London Broncos have confirmed the devastating blow that young hooker Bill Leyland is out for the entirety of the Super League season.
It now leaves the club without one of their best players and likely in need of another hooker, Sam Davis being one of the club’s only specialists in the role.
The 20-year-old Leyland suffered an ACL injury in the pre-season draw with Castleford Tigers and London have now reported it’s likely to sideline him for the year.
It’s a huge personal blow for Leyland who earned the honour of Championship Young Player of the Year in 2023, the 20-year-old being one of London’s homegrown products.
The club must now search for some form of replacement, or at least depth in the position, and they face a race against time with the Super League season less than a fortnight away.
London have one of the toughest openings too with a trip to St Helens for their first clash, something that looks set to be a real trial by fire.
Whether the club can recruit another hooker by then is unclear but there will be options available to them with a number of Super League clubs carrying three or four.
Of course, London are hurt further in that they don’t even have an academy to pluck a youngster from, the decision not to run an academy being one that was met with controversy at the time.
Which Super League hooker could join the Broncos?
Corey Johnson has fallen down the pecking order at Leeds Rhinos and could seek a loan moan to earn playing time. – Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com -Copyright: x xSWpix.comxt/axPhotographyxHubxLtdxOllyxHassell/SWpix.comx SWP-2134-0047
The Broncos will be keen to draft someone in as cover but it’s unclear if they can do that before the season starts, however, there are a number of young talents at top teams that could well make loan moves.
Last season Catalasn Dragons loaned Cesar Rouge to Hull KR when the Robins opted to field a young team ahead of the Challenge Cup Final.
With the Dragons still boasting Micky McIlorum as their starting hooker and a number of other players who can cover the position, Steve McNamara might deem it beneficial for 21-year-old Rouge to get some more Super League experience.
Leeds Rhinos also now have a plethora of hookers and spine options after signing a brand new one, six, seven and nine in the off-season, with England international Andy Ackers set to be their starting hooker.
That leaves the ever-reliable Jarrod O’Connor in a back-up role, whilst Corey Johnson is pushed even further down the pecking order.
Another club blessed at the number nine role are Hull KR who have England international Jez Litten assuming the starting role this year, with ex-Leeds Rhinos man Matt Parcell as a more than capable number two.
The club have signed Reiss Butterworth though and with Willie Peters speaking on the desire to get game time for the 25-year-old then perhaps he could make a loan move.
Rovers have former London Broncos head coaches Rhys Lovegrove and Danny Ward on their staff now so there will likely be connections to help facilitate a move.
Another club with several hookers are Warrington Wolves with England international Danny Walker left as the clear number one following Daryl Clark’s departure, however, the Wire have recruited both Sam Powell and Brad Dwyer.
They also have young star Leon Hayes who can play the position if required whilst signing Jordy Crowther has featured at nine before too.
Rising star sees season end before it begins
Bill Leyland won the Championship Young Player of the Year whilst guiding London Broncos to promotion in 2023. – Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com – Copyright: x xSWpix.comxt/axPhotographyxHubxLtdxAllanxMcKenzie/SWpix.comx SWP-2322-0076
In a season that already looked destined for relegation given the IMG system, something that owner David Hughes alluded to when addressing fans in an open letter critiquing how the grading criteria works, it’s yet another cruel blow.
With their relegation almost guaranteed before a ball was kicked there had been hope among fans and neutrals alike that the Broncos could at least go out in style and bring something exciting to Super League.
Without Leyland, their chances of doing so have been damaged with the youngster having been expected to lead the line for London, something the club referenced when announcing the heart-breaking news of his injury.
Mike Eccles stated: “We are just devastated for Bill, I think we all knew internally at the club that he was going to set the competition alight this year.
“It’s important that we get around him as a club, all the boys, all the staff. We’ll give him the best treatment possible, like we do here. The best surgery possible.
“He’s done his ACL and we just have to move on with it and do our best for him.”
