London Broncos' plans for the new season are starting to take shape, writes David Lawrenson.
Another exciting chapter is set to be written in the club's history with their move to north London.
The club will be playing their home games at the Hive in Harrow, the home of Barnet FC, and will be based for training at Underhill, the football club’s former home six miles away.
Following the challenges of the last few months, the club are now settled in their new home and head coach Tony Rea is busy building the squad for the start of the Super League season.
Positive as ever, Rea said: “There are some adjustments, but these can make you stronger and tougher. It’s very doable – not normal, but very doable.
“As far as recruitment, we’re the strongest players in the market at this unusually late time. The players out there are hungry.”
Most of these have already been lined up and will be announced in the coming weeks.
They will join a dozen retained players: Saeed Agboke, Mike Bishay, Mason Caton-Brown, Matt Cook, Kieran Dixon, Erjon Dollapi, Olsi Krasniqi, Will Lovell, Iliess Macani, Mike McMeeken, Joel Wicks and James Woodburn Hall.
Keiran Dixon is still recovering from knee surgery and won’t figure in the early part of the season. In addition, George Griffin, a back rower, has signed from Hull Kingston Rovers.
The players have been enjoying the new training facilities at Underhill which are a step up from the old training ground at Roehampton.
There’s a new gym on site and field sessions take place on the main pitch, which is enclosed by stands and specifically marked out for rugby league.
“The training facilities have moved up a level,” Rea says. “We’ve re-invested and relocated everybody. It gives you great energy and it really works; within a day it’s home.
“Everyone wants to be here and is excited – it feels good. Everyone’s really positive, enjoying it and pushing forward.”
Looking ahead to the start of Super League he added: “We’ve got to work really hard, earn our right to get inside the games and enjoy the fight. It’s about togetherness and being a club but it’s not just about the team.
“The Hive is a wonderful stadium, it looks an exciting stadium to play in and the facilities are good and the ownership is vibrant.
“Everybody’s been working hard, we’ve got capable people. We’re going forward; we’ve got our hands on the steering wheel.”
