MATCH PREVIEW: Doncaster RLFC vs London Broncos
Jake Watson • 24 May 2025
MATCH PREVIEW: Doncaster RLFC vs London Broncos
London Broncos move into Round 11 of the Championship season on Sunday with a trip to Doncaster. It will be the first league meeting between the two sides in 10 years, despite a couple of friendly matches and cup games happening during that period.
Mike Eccles side come into this one off the back of five consecutive league defeats so a win is much needed and a win would see us potentially move up the table into a group of teams on six points.
This win comes off the back of an important week for the club as Gary Hetherington announced his ownership and his plan for the club to return to Super League.
THE SQUAD
Mike Eccles has named his squad to take on Doncaster in Round 11 of the Championship season.
We welcomed Ethan Natoli back to the Club this week and he is straight into the squad and has been handed the number 3 shirt. Meanwhile, Connor Barley has joined on a month loan from Hull KR and is also in the squad.
Connor O’Beirne drops back out after injuring his knee in the previous game against Sheffield Eagles at Rosslyn Park. A full update on his injury will be provided by Mike Eccles in his pre-match interview.
INTERVIEWS
London Broncos welcomed back Ethan Natoli this week after rejoining the club following a spell in France with Pia.
The Italian international spent two seasons in London, joining in 2023 helping the club to Championship glory before a full season in Super League in 2024.
Firmly established as a fans favourite the 30-year-old's return has been received warmly by all involved in the Club.
You can watch the full interview with Ethan below.
A wide-ranging interview with Mike Eccles following a big week for the club which has seen the announcement of Gary Hetherington's involvement with the club.
Also discussed is recruitment, the fitness of Lewis Bienek and Connor O'Beirne, the return of Ethan Natoli and finally the challenge of Doncaster on Sunday.
Watch the interview below and find a link for half-price tickets to the upcoming home game against Widnes Vikings (31st).
THE STATS
Last ten meetings:
London Broncos 66, Doncaster 16 (CCR4, 1/4/23)
(at The Rock, Roehampton)
London Broncos 52, Doncaster 12 (CSR1, 8/8/15)
(at The Hive, Barnet)
Doncaster 4, London Broncos 30 (ChR17, 14/6/15)
(at Castle Park)
London Broncos 26, Doncaster 22 (ChR1, 15/2/15)
(at The Hive, Barnet)
London Broncos 64, Doncaster 0 (CCR4, 14/2/99)
(at Twickenham Stoop)
Doncaster 6, London Crusaders 16 (SDP-SF, 15/5/94)
(at Tattersfield)
Doncaster 20, London Crusaders 10 (SD, 23/1/94)
(at Tattersfield)
London Crusaders 38, Doncaster 18 (SD, 10/9/93)
(at Barnet Copthall)
Fulham 6, Doncaster 12 (SD, 7/4/91)
(at National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace)
Doncaster 0, Fulham 4 (SD, 16/12/90)
(at Tattersfield)
SUAIA MATAGI needs one appearance to reach 250 for his career.
- 37 for Doncaster (2024-2025)
- 50 for Castleford Tigers (2021-2023)
- 1 for Halifax Panthers (2023, dual-registration)
- 50 for Huddersfield Giants (2018-2020)
- 35 for Parramatta Eels (2017-2018)
- 23 for Penrith Panthers (2016)
- 7 for Sydney Roosters (2015)
- 36 for New Zealand Warriors (2013-2015)
- 1 for Combined Nations All Stars (2021)
- 8 for Samoa (2013-2014, 2017)
- 1 for New Zealand (2014)
SAM SMEATON needs one appearance to reach 100 for Doncaster.
- Debut: Thornhill Trojans (a) (CC) (W24-20) (Centre) (8 February, 2020)
ALEX WALKER needs one try to reach 100 for his career.
- 82 for London Broncos (2014-2019, 2022-2025)
- 7 for Featherstone Rovers (2021, loan)
- 2 for Wakefield Trinity (2020-2021)
- 6 for London Skolars (2016, dual-registration)
- 2 for Scotland (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021-2022)
(0 for Hemel Stags, 2016, loan)
ONE TO WATCH
Edene Gebbie has been in fine try scoring form for Doncaster since joining at the start of the season. The PNG winger scored in last weekend's standout win over the league leaders Halifax and has been a regular scorer in the Championship since joining the Championship initially with Whitehaven last season.
PAST MEETINGS
It has been ten years since London Broncos played a competitive game in Doncaster. The last competitive game in London was at The Hive and a big win with Broncos winning 52-12 and you can watch the highlights below.
