London Broncos boss Jason Demetriou has hailed the club’s new owners for their new vision and forward-thinking that is currently helping the club thrive.
The Broncos, now owned by rugby league legend Darren Lockyer and Grant Wechsel, are only just beginning their journey to making rugby league in the capital a success, but so far, it has been nothing but an upward trajectory.
The club have brought in a number of star talents that would slot in at most Super League sides, including the likes of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Siliva Havili and Dean Hawkins.
London are by far the favourites for this year’s Championship season, and the hope is that after achieving success in the second tier, they will return to Super League in 2027 and become an established top flight side once again.
Demetriou, who is also the boss of the Papua New Guinean national team, spoke to Talk Sport earlier this week, and praised the work that Wechsel and Lockyer are doing.
He said: “They’re very passionate about making this time different from the past and the early signs show a hell of a lot of investment but also a hell of a lot of passion.
“We had 4,500 people at our first game which is well up on previous years and the boys are putting in some good performances on the field.
“We’re doing £10 tickets for the Challenge Cup game this weekend against Bradford which is huge. £10 for anything in London won’t get you much but it will on Sunday.”
Their Cup fixture sees them take on Bradford Bulls, in a game that will be in front of the BBC cameras.
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London have always had a problem of making rugby league known within England’s capital. The likes of football and rugby union are huge compared to the 13-man game, but that is something that the new era at the club hopes to change.
“I think that’s where we can make our biggest impact,” Demetriou said on growing the sport in London. “Initially, we need to create the squad that people will want to come and support but over a period of time, we want to grow our pathways and academy and have Londoners playing for London.
“That’s the best outcome for everybody, getting kids excited about playing rugby league but more importantly for London Broncos.
“For us, it’s about creating an identity where we’re not just happy to take the scraps on the table that are offered from up north. We want to get in there and compete and go after titles, that’s our ambition and mindset. Whilst we build that, kids around the area are going to get excited and want to be a part of it. We’ve got to start reaching for the stars and not just survive.
“Melbourne Storm was a big AFL town and you go there now and they sell out their stadium and they’re developing local boys. It takes time and it takes investment but it’s one of the big reasons I came over here, I believe that the game needs London to be successful and London needs the game to be successful. It’s a win-win for both parties.
“To grow the game it needs to be bigger than the M62 and I think London offers that opportunity.”
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Jay
February 7, 2026 at 10:22 am
ONE DAY! Those who run The RFL, will see the Light of LONDON as a Vital Area of Rugby League Expansion, can never work out why so many RL fans, on the M62 corridor, want it to remain that way? which will see the sport continue to be less relevant! small time thinking, as the sport continues to have less relevance! Do they not see the game is struggling financially!