The Last Time London Broncos Defied the Odds at Wigan Warriors
April 2010 marked a memorable occasion for the London Broncos (formerly known as Harlequins) when they secured a 38-26 victory over the star-studded Wigan Warriors at the DW Stadium. This emphatic win came under the guidance of then-coach Brian McDermott, just before Wigan went on to claim the Super League Grand Final title later that year under Michael Maguire.
As Mike Eccles’ Broncos prepare to make the trip north to face Matt Peet’s all-conquering Warriors this Friday, we take a nostalgic look back at the London side that pulled off the upset eight years ago, and what became of those players.
“Ben Jones-Bishop, a Jamaica international, enjoyed a spell on loan with the Broncos in 2010 before cementing his place in the Leeds Rhinos lineup, winning two Super League titles. Kevin Penny, a speedster, also had a five-match loan stint with McDermott’s side, scoring three tries.”
Tony Clubb, a Three-time England representative, started his career as a center before transitioning into a prop. He made 154 appearances for London/Harlequins before joining Wigan, where he won a Super League title and World Club Challenge over eight seasons.
Australian center David Howell spent six seasons with London, scoring 36 tries in 109 games, while Nigerian-born Will Sharp, who grew up in London, scored 19 tries in 70 appearances for the club.
Playmaker Luke Dorn, a fan favorite, had two spells in the capital, scoring 109 tries in 166 appearances. He retired in 2016 and now works in the mining industry back in Australia. Longtime servant Chad Randall made 197 appearances for the Broncos over eight seasons and is now an assistant coach at the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL.
Other notable names include Danny Ward, who won a Super League title and World Club Challenge with Leeds before joining the Broncos, and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who made 97 appearances for the club before moving to St Helens, where he spent 13 seasons before retiring.
The article also touches on the careers of Rob Purdham, Chris Melling, Luke Gale, and several other members of the 2010 Broncos side that pulled off the upset against Wigan.
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