In depth- London Broncos vs Wigan Warriors (Super League Round 4)
London Broncos vs Wigan Warriors is a matchup which is the joint 4th (with Hull FC) most frequent matchup in the Broncos history, with 44 matches taking place between 1980 to present. Out of these 44 matches, the Broncos have won 11, lost 31 and drawn 2. In this time, the Broncos have accumulated a -625 points difference, scoring 735 points and conceding 1,360.
The first matchup between London and Wigan Warriors took place on the 14th of September 1980, the first game as Craven Cottage (home of Fulham RLFC) which resulted in a London victory, 24-5, in front of an audience of 9,552.
*Fulham RLFC vs Wigan Warriors first encounter, September 14th, 1980.
Wigan Warriors have taken on London in all their forms (Fulham RLFC, Harlequins RL, and the London Broncos) and have played in various stadiums across the UK including Craven Cottage, the Crystal Palace Sports Centre, the Stoop, The Valley, Central Park, the Hive, the DW stadium, Griffin Park, and Ealing Trailfinders. This Saturday shall be the first occasion that these two teams face each other at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon.
London’s biggest win against Wigan came on the 4th of July 1997 with a 38-12 victory at the Stoop in front of a crowd of 7,118. Wigan’s biggest Super League victory against London came on May the 18th, 2013 with a 64-6 win at the Stoop in front of a crowd of 3,594.
Looking back through the years of the Broncos playing against Wigan and looking at Wigan’s recent history, the reality is that this will be one of the Broncos’ most difficult games in 2024. The last time that London came away with a victory vs Wigan was on March 3rd, 2019, at Ealing Trailfinders in front of a 2,586 crowd. Aside from this victory, Wigan have walked away from this fixture as victors on 11 of the last 12 games.
Wigan Warriors Breakdown
Wigan Warriors are one of, if not, the most successful Super League club in history. The club, formed in 1872, is a founding member of the Northern Union and has won 23 League titles, 20 challenge cups, and five World Club Challenges, with the most recent victory coming two weekends ago as the Warriors defeated NRL Champions, Penrith Panthers, 16-12 at the DW Stadium.
Wigan have also had some of the greatest players to play Rugby League, including Jim Sullivan, Martin Offiah, Billy Boston, Shaun Edwards, Ellery Hanley & Mick Sullivan just to name a few.
•Martin Offiah
Honours:
RFL Championship: 1909, 1922, 1926, 1934, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1960, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023.
Challenge Cup: 1924, 1929, 1948, 1951, 1958, 1959, 1965, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2011, 2013, 2022.
World Club Challenge: 1987, 1991, 1994, 2017, 2024.
LONDON BRONCOS v WIGAN WARRIORS
Last ten meetings:
Wigan 18, London Broncos 8 (2/5/19)
London Broncos 18, Wigan 16 (3/3/19)
(at Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing)
London Broncos 6, Wigan 58 (5/7/14)
(at The Hive, Barnet)
Wigan 36, London Broncos 14 (11/4/14)
London Broncos 0, Wigan 70 (Challenge Cup SF, 27/7/13)
(at Leigh Sports Village)
London Broncos 6, Wigan 64 (18/5/13)
(at Twickenham Stoop)
Wigan 48, London Broncos 18 (24/2/13)
London Broncos 6, Wigan 44 (21/7/12)
(at Twickenham Stoop)
Wigan 42, London Broncos 30 (18/3/12)
Harlequins 6, Wigan 38 (9/7/11)
(at Twickenham Stoop)
WILL LOVELL needs one appearance to reach 150 for London Broncos.
- First spell: 2012-2014, 33 appearances
- Debut: Catalans Dragons (MW, Manchester) (L42-18) (Substitute) (27 May, 2012)
- Second spell: 2018-2024, 116 appearances
- Second debut: Barrow Raiders (h) (Ch) (W56-12) (Centre) (4 February, 2018)
ILIESS MACANI needs one try to reach 100 for his career.
- 62 for London Broncos (2013-2016, 2022-2024)
- 19 for London Skolars (2014, loan, 2018-2021)
- 8 for Sheffield Eagles (2018)
- 10 for Bradford Bulls (2017)
