Toronto’s £1m party wrecked by Broncos
SUPER League will return to the capital next season after the London Broncos crashed Toronto’s promotion party with two Jarrod Sammut penalties to win a tryless ‘Million pound Game’.
Danny Ward’s side upset the odds — and a passionate home crowd of 9,266 — to book their ticket back to the top flight for the first time since 2014.
Toronto had romped through the Championship, beating London twice here, and the same was expected yesterday.
It is Canadian Thanksgiving today but the transatlantic jetsetters gave their fans little to be grateful for in a slow, stodgy and indisciplined performance.
London were deserving of a win they managed without Nigerian- born prop Sadiq Adebiyi — a mainstay of this side — after a visa mix-up.
Ward explained: ‘He sent off for his UK residency card a few weeks ago. We tried chasing it up, driving to the office to speed up his application. He’s missed a big one here.
‘We had six blokes in the squad who were London developed. I’m really proud of that.
‘It’s kind of a shame that both sides are not going up because Super League would be better with both teams in.’
Alex Walker, Daniel Hindmarsh and Kieran Dixon were three of Ward’s London talents and the trio were faultless.
Dixon has faltered on the biggest stage before, most notably with Hull KR at Wembley in the 2015 Challenge Cup final. Here he was sublime.
The Broncos, who call Ealing home, now have much to do to be ready for the top flight.
Chairman David Hughes, whose commitment is commendable, must use the extra £1million in funding from the RFL to prepare a squad and ground befitting the top flight.
Sammut’s penalty was the only score in a turgid first half as Toronto lacked discipline, compounded when Andy Ackers was sin-binned for an illegal shot on Eloi pelissier.
The French hooker was his usual punchy self throughout as Sammut exploited Toronto’s disregard for the laws.
After the interval, Gareth O’Brien kicked Toronto level before Sammut’s second penalty nudged London back into a lead they would keep.
O’Brien had a chance to level again from 40 yards late on but shanked his attempt.
‘Its a horrible feeling,’ said Toronto coach paul Rowley. ‘We were on the brink of making history and didn’t put our best foot forward, it’s hard.
‘We wish London all the best and we’ll lick our wounds and go again next year.
‘It doesn’t affect what we’re building here.’