It’s back to the league this weekend, as Trinity head down to the Capital for a second time this season, in bid to retain third spot in the Betfred Super League table.
Trinity head into this game after winning 26-12 to Widnes last Friday, and securing their place in the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals, where they will face St Helens in two weeks from now.
London, on the other hand, have had a week to freshen up and more time to prepare for Saturday’s fixture, after their Challenge Cup run came to an end in the fifth round, where they fell short to Halifax. Nevertheless, they will be raring to go and we should expect a competitive encounter down South.
Trinity
Trinity will be looking to right their wrongs this time round, after losing out to London 42-24 in Round 1. Since this encounter however, Trinity have gone on and registered eight wins, occupying third spot on points difference, despite doing it tough with injuries.
Chris Chester has named a 19-man squad which sees skipper Jacob Miller return to the side from injury, who is expected to partner with Ben Reynolds in the halves. Junior Sa’u also comes into the team, after recently signing a month’s loan with Trinity. Pauli Pauli, on the other hand, heads over to Salford. Trinity are searching for their third consecutive win.
Opposition – The Broncos
The 2019 season is London’s return to top flight since 2014, after beating favourites Toronto Wolfpack 4-2, in the 2018 Million Pound Game.
Although the Broncos currently occupy 12th place in the Super League table, they are by no means out of it, for they sit only two points adrift from the likes of Hull KR and previous Champions Leeds Rhinos.
London have managed to register a total of three wins so far, including their victory over Trinity in Round 1, as well as wins over Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos. They have challenged numerous teams too, and were just edged out in matches against Hull FC and Huddersfield respectively.
Danny Ward has named a 19-man squad which sees only one change from the Broncos side that faced and fell short to Wigan; with Matt Gee replacing Daniel Hindmarsh. Five out of the six try-scorers who played in the season opener against Trinity also feature, who will be hunting a league double over Trinity.
Ones to watch includes Prop Forward Eddie Battye, as well as pacey wingers Rhys Williams and Kieron Dixon; not forgetting Jordan Adbull and James Cunningham at 6 and 7, and former Wakefield player Jay Pitts.
Previous meetings
Trinity last met with London in February, where the Broncos overcame a 12-0 deficit to defeat Trinity 42-24.
Prior to this, Trinity have not met with London in the Super League since 2014, after the Broncos were relegated that year, as they managed only one win in 27 rounds. Trinity achieved a league double over London that year, convincingly away 22-50, and a nail-biting victory at home in the pouring rain, 18-10.
Squads
Trinity (19-man squad) – Annakin, Batchelor, Caton-Brown, Crowther, Fifita, Hampshire, Hirst, Horo, Jones-Bishop, Jowitt, King, Kirmond, Kopczak, Lyne, Miller, Randell, Reynolds, Sa’u, Wood.
London Broncos (19-man squad) – Adbull, Adebiyi, Battye, Butler, Cunningham, Dixon, Fleming, Gee, Ioane, Kear, Lovell, Morgan, Pelissier, Pitts, Richards, Smith, Walker, Williams, Yates.
Match Preview by Emma Holley