RUGBY LEAGUE

Rea stays on to be new Broncos boss

LONDON BRONCOS have appointed interim head coach Tony Rea as the long-term successor to Rob Powell.

The 45-year-old Rea (below), who was head coach of the Londoners from 2000-06, returned from Australia to take charge of the last seven matches of the season and has now signed a two-year contract.

Broncos chairman David Hughes said: “We’ve had lots of applications and have given them all due consideration but I think Tony Rea is the man for the job.”

The announcement is a change of heart by Rea, who initially returned to the club as a favour for Hughes and insisted he didn’t want to make the position permanent.

However, after masterminding three consecutive victories, including a 62-18 rout of Challenge Cup finalists Warrington last Friday, the former Brisbane Broncos hooker was happy to do a U-turn when offered the job. “He came and sat me down and asked me to think about it and it was purely a coaching decision,” Rea said. “If I scratch myself hard enough, I did miss coaching.”

Hughes said: “One shouldn’t underestimate what a tough task it is coaching a club like the London Broncos but I think Tony Rea is the man for the job. “His prowess has strengthened in his time away from us.

“He’s got a massive desire to coach again and he’s impressed on me that coaching is all he wants to do.”