Meet the team facing almost certain relegation with a caretaker coach and a winger back in the top flight after a decade away
This month London Broncos begin their fifth spell in rugby league’s top flight since they formed in 1980. Unless something extraordinary happens off the pitch, it will be the fourth time they only last a season, thanks to being ranked 24th by IMG in the new club grading system where only the top 12 will remain in Super League for 2025. It is a situation I believe unprecedented in British sporting history.
The national newspaper rugby league writer who questioned whether they will win a game will not be alone. Competition sponsors BetFred have London 3-1 to finish bottom. That’s 3-1 on, not against. But there are different types of wooden spoon. Given their inexperience and lack of spending this winter, it would not take the most pessimistic fan to envisage another campaign like 2014 when the Baby Broncs’ – 24 of the squad were aged 21 or under when it began – only win of the season came at the 25th attempt. One of those greenhorns was Iliess Macani, who soon after turning 20 was making his first team debut in Super League.