SUPER LEAGUE newcomers London Broncos, who come to Boundary Park on Sunday in their third and final pre-season game, have been hit by a serious injury blow incurred by young hooker Billy Leyland.
Last year’s Championship Young Player of the Year, Kent-born Leyland celebrates his 21st birthday tomorrow (Saturday), but Broncos fear he may miss the entire season with a serious knee injury picked up when Broncos drew 14-14 at Castleford in their first warm-up game. They have since been hammered 50-16 at Huddersfield Giants.
Said coach Mike Eccles:
”We are devastated. We all know Billy was going to set the competition (Super League) alight this year."
Broncos will be keen to regain their confidence as they look ahead to their opening Super League game against St Helens, but Eccles expects a tough game at Oldham. He added:
”They might be in League One, but in my eyes , and on paper, they’re a top-end Championship team,"
They will miss Down Under stars Dean Whare and Corey Norman, obviously, but they’ve signed eight new players, among them two big names from Australia in prop Rhys Kennedy, formerly of South Sydney and Brisbane Broncos and Jack Campagnolo, a 25-year-old stand-off from South Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
Campagnolo is an Italian international half-back, play-maker and a kicking-game expert who has spent most of his career in Australia and is said to be on the edge of NRL selection. He helped Magpies to finish second last year in the Queensland Cup. a well-known and highly respected competition and a breeding ground for plenty of NRL stars.
They’ve also signed Hakim Miloudi, a French international full-back or wing, who has played for Toronto Wolfpack.
Broncos are taking the Oldham game very seriously indeed and long-serving Iliess Macani has hinted publicly that they will field a strong squad at Boundary Park.
Assistant coach at the capital club is Ryan Sheridan, brother of our own Brendan Sheridan, who says he is mightily proud to be part of a coaching team headed by the mercurial Sean Long.
