MATCH PREVIEW: Halifax Panthers vs London Broncos

Jake Watson • 24 April 2025

MATCH PREVIEW: Halifax Panthers vs London Broncos


London Broncos will be looking to upset the odds on Sunday when they make the trip to the league leaders Halifax Panthers in round 8 of the Championship season.


Kyle Eastmond’s side have been somewhat of a surprise package so far this season winning 6 of their opening 7 games to lead at this early stage. The Broncos meanwhile, have had an indifferent start with Mike Eccles operating with one of the smallest squads in the division. 


Last week Broncos came out on the wrong side of the battle at Barrow, another side who are fighting at the top end so far. It was a game that came at an extra cost as Jenson Binks and Sam Winney picked up injuries that will rule them out for this weekend at the very least.

In positive news Louix Gorman, from Hull KR, remains with the squad after making his debut in the previous game and Emmanuel Waine has joined on loan from Bradford Bulls for the next two weeks.


The squad selected by Mike Eccles is available to view below.



PRE-MATCH INTEVIEWS


Luke Polselli has been a shining light during the early stages of his London Broncos career. The Italian international has produced some all action displays and scored a number of tries.


We caught up with Polselli about the start to his Broncos career and the chall
enge of Halifax this weekend.

ONE TO WATCH


Louis Jouffret has been Halifax’s go-to-man ever since joining the club back in 2022 and is now just 16 points off from 1,000 for his career. Despite it feeling like the French half has been around forever he is still only 29-years-old and pulling the strings for the current table toppers.

THE STATS 


Halifax have won their last six home meetings with London Broncos.


The capital sides' last victory at The Shay was 41-22 on 24 July, 2016.


Last ten meetings:

London Broncos 26, Halifax 12 (ChR22, 20/8/23)

London Broncos 6, Halifax 10 (1895C-SF, 22/7/23)

(at The Rock, Roehampton)

Halifax 26, London Broncos 18 (ChR3, 19/2/23)

London Broncos 38, Halifax 10 (ChR20, 24/7/22)

Halifax 28, London Broncos 0 (ChR2, 6/2/22)

Halifax 47, London Broncos 14 (ChR1, 2/4/21)

Halifax 24, London Broncos 16 (CCR5, 11/4/19)

London Broncos 23, Halifax 16 (S8Q-R7, 29/9/18)

(at Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing)

London Broncos 20, Halifax 18 (ChR21, 15/7/18)

(at Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing)

Halifax 26, London Broncos 16 (ChR10, 8/4/18)


BEN CROOKS needs one appearance to reach 250 for his career.

- 31 for Halifax Panthers (2023-2025)

- 8 for Keighley Cougars (2023)

- 80 for Hull KR (2018-2022)

- 48 for Leigh Centurions (2017-2018)

- 28 for Castleford Tigers (2016)

- 51 for Hull FC (2012-2014)

- 3 for Doncaster (2014, dual-registration)


LOUIS JOUFFRET needs 16 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

- 587 for Halifax Panthers (2022-2025)

- 226 for Whitehaven (2015-2016, 2021)

- 8 for Featherstone Rovers (2020)

- 151 for Batley Bulldogs (2018-2019)

- 8 for Toulouse Olympique (2017)

- 4 for France (2023-2024)


ALEX WALKER needs two tries to reach 100 for his career.

​- 81 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)


LAST WIN AT THE SHAY


It has been a little while since the last time London Broncos tasted victory at The Shay. In fact you have to go back to 2016 when Broncos won 22-41 and you can watch the highlights from that game below.

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