Henry Taylor @HTaylor2013
I haven't written an article for the London Faithful account for close to a year I think but the question I'm going to discuss is have the London Broncos found their promised land in Ealing?
Head coach Andrew Henderson has made it clear what his philosophy is. Hard working but skilful and capable players, a good mix of youth and experience and a winning, disciplined culture. But he's also made his feelings known that the club is disjointed. The first team trained in Watford and played in Barnet, the u19s trained in Feltham and played in 3 different venues. It was clear the Broncos needed to move from the Hive but they had to not only find a venue that is financially viable but can also bring all areas of the club together under the same roof for the first ever time.
Then came along the Trailfinders Sports Ground. A 3g pitch, grass pitches, a capacity within Championship regulations that can be increased for Super League, land for a broncos gym, office space. The 3g pitch allows for all Ealing Trailfinders union games to be played on there along with 3 broncos squads to train and play all year round without the pitch being destroyed. But most important the trailfinders offered a financially viable venue with very cheap rent allowing Andrew Henderson’s team and the club to remain full time and compete for a Super League place. Both the Stoop and the Hive were financially unviable (not mentioning any greedy football and union clubs names *cough* Barnet *cough*) and with the heavily decreased central funding from finishing a disappointing 7th in 2015 along with the heavy decrease in TV money from Sky, Ealing was one of the only options.
Not only is it important that London needs a full time club, it also needs a stable and financially viable club who can be proud of the crest on their shirts and what can be achieved in the next 36 seasons. It was clear that the broncos had to engage with the supporters more by offering more merchandise, more videos and photos, promoting themselves to the local community, engaging with businesses. That's exactly what the club has done with the new management team in the backroom at the Broncos.
As mentioned the move to Ealing allows Henderson to field a full time squad that is essential to player recruitment and retention. Hendo has kept the core of the 2015 squad retaining 20 players and recruiting 8 from England and overseas. For the coaching staff to plan any long term success for London, the club must break the habit of reforming the squad every other season and have the top players and core group to commit for the long term to build a successful team under a philosophy and set of standards. This is evident in the top clubs in sport be it Leeds Rhinos or Manchester United. Also the club must retain the best young talent to nurture and support them. That is now happening with the young players coming through the academy committing to AH and the club such as 22 year old Iliess Macani who made his debut in 2013 who will reach 50 games for the club next season and has for 2016 been rewarded with the no5 shirt demonstrating with patience and hard work any player can work their way up the rankings in squad. Hopefully Macani will sign a new contract with the Broncos this season along with Jon Magrin and other core young players.
Many fans have come to realise that relegation to the Championship has saved the club, not destroyed it allowing the opportunity for the club to find the best base in their 36 year history and for Andrew Henderson to build a squad for the now and future and give opportunities to young players to progress through the ranks at the club. Now the club can grow on and off the field and earn a place in Super League without overspending and to build solid foundations for the decades of professional rugby league in West London to come.
Finally the Broncos have revealed the new 2016 home kit again filled with sponsors and sporting the traditional black and white of Fulham RL. Tweet myself @HTaylor2013 with your comments on the new kit! And last but not least below is the 28 man squad for the upcoming 2016 season:
1. Ben Hellewell
2. Rhys Williams
3. Nathan Stapleton
4. Wes Naiqama (C)
5. Iliess Macani
6. Israel Eliab
7. William Barthau
8. Nick Slyney
9. James Cunningham
10. Eddie Battye
11. Daniel Harrison
12. Matt Garside
13. Rhys Lovegrove
14. Andy Ackers
15. Jack Bussey
16. Mark Ioane
17. Mark Offerdahl
18. Jamie Thackray
19. Joe Keyes
20. Scott Leatherbarrow
21. Alex Foster
22. Matt Davis
23. Jon Magrin
24. Alex Walker
25. Toby Everett
27. Ben Pointer
28. Ben Gray
32. Elliot Kear
In: Nathan Stapleton (Sydney Roosters), Israel Eliab (PNG Hunters), Eddie Battye (Sheffield Eagles), Andy Ackers (Swinton Lions), Jack Bussey (Featherstone Rovers), Mark Ioane (St George Illawarra Dragons), Mark Offerdahl (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Scot Leatherbarrow (Batley Bulldogs), Alex Foster (Leeds Rhinos)
Out: Oscar Thomas (Bradford Bulls), Sean Morris (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Glenn Riley (Whitehaven), Harvey Burnett (released), Erjon Dollapi (released), Ben Farrar (retirement), Ray Nasso (released), Jason Walton (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Joel Wicks (released)
I haven't written an article for the London Faithful account for close to a year I think but the question I'm going to discuss is have the London Broncos found their promised land in Ealing?
