Well we've signed some of the trialists & got some young lads on loan so we have something of a squad. Question is, are Bradford, the RFL's favoured son, stronger than last year, which they look like they are, even with Meadows in the team or are Cas no longer classy? In any event a good win for Bradford. Anything other than a fairly heavy defeat would be a surprise & certainly our experienced forwards can't afford to be as poor as they were against Goole. Ever the pessimist, Bradford by 4 scores.

hard to argue. Feel like their outside backs will run all over ours.

Heart says Broncos, head says Bulls… and head usually wins! The two Warrington loanees (Jake Thewlis and Zac Bardsley Rowe) should help stiffen up the Broncos’ pack if they get into the final 17 (do we still have the Wigan pair of youngsters, Kian McDermott & Lukas Mason, available for selection?). We have to be better prepared than against Goole in the Cup. If those lads bring some aggression and go forward, it might stop Bradford from completely steamrolling through the middle which is key if London wants to keep this respectable. Cohesion is still a big issue, and one or two players alone won’t fix that overnight. It could still be a long day if the experienced forwards don’t step up. But if they hold their own and give the halves a platform, maybe the Broncos can at least ask a few questions. It should be an improved performance but whether that translates into a competitive scoreline is another matter! The two trialists getting recent contracts is a positive - at least it means they’ve shown something in pre-season to warrant a spot. But throwing them straight into a tough Round 1 clash is a big ask, especially when the team already lacks unity. If they bring energy and enthusiasm, that’s great, but they’ll need to step up fast to make a real impact. Ultimately, the Broncos’ pack still looks light compared to Bradford’s, so it’ll come down to whether the experienced forwards lead the way. If they don’t, the trialists and loanees could be in for a brutal introduction to Championship rugby league!

[quote="Torbreck":37tqne9f]Heart says Broncos, head says Bulls… and head usually wins! The two Warrington loanees (Jake Thewlis and Zac Bardsley Rowe) should help stiffen up the Broncos’ pack if they get into the final 17 (do we still have the Wigan pair of youngsters, Kian McDermott & Lukas Mason, available for selection?). We have to be better prepared than against Goole in the Cup. If those lads bring some aggression and go forward, it might stop Bradford from completely steamrolling through the middle which is key if London wants to keep this respectable. Cohesion is still a big issue, and one or two players alone won’t fix that overnight. It could still be a long day if the experienced forwards don’t step up. But if they hold their own and give the halves a platform, maybe the Broncos can at least ask a few questions. It should be an improved performance but whether that translates into a competitive scoreline is another matter! The two trialists getting recent contracts is a positive - at least it means they’ve shown something in pre-season to warrant a spot. But throwing them straight into a tough Round 1 clash is a big ask, especially when the team already lacks unity. If they bring energy and enthusiasm, that’s great, but they’ll need to step up fast to make a real impact. Ultimately, the Broncos’ pack still looks light compared to Bradford’s, so it’ll come down to whether the experienced forwards lead the way. If they don’t, the trialists and loanees could be in for a brutal introduction to Championship rugby league![/quote:37tqne9f] I thought the Wigan pair had signed for 5 weeks, so should be available. The Warrington pair appear to be wing & centre so hope they don't appear in the pack.

[quote="Deadcowboys1":1fp36vmf]I thought the Wigan pair had signed for 5 weeks, so should be available. The Warrington pair appear to be wing & centre so hope they don't appear in the pack.[/quote:1fp36vmf] Good to have a winger in our team.

Speaking of wingers what happened to Iliess Macani? Did he go to another club, not retained, or retired?

[quote="Deadcowboys1":jxfqotfs]Well we've signed some of the trialists & got some young lads on loan so we have something of a squad. Question is, are Bradford, the RFL's favoured son, stronger than last year, which they look like they are, even with Meadows in the team or are Cas no longer classy? In any event a good win for Bradford. Anything other than a fairly heavy defeat would be a surprise & certainly our experienced forwards can't afford to be as poor as they were against Goole. Ever the pessimist, Bradford by 4 scores.[/quote:jxfqotfs] I’m assuming a loss here, probably by a few, although not an embarrassing amount. For me the interest is how many, or if, we score. I think they are pretty good, our team is completely new and will take time so no shame in a reasonably sound away loss at this stage of the season but can we threaten? We did show some threat against L1 Goole but not nearly enough and that’s the area where we are weakest. Also hope we don’t pick up knocks- as in a few weeks time the really important games start depressingly Hunslet and Batley at home, Barrow, Fax and Donnie away.

[quote="Torbreck":e1o99b0n]Speaking of wingers what happened to Iliess Macani? Did he go to another club, not retained, or retired?[/quote:e1o99b0n] Had a run out for Wests in the Cup I think. Maybe the commitment of playing for London too much for the salary on offer and prefers amateur and focus on real life job? Who knows.

[quote="BigTime":mpf6qnlj]Had a run out for Wests in the Cup I think. Maybe the commitment of playing for London too much for the salary on offer and prefers amateur and focus on real life job? Who knows.[/quote:mpf6qnlj] I think he works as a personal trainer & playing some Union. Seems to have turned out against Leeds as a one off. Not too many players have more than 50 Broncos tries to their name & wouldn't mind having him back despite the odd defensive lapse. Whether the club want him & can reach an agreement is the big unknown.

[quote="Deadcowboys1":2gd58rj4] Bradford by 4 scores.[/quote:2gd58rj4] ....but what about after the first 20 minutes? Cannot see anything other than a thumping here. 50+ and worse to come at home

[quote="Torbreck":5photaxm]Speaking of wingers what happened to Iliess Macani? Did he go to another club, not retained, or retired?[/quote:5photaxm] I understand that Macani took offence to criticism leveled at him at the end of last season. He refused to sign for the club under the current management.

