinted at a comeback soon after the break, crossing for an unconverted try, but a sweeping move orchestrated on the Broncos left hand edge ended with Alex Walker touching down under the sticks, the full-back's fifth try of the campaign, and with Kieran Dixon adding the extras and another penalty for home side indiscretion soon after, the contest was as good as over, confirmed when Brock Lamb slotted a long range drop goal, his first for the club.[33]
The fortnight interlude had given London Broncos plenty of time to re-energise following their exertions in the heat of the South of France, as they prepared to play host to fellow strugglers, Leeds Rhinos in the final home fixture of the season.
A sunlit first Sunday afternoon of the month, and a season best and Trailfinders Sports Ground rugby league record crowd of 3,051 embraced the players, although it would be the large contingent of travelling fans who ended much the happier, their team scoring three tries in each half to all but secure the Rhinos'Super League status. The Broncos battled gamely as ever, and trailing (0-18) at the break briefly threatened another notable comeback early in the second half, a length of the field effort by speedster, Kieran Dixon following a trademark interception was followed quickly by a fifth try of the campaign by centre, Ryan Morgan to reduce the deficit to eight, but the West Yorkshiremen could not be denied as the Capital outfit ultimately ran out of steam to succumb to a (10-36) defeat.[34]
The loss left the London Broncos two points adrift of the pack after Hull KR and Huddersfield Giants gained unlikely away wins at Catalans Dragons and Hull F.C. respectively, and due to a significant adverse points difference, having to realistically win their remaining two matches to secure their own top flight safety.
London Broncos visited Hull KR the following Friday evening, the match brought forward from Sunday afternoon to accommodate Sky Sports TV coverage, and with their season on the line the team produced an outstanding performance to dramatically defeat their relegation threatened hosts.
The southerners began the match on the front foot and two quick-fire tries from Matty Gee and Brock Lamb, the latter, whose sublime off the floor pass had set up the former's opener, were twelve points to the good inside the game's opening ten minutes. It was a lead they would hold onto until the interval, despite a converted home try midway through the half. Kieran Dixon had increased the advantage to (14-6) with a penalty just prior to the break, but any thoughts of a comfortable win were soon dispelled as Broncos’ tenuous advantage was wiped out within eleven minutes of the restart as the Robins sought their own safety salvation. Trailing (14-16) and with time fast becoming their enemy, the normally reliable Kieran Dixon missed a kickable penalty albeit from distance, although ultimately it would not prove costly, as with less than three minutes left on the clock and camped under the backdrop of their own sticks, Danny Ward's men exploded up field thanks to a penetrating run from Aussie, Ryan Morgan, eventually dotting down on the left hand edge through erstwhile skipper, Jay Pitts, on the sixth and last tackle of a set they had to score from to retain any chance of saving themselves from an immediate return to the championship.
Kieran Dixon improved the score and London Broncos held on for a famous (20-16) victory,[35] moving them onto 20 competition points, the same number as Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants, and Wakefield Trinity to whom they would travel a week later for the last game of a riveting season, the fixture brought forward from the Sunday afternoon to the Friday evening, to align with matches involving the other clubs embroiled in the relegation battle, and to accommodate another Sky Sports telecast.
London Broncos emerged from the Mobile Rocket Stadium dressing rooms in the knowledge their fate remained very much in their own hands, and spurred on by an impressive travelling contingent of 250 supporters who had travelled the 184 miles up the M1 motorway on a clear blue sky Friday afternoon. Trailing to an early penalty the southern outfit defended resolutely to remain firmly in the contest, but crucially failed to take advantage of a couple of well worked first half opportunities, and as the balmy night wore on suspicion grew that the match might eventually prove to be a bridge too far for Danny Ward's battlers, a thought reaffirmed soon after 9.30pm as the hooter sounded to signal defeat (10-19),[36] tries by Alex Walker and Brock Lamb coming too late to positively affect the outcome for the Londoners.
The regular season ended with London Broncos level on 20 competition points with year-long rivals, Hull KR, who also lost, at Salford Red Devils, although a decisive 62 on field points differential was ultimately the determining factor that saw the club relinquish their hard earned Super League status gained eleven months previous in the Million Pound Game victory over Toronto Wolfpack.
Matty Fleming's first points for London Broncos came when crossing the whitewash for the club's opening try of the 2019 season, in the (42-24) Round 1 home victory over Wakefield Trinity.
London Broncos (18-16) Round 6 victory over Leeds Rhinos was the capital sides' first victory at Headingley Stadium since a (36-26) triumph on 25 February 2011 (as Harlequins RL).
London Broncos announce Olsi Krasniqi has signed a two-year contract with the club, effective from the start of the 2020 season.[46]
London Broncos announce Guy Armitage has switched codes and signed a contract with the club for the remainder of the 2019 campaign and the 2020 season.[47]
Olsi Krasniqi made his 100th appearance for the London Broncos in the Round 26 away success at Catalans Dragons. First spell: 2010–2014, 92 appearances, Second spell: 2019, 8 appearances.
London Broncos announce Daniel Hindmarsh has signed a new two-year contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2021 season.[49]
London Broncos announce Eddie Battye has agreed a new two-year contract with the club that will see him stay in the capital until the end of the 2021 season.[50]
Luke Yates made 63 tackles during the Round 28 win at Hull KR, a season high to date, and only three short of the club record of 66 Steele Retchless registered against Bradford Bulls in the 1998 Super League competition. The same player made 62 tackles in the Round 14 loss to Wigan Warriors in May.
8, Round 7 to Round 14. Includes the defeat at Halifax R.L.F.C. in Challenge Cup Round 5, but excludes Round 10 reversal at Hull Kingston Rovers which was brought forward and played after Round 2.
