NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 4
2 days ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Such is the state London's injury crisis, that on Tony Rea's substitutes' bench on Sunday, there was just one player with senior rugby league experience this season. And that was Joe Mbu, a Londoner who only made his Super League bow last season, and who has just entered double figures in the appearance column for London. So with a squad of just 24 players, and with more than half a dozen regular starters sidelined through injury, that left Tony Rea with just 15 fit players available for the Super League clash with Salford. Currently on the injured list are Mat Toshack, Rob Purdham, John Kirpatrick, Nigel Roy, Jon Wells, Rob Jackson, Francis Stephenson and Lee Sanderson. And it was a game of paramount importance for the Broncos who had yet to taste success in this new Super League campaign. Just three days before the game Rea called on the services of Leeds' rookie Scott Murrell, who ultimately answered the call with a match winning try on debut. And just one day before the game, Rea brought in junior academy star, Jonnie Williams - a speedy winger from London's southeast, to occupy the other vacant seat on the bench. When asked after the win on Sunday about the increasing pressure his team was under, and whether that pressure was intensified by the lack of fit bodies, Rea refused to call for sympathy. He said: "What pressure? We had seventeen players out there all ready to a job and they did just that." Every one of them wears that shirt with pride and as a team they showed great character to come away with the win." We knew we had to bounce back from a disappointing performance the week before and I thought we started the match with very good intensity, and we were then patient to grind out the win." But surely it must have been difficult having so many rookies on your bench? "I wouldn't say that. I would say that we have players who accept the job that is given to them, whether it be as a sub, or as captain, or whoever...and our job on Sunday was to play well as a team and improve in a number of areas." So what about this Sunday when London face the Cup semi final bound Warrington Wolves? Will Rea have any players back on deck? The answer is likely to be no. And if that IS the case, Rea is more than happy with the seventeen he's got. Kick off is at 3pm at Griffin Park against Warrington Wolves. It is the fourth round of the 28 round Tetley's Super League competition. Book tickets in advance and save - 0871 222 1567