I cannot see a win either. However looking at how the poor the pitch was for the cup match last weekend and the forecast for rain and snow next Sunday. Which may be a leveler. That is if the game is not postponed.

[quote="Victor":10ityj88]I understand that Macani took offence to criticism leveled at him at the end of last season. He refused to sign for the club under the current management.[/quote:10ityj88] From Eccles? When was that? Seems a real shame. A bit poor not to mark his leaving after he did a real shift for us in previous years.

[quote="Victor":1povr280]I understand that Macani took offence to criticism leveled at him at the end of last season. He refused to sign for the club under the current management.[/quote:1povr280] That’s interesting Victor. I don’t think he disgraced himself in SL and scored a few. Really he’s a Championship player though and if we had undertaken a normal level of recruitment you would have expected that his game time would have been limited so feels a little harsh as he did his best. I had grave doubts when he was signed from Skolars but after a few iffy games he settled at the level well and has a winners medal to show for it. Shame too that Hoyes, who was identified as a good young prospect, has not gone on this year as he’d probably have got game time on wing as well. Really the risk/reward for playing RL PT in the south where the salary isn’t that impressive is a real issue now. Some real hardy souls travelling down from Wales to play. Got admire their grit.

[quote="the-bearded-lefty":izyj5mhl]From Eccles? When was that? Seems a real shame. A bit poor not to mark his leaving after he did a real shift for us in previous years.[/quote:izyj5mhl] Ahh lefty. I made that school boy error as well a couple of years ago. I believe such luminaries as Kieron Dixon are still waiting for an ‘all the best’, Curran as well and Matt Davies has come and gone twice without the club mentioning it and then there was the classic 2022 season when we didn’t not just acknowledge players leaving but didn’t bother to mention they’d joined (although on reflection that probably was justified). It is, I believe, know as ‘the Broncos way’.

The whole part-time rugby league in the South issue is a tough one. It takes a certain kind of resilience for players to balance it all, especially when the pay doesn’t always reflect the effort.

[quote="BigTime":37hpoiu5]Ahh lefty. I made that school boy error as well a couple of years ago. I believe such luminaries as Kieron Dixon are still waiting for an ‘all the best’, Curran as well and Matt Davies has come and gone twice without the club mentioning it and then there was the classic 2022 season when we didn’t not just acknowledge players leaving but didn’t bother to mention they’d joined (although on reflection that probably was justified). It is, I believe, know as ‘the Broncos way’.[/quote:37hpoiu5] Dalton Grant too. Really classless.

[quote="the-bearded-lefty":f5yrn7zm]Dalton Grant too. Really classless.[/quote:f5yrn7zm] While you might level that at Hughes & maybe Lobster, not something I would expect from Cakeman. Don't think even the great villain Ernie Clay treated players with such indifference.

[quote="Deadcowboys1":367v2bwv]While you might level that at Hughes & maybe Lobster, not something I would expect from Cakeman. Don't think even the great villain Ernie Clay treated players with such indifference.[/quote:367v2bwv] Me too DC definitely times under Mr H when the silence on a departure denoted irritation that wages had been paid, performance poor and then F off up North at earliest opportunity. Reflecting on this on the face of it the silence on Grant was a bit odd if they’d known he was retiring. However I can see in some circumstances when noting a litany of departures and no incomings looks bad - happened quite a lot in recent seasons, and it may be the feeling is let sleeping dogs lie where no obvious onward journey for the departing player. Look at Horsman, at the club for donkeys years and left, and I suspect the game, without even a thanks for service. Maybe it’s not incompetence or malice, maybe it’s just felt sometime best to leave it.

Some people just do not want a fuss being made.

[quote="Victor":ui5kouiv]Some people just do not want a fuss being made.[/quote:ui5kouiv] Seems to be the case with a hell of a lot of our former players then.....

[quote="RfE":282i36pm]Seems to be the case with a hell of a lot of our former players then.....[/quote:282i36pm] They are busy removing all mention of Broncos on their Wikipedia page no doubt.

I see we have selected our 21 man squad for the game from our errrr 21 players. So no surprises in there!! Question is, will Chris Ball continue to audition for a part in the remake of Mel Brooks' film Robin Hood: Men in tights?

[quote="Deadcowboys1":2o99xklo]I see we have selected our 21 man squad for the game from our errrr 21 players. So no surprises in there!! Question is, will Chris Ball continue to audition for a part in the remake of Mel Brooks' film Robin Hood: Men in tights?[/quote:2o99xklo] Hope not DC. One man’s opinion but there’s no place for those kind of antics in the modern game. IIRC he turned out for the reserves a few times in said tights. I thought it looked like amateur hour. On the plus side he was quite sprightly. In other news his mates, Ball and Hall seem to not have been taken up, along with Yates and Kearney so perhaps we are waiting to see if we can bring in a bit more quality later in the year. I think that’s sensible, although absence of any wingers has to be a bit of a thing? If I recall we won the football World Cup with a team dubbed the wingless wonders. Is that a thing in Rugby League or have we just invented it?

[quote="BigTime":3spq8ukt]Hope not DC. One man’s opinion but there’s no place for those kind of antics in the modern game. IIRC he turned out for the reserves a few times in said tights. I thought it looked like amateur hour. On the plus side he was quite sprightly. In other news his mates, Ball and Hall seem to not have been taken up, along with Yates and Kearney so perhaps we are waiting to see if we can bring in a bit more quality later in the year. I think that’s sensible, although absence of any wingers has to be a bit of a thing? If I recall we won the football World Cup with a team dubbed the wingless wonders. Is that a thing in Rugby League or have we just invented it?[/quote:3spq8ukt] Is Hellec going to play on the wing perhaps? Nice to have Stock back against a big set of forwards. A definite plus.