London Broncos aim to extend their winning start to 2026 in Super League side Bradford Bull’s visit for the second round of the Challenge Cup on Sunday.
Jason Demetriou’s side are third in the Championship after consecutive wins against Widnes Vikings and Oldham, either side of a ruthless 86-0 victory over Wests Warriors in the first round of the cup.
New signings Alex Max, Dean Hawkins, and former NRL star Reagan Campbell-Gillard, have been at the centre of the positive start with several key tries – each receiving a player of the match award.
Ahead of the clash with Bradford, who beat the hosts to a spot in the newly expanded top flight by meeting the requirements of the IMG rating system, team cohesion is only improving.
Demetriou said: “I can’t credit the players enough in how they’ve gone about embracing the new identity of the club, and how they’ve come together in a short amount of time.
“As a coach, I get to see where the boys are at against a high level team, and Bradford have recruited well – we’re fully aware of what they bring to the table.”
Winger Liam Tindall spoke highly of the atmosphere around the club, explaining that forging a good connection off the pitch as well as on it is key to a successful team.
He said: “I’ve been part of clubs before with lots of new recruitments and in situations where it doesn’t work, but everyone’s bought in to this club – gelling really well.
“We spend a lot of time with each other outside of training, which is good, and that’s what makes a good team.”
London Broncos go into the tie with the advantage of having played thrice beforehand, with the Betfred Super League not set to get underway until York Knights take on Hull next Thursday.
The London side conceded just a single try against Oldham, from which they will take a great deal of confidence heading into their sternest test yet.
But Tindall is well aware of the threat posed by his former employers, having spent three spells with the Bulls over the past four seasons – two of them on loan from Leeds Rhinos.
He said: “Bradford just do the basics well, that’s what they pride themselves on – being tough, knocking their sets off.
“Things do change, they’ve had a new head coach and a lot of new players, but that’s what it was when I was there.
“As soon as the Challenge Cup was getting drawn, we were hoping for one of them promoted sides like Bradford or York, just a better standard of opposition.”
Demetriou added: “They’ve got some running halves, [Jayden] Nikorima loves to play on the front foot, they’ve got [Andy] Ackers at nine who’s creative and will test your markers.
“Like us, they want to attract the fans back and I think both teams will throw a lot at each other.”
The London Broncos head coach has no fresh injury concerns heading into the tie, besides the absence of Saliva Havili, who had undergone restrengthening exercises during the week.
London Broncos matchday squad: Sadiq Adebiyi, Lewis Bienek, Emarly Bitungane, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Jack Croft, Finlay Glare, Dean Hawkins, Ben Hursey-Hord, Epel Kapinias, Robert Mathias, Alex Max, Jimmy Meadows, Morea Morea, Connor O’Beirne, Luke Smith, Marcus Stock, Niel Tchamambe, Liam Tindall, Giaro Voro, Elliot Wallis, Brandon Webster-Mansfield
Bradford Bulls matchday squad: Andy Ackers, Caleb Aekins, Waqa Blake, Ed Chamberlain, Eribe Doro, Zac Fulton, Sam Hallas, Luke Hooley, Joe Keyes, Loghan Lewis, Esan Marsters, Joe Mellor, Rowan Milnes, Jayden Okunbor, Eliot Peposhi, Leon Ruan, Dan Russell, Ethan Ryan, Ebon Scurr, Mitch Souter, Ryan Sutton
Feature image: Ollie Whitmore
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