The half-back is on loan for the rest of the season.
London Broncos head coach Tony Rea is confident that new loan signing Jamie Soward will reinvigorate his side’s season.
Soward was inspirational on his debut from the bench in stemming the tide of points London were conceding in Saturday’s 44-30 loss to Salford City Reds.
The former St George Illawara half-back, on loan for the rest of the season, arrives with plenty of experience and Rea wants the public to witness Soward’s talents.
“My message to Londoners is to get out and watch us this year,” Rea said.
“You’re going to see an exciting brand of footy and an exciting player. It’s going to be an exciting summer if people want to come and watch this team.
“There’s a performance waiting to happen and it’s about to happen.”
Unusually for a defeat, no questions in the post-match conference centred on London’s performance as a crowded room featuring national press clamoured for quotes on Soward.
The man in question joined Rea at the press conference and, despite only arriving from Australia at Heathrow at 6.30am on the morning of the game, was more interested in Broncos affairs than jetlag.
“I’m pretty tired but most of all disappointed we lost,” said Soward. “We showed what we could do in the second half.
“I was keen to play and it wasn’t too bad. In the warm up the guys were very accepting of my characteristics, which as a half, is to be pretty vocal.
“Obviously once they lost Craig [Gower] they needed someone to help Dorny [Luke Dorn] out with some of those young blokes.
“It’s a matter of getting the best out of these young blokes, helping them and teaching them while I’m here.”
The 28-year-old was keen to talk up the team ethos at the club and baulked at suggestions that he would become London’s saviour this season.
“This club does not need a saviour. It needs 13 blokes going out there for the win,” he said. “Once I spoke to Tony for the first time I had made my decision [to join].
“We need a couple of solid weeks of everyone playing their best footy and start getting a few wins.”
Rea had been wary of naming Soward in his 17 and said, in hindsight, that the Broncos could have done with his compatriot starting the game.
Rea added: “My main interest was protecting Jamie. If I got my way he would not have played at all.”
Instead, London fans caught their first glimpse of Soward and the promise he showed could be pivotal for the rest of the Broncos’ season.
Photo courtesy of by NAPARAZZI, with thanks.
