Broughton serves up a timely treble as Catalans stop the rot
Defeat sends Broncos rock bottom
LUTHER BURRELL was eased into life in Super League as Warrington’s firsthalf blitz earned a comprehensive win in the capital.
The former England rugby union star emerged from the bench with 19 minutes remaining and the win already secured after six unanswered first-half tries.
Burrell played at right centre and started his league career with a shuddering hit on Broncos full-back Alex Walker.
He certainly didn’t look out of place for the remainder of the game as the Wolves took their foot off the pedal after leading 36-0 at half-time.
Burrell said: “There were huge nerves because I wanted to do well for the lads and not let anybody down. I’m not nervous about my ability as a rugby player or an athlete.
“The lads were giving me some stick on the side about presenting the ball, but they’re a great bunch.
“It feels like a new path has started for me.”
Burrell’s coach Steve
Price believes that he will continue to improve in coming weeks.
Price said: “He did what he had to do and it’s a work in progress.
“It was a tick in the right direction. He had to start somewhere and it’s all about small steps now, not big ones.
London’s against- the- odds season has been built on teamwork, resilience and solidity, and few were in evidence in a dismal first half display. But the Broncos then showed the kind of character that has earned them seven wins this season by winning the second half.
Coach Danny Ward (left) said: “The boys did a lot of talking at half-time. They had a decision to make – to roll over and die and have 70 points put on them, or roll their sleeves up and get back to work.
“We did a bit of that second half although I’m not getting too excited about it.
“If we were playing last try wins we’d have won today, but unfortunately we weren’t playing schoolyard rules.”
Ward’s side were simply blown away in the first 40 minutes as the visitors scored at almost a point a minute. Tom Lineham capitalised on a Kieran Dixon mistake to open the scoring before Mike Cooper barged his way over.
Bryson Goodwin finished a break from the outstanding Ben Currie, Jake Mamo sliced over from a set move and then set up Jack Hughes for the fifth.
When Toby King took a Dec Patton kick for the sixth try just before half- time a landslide scoreline looked on the cards.
But the Broncos hit back within two minutes of the restart through Matty Fozard, and then showed the kind of resolve that had been lacking in the first half to prevent the Wolves from scoring in front of a sizeable travelling support.