#WeAreLondon
TEAM NEWS: London Broncos vs Doncaster RLFC Here is your starting line-up for this afternoon’s round 17 Championship clash with Doncaster RLFC at Ebbsfleet’s Kuflink Stadium. There is just one change from the win over Halifax Panthers last week as Louix Gorman replaces Aaron Small at centre. Huw Worthington is named as an interchange after missing last week to get married and then Taylor Kerr and Kian McDermott, both on dual-registration’s from Wigan Warriors, are also named as interchanges this week. #WeAreLondon
MATCHDAY GUIDE
MATCH PREVIEW: London Broncos vs Doncaster RLFC London Broncos are back in action on Saturday as we play the second of two games in 2025 at Ebbsfleet's Kuflink Stadium. The Broncos delivered one of the standout results of last weekend beating Halifax Panthers 20-14 to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Mike Eccles has an impressive record as a coach in Ebbsfleet and will once again be looking to the list of wins when Doncaster are the visitors on Saturday, 12th (5pm KO). SQUAD INFO Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad for this weekend’s round 17 Championship tie with Doncaster RLFC at Ebbsfleet’s Kuflink Stadium (5pm KO). In what is a very strong looking squad Huw Worthington returns after getting married last week. Meanwhile, Louix Gorman, Taylor Kerr and Kian McDermott join Jack Smith as dual-reg players available for selection on Saturday.
WATCH US LIVE! London Broncos vs Doncaster RLFC Can’t join us in Ebbsfleet this Saturday? We’ve got you covered! Watch the game from the comfort of your own home from the link below Scroll down to watch back the win over Halifax at Ebbsfleet... #WeAreLondon
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: London Broncos vs Doncaster RLFC Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad for this weekend’s round 17 Championship tie with Doncaster RLFC at Ebbsfleet’s Kuflink Stadium (5pm KO). In what is a very strong looking squad Huw Worthington returns after getting married last week. Meanwhile, Louix Gorman, Taylor Kerr and Kian McDermott join Jack Smith as dual-reg players available for selection on Saturday.
Twelve teams from six different clubs will compete in the Semi-Finals this weekend
IT'S GAMEWEEK London Broncos are back in action on Saturday as we play the second of two games in 2025 at Ebbsfleet's Kuflink Stadium. The Broncos delivered one of the standout results of the weekend beating Halifax Panthers 20-14 to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Mike Eccles has an impressive record as a coach in Ebbsfleet and will once again be looking to the list of wins when Doncaster are the visitors on Saturday, 12th (5pm KO). Tickets for the game can be bought from the link below!
POST-MATCH: MIKE ECCLES FOLLOWING HALIFAX WIN You can now watch the full post-match interview with Mike Eccles following the 20-14 win over Halifax Panthers at Ebbsfleet. We return to Ebbsfleet next weekend (Saturday, 12th) tickets can be bought from the link below. #WeAreLondon
LONDON BRONCOS V HALIFAX PANTHERS (by David Ballheimer) London Broncos (12) 20, Halifax Panthers (6) 14 London Broncos produced an excellent all-round performance to defeat Halifax Panthers and move outside of the bottom two. Backing up last week’s rout of Hunslet, this victory was built on outstanding defence. That said, apart from 15 minutes in the first half and a short while at the beginning of the second, they were the better team on both sides of the ball. The Panthers started very well, aided by a penalty close to the London line. Hooker Adam O’Brien, going from dummy half, sensed a lack of certainty in the Broncos’ defensive line and burst through a large gap and scored the opening try, improved by Jack Hansen. Another repeat set gave Halifax another chance to get over the line but this time, the London defensive line was ready for dummy-half runs and both O’Brien and the much larger Adam Tangata were repelled. In the 11th minute, Connor O’Beirne launched a bomb that came down close to the Halifax line. A Broncos leaper pushed the ball backwards to Alex Walker, who put in a grubber which Luke Polselli almost reached but failed to ground the ball. From the seven-tackle set, Fax went a long way downfield, benefitting from a penalty, too, but the goalline defence was good enough to repel another O’Brien snipe. Halifax, it must be said, were far less of a threat when Tom Inman replaced O’Brien in the No.9 role. Brandon Webster-Mansfield thought he had scored his first try in a London shirt after 18 minutes, but his interception, which did hit the ground, was ruled a knock-on. Webster-Mansfield, however, and team-mates close to the incident, were convinced that the ball had bounced off the centre’s forehead not his hands or arms. The referee and his assistants were not convinced.
HIGHLIGHTS: London Broncos vs Halifax Panthers You can now watch back extended highlights of the 2025 Championship fixture between London Broncos and Halifax Panthers at Ebbsfleet's Kuflink Stadium. #WeAreLondon
