Friday night sees London Broncos make the first of two visits to AMT Headingley to face the Rhinos this season as Mike Eccles' side remain on the hunt for their first win in 2024.

As matchday approaches, find out more about the Broncos here:

Overview

Name: London Broncos

Founded: 1980

Seasons in Super League: 21

Head Coach: Mike Eccles

Club Captain: Will Lovell

Last three season finishes: 2023 = 5th (Championship Grand Final winners), 2022 = 11th, 2021 = 7th

Best SL finish: 2nd (1997)

Grand Final appearances: None

So far in 2024...

A tough season so far for London sees them sit bottom of the Betfred Super League table with nine losses from nine games.

After shocking the Championship competition by turning their season around to finish fifth, a late charge in the Play-Offs under Eccles saw the Broncos beat league leaders Toulouse Olympique in France to bounce back up into Super League for the first time in five years. With Eccles secured as the club's head coach for this season, nine new additions arrived mostly from the Championship, along with prop Rhys Kennedy from Hull KR, former Wakefield winger Lee Kershaw, and South Logan Magpie half back Jack Campagnolo.

Although there have been one-sided scorelines after nine rounds, starting with a 40-4 result against St Helens in round one, London has shown some steel to push teams the full 80 minutes. Round three's trip to Hull looked as though the Broncos had the win wrapped up with Robbie Storey's interception try, only for Morgan Smith to break the visitors' hearts in a tight 28-24 final score.

Top six hopefuls Wigan, Warrington, Huddersfield and Hull KR also took wins away, but Salford were forced to fight hard as they edged a 12-4 win at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

This week's clash with the Rhinos is major for the Broncos if they want to start climbing up the table with two-thirds of the season to go. After Friday's trip to Leeds, they welcome both Hull clubs to the Cherry Red Records Stadium during May, before a run of games against Salford, St Helens and Wigan leads up to their return to Headingley on the 6th July.

Squad

One to Watch

Hakim Miloudi

French international Hakim Miloudi currently leads the try-scoring for the Broncos in his fourth Super League season. 

The former Hull FC outside back has 29 appearances in Super League for the black and whites, as well as Toronto Wolfpack during the 2020 season, and after a two year spell with Barrow Raiders, he made his return to the top tier by signing with the Broncos in the off-season.

Alongside his try scoring efforts, Miloudi also has the most line breaks, offloads and tackle breaks out of any Bronco this season.

Will Lovell

Captain Will Lovell is leading from the front as the back rower enters his 12th season in London colours.

After picking Rugby League over Rugby Union as a junior, Lovell has shown his loyalty to the club that has been with him on every step of his journey from a U16 to now a Super League player. He debuted for the club in 2012 and between spells with London Skolars, he has accumulated 155 appearances and 21 tries. That includes 31 starts and three tries last season to aide the club's promotion back to Super League.

He was a try scorer in this fixture when the Broncos were last in Super League in 2019.

Dean Parata

Italian international Dean Parata is a key player in the Broncos outfit at loose forward.

Having bounced around Championship clubs Barrow, Featherstone and Toulouse, the hooker/loose forward has made London his home since 2022 and this season particularly, he has the second most tackles behind captain Lovell with 308. In attack, he ranks in the top five ball carriers with 109 and has racked up 256 metres and 54 carries in his last three games against Hull KR, Salford and Castleford.

Fixtures

Round Ten - Vs Leeds Rhinos (AMT Headingley, KO 8pm)

Round Eleven - Vs Hull FC (Cherry Red Records Stadium, KO 3pm)

Round Twelve - Vs Hull KR (Cherry Red Records Stadium, KO 3pm)

Round Thirteen - Vs Salford Red Devils (Salford Stadium, KO 3pm)

Round Fourteen - Vs St Helens (Cherry Red Records Stadium, KO 3pm)

Stats Performers

Tries: Hakim Miloudi (3 tries)

Goals: Oli Leyland (7 goals)

Carries: James Meadows (132 carries)

Metres: Rhys Kennedy (959 metres)

Tackles: Will Lovell (317 tackles)

Errors: Lee Kershaw (15 errors)

Last Super League match

Get behind the Rhinos at AMT Headingley

Friday night sees Rhinos fans get two games for the price of one as the annual Leeds Beckett vs University of Leeds Varsity match will be a curtain raiser to the main event between the Rhinos and Broncos.

Ticket prices start at £25 for adults, £20 for concessions and £13 for juniors, with prices rising by £3 on matchdays.

To buy tickets go to tickets.therhinos.co.uk or call the ticket office on 0371 423 1315. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm (excluding Bank Holidays). Tickets also available to purchase from Leeds Rhinos Club Shop at AMT Headingley Stadium (CLICK HERE to check opening hours before travelling).