Head coach Andrew Henderson has made it clear what his philosophy is. Hard working but skilful and capable players, a good mix of youth and experience and a winning, disciplined culture. But he's also made his feelings known that the club is disjointed. The first team trained in Watford and played in Barnet, the u19s trained in Feltham and played in 3 different venues. It was clear the Broncos needed to move from the Hive but they had to not only find a venue that is financially viable but can also bring all areas of the club together under the same roof for the first ever time.
Then came along the Trailfinders Sports Ground. A 3g pitch, grass pitches, a capacity within Championship regulations that can be increased for Super League, land for a broncos gym, office space. The 3g pitch allows for all Ealing Trailfinders union games to be played on there along with 3 broncos squads to train and play all year round without the pitch being destroyed. But most important the trailfinders offered a financially viable venue with very cheap rent allowing Andrew Henderson’s team and the club to remain full time and compete for a Super League place. Both the Stoop and the Hive were financially unviable (not mentioning any greedy football and union clubs names *cough* Barnet *cough*) and with the heavily decreased central funding from finishing a disappointing 7th in 2015 along with the heavy decrease in TV money from Sky, Ealing was one of the only options.
Not only is it important that London needs a full time club, it also needs a stable and financially viable club who can be proud of the crest on their shirts and what can be achieved in the next 36 seasons. It was clear that the broncos had to engage with the supporters more by offering more merchandise, more videos and photos, promoting themselves to the local community, engaging with businesses. That's exactly what the club has done with the new management team in the backroom at the Broncos.
As mentioned the move to Ealing allows Henderson to field a full time squad that is essential to player recruitment and retention. Hendo has kept the core of the 2015 squad retaining 20 players and recruiting 8 from England and overseas. For the coaching staff to plan any long term success for London, the club must break the habit of reforming the squad every other season and have the top players and core group to commit for the long term to build a successful team under a philosophy and set of standards. This is evident in the top clubs in sport be it Leeds Rhinos or Manchester United. Also the club must retain the best young talent to nurture and support them. That is now happening with the young players coming through the academy committing to AH and the club such as 22 year old Iliess Macani who made his debut in 2013 who will reach 50 games for the club next season and has for 2016 been rewarded with the no5 shirt demonstrating with patience and hard work any player can work their way up the rankings in squad. Hopefully Macani will sign a new contract with the Broncos this season along with Jon Magrin and other core young players.
Many fans have come to realise that relegation to the Championship has saved the club, not destroyed it allowing the opportunity for the club to find the best base in their 36 year history and for Andrew Henderson to build a squad for the now and future and give opportunities to young players to progress through the ranks at the club. Now the club can grow on and off the field and earn a place in Super League without overspending and to build solid foundations for the decades of professional rugby league in West London to come.
Finally the Broncos have revealed the new 2016 home kit again filled with sponsors and sporting the traditional black and white of Fulham RL. Tweet myself @HTaylor2013 with your comments on the new kit! And last but not least below is the 28 man squad for the upcoming 2016 season:
1. Ben Hellewell
2. Rhys Williams
3. Nathan Stapleton
4. Wes Naiqama (C)
5. Iliess Macani
6. Israel Eliab
7. William Barthau
8. Nick Slyney
9. James Cunningham
10. Eddie Battye
11. Daniel Harrison
12. Matt Garside
13. Rhys Lovegrove
14. Andy Ackers
15. Jack Bussey
16. Mark Ioane
17. Mark Offerdahl
18. Jamie Thackray
19. Joe Keyes
20. Scott Leatherbarrow
21. Alex Foster
22. Matt Davis
23. Jon Magrin
24. Alex Walker
25. Toby Everett
27. Ben Pointer
28. Ben Gray
32. Elliot Kear
In: Nathan Stapleton (Sydney Roosters), Israel Eliab (PNG Hunters), Eddie Battye (Sheffield Eagles), Andy Ackers (Swinton Lions), Jack Bussey (Featherstone Rovers), Mark Ioane (St George Illawarra Dragons), Mark Offerdahl (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Scot Leatherbarrow (Batley Bulldogs), Alex Foster (Leeds Rhinos)
Out: Oscar Thomas (Bradford Bulls), Sean Morris (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Glenn Riley (Whitehaven), Harvey Burnett (released), Erjon Dollapi (released), Ben Farrar (retirement), Ray Nasso (released), Jason Walton (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Joel Wicks (released)