Darren Lockyer says revamping London Broncos to harness the urge for food for rugby league within the capital may have a transformative affect on the worldwide recreation.
NRL legend Lockyer and enterprise companion Grant Wechsel visited London over the weekend to advance their bid to amass the Broncos, confirming a submission to hitch the expanded Tremendous League in 2026.
The pair watched the membership’s closing residence recreation of the Championship season – a 34-24 loss to Bradford Bulls in Wimbledon on Saturday.
Talking on the All Out Rugby League podcast, Lockyer outlined his imaginative and prescient for unlocking the untapped potential of a Tremendous League membership in London.
“I want rugby league to be the best version it can be across the globe, and London is a big part of that,” he mentioned. “This is an opportunity to rescue the club and also help rugby league as a sport.”
He continued: “Our focus is getting the enterprise off the sphere proper.
“Efficiency on the sphere is vital, however we really feel, given the expertise I’ve bought by the NRL, and the consultants we have on board who’ve quite a lot of expertise constructing companies round soccer golf equipment in Australia, we may carry that experience right here.
“When you’re in London you cannot think the way the northern clubs think, you need to think differently. London is a different market, and we’re going to tailor our approach to that market.”
The takeover, brokered by Leeds Rhinos chief government Gary Hetherington, is predicted to be accomplished by the tip of the month.
The consortium is backed by the Brisbane Broncos – the membership the place Lockyer spent his complete profession – rekindling a historic hyperlink between the 2 golf equipment relationship again to the Nineteen Nineties.
The brand new possession plans to rebrand the membership forward of the 2026 season, spend to the wage cap, and signal three marquee gamers to construct a aggressive roster.
Lockyer revealed former Widnes and Wakefield star – and present Papua New Guinea head coach – Jason Demetriou was primed to take cost of the Broncos, topic to being granted entry to the Tremendous League.
Demetriou, who captained Wakefield Trinity for 5 seasons, brings intensive expertise from each English and Australian rugby league.
He was a part of the North Queensland Cowboys’ 2015 NRL Grand Closing-winning teaching workers and led South Sydney Rabbitohs to a preliminary closing earlier than departing in 2024.
‘Two essential appointments’
Wechsel stopped wanting naming names when it got here to potential Broncos captains however hinted saying their major goal would make “back-page news” in Australia.
“We’re already talking to people,” Lockyer mentioned. “The coach is already committed, subject to being in the Super League.
“Jason Demetriou has been our goal. He is bought loads of expertise in England as a participant and a coach. He bought South Sydney [Rabbitohs] to a prelim [preliminary final] earlier than he had a troublesome 12 months. So, he is been on the bench a short time, however now he is bought a possible alternative with us.
“The other key part to this is getting our club captain, we’re looking at an experienced player from the NRL to come over.
Are the London Broncos on the verge of returning to the Tremendous League underneath new administration?
“We’re looking for leadership and if we get those two appointments right, we think we can build a roster out quickly.
“We really feel there are a handful within the present Broncos crew that might maintain their very own within the Tremendous League, the place the goal for 12 months one could be to be on the fringes of the finals.”
The Broncos currently play their home games at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, a venue Lockyer and Wechsel are committed to staying at and thriving in for the immediate future.
“You could crawl earlier than you stroll, stroll earlier than you run,” Lockyer added. “The stadium is ideal for the place the membership is in the meanwhile.
“Our vision is to get enough members to sell that ground out every time we play at home. If we outgrow that stadium, that’s a good thing.”
