London Broncos have made a statement of intent in the off-season, boasting one of the strongest squads for the upcoming Betfred Championship season, which gets underway this weekend.
The Broncos are the team to beat in the 2026 competition under new head coach Jason Demetriou, and star signing Reagan Campbell-Gillard is relishing the challenge ahead.
The formidable forward has previously starred for the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans in the NRL and has also represented both Australia in the World Cup and New South Wales in The State of Origin.
Now finding his feet in the capital, Campbell-Gillard will look to lead from the front, with his calibre and experience simply unmatched in the second tier.
“It’s been great so far. It’s been a little bit cold though!” said the Broncos’ new captain.
“I’m liking it so far – coming over here was always something I wanted to do towards the back end of my career.
“I’m excited to be here, excited for the club and excited to see what happens this year.”
A star-studded London Broncos promises to provide entertainment in 2026, with high-profile recruits such as Campbell-Gillard and former NRL player Siliva Havili. This is alongside a very strong contingent of Papua New Guinea internationals, as well as a long list of individuals who have previously competed in the Betfred Super League.
Commenting on pre-season, Campbell-Gillard said:
“Pre-season has been good. We’ve got everyone deck at the moment. We’re itching to start playing some rugby now and it’s just around the corner.”
The 32-year-old prop admitted he didn’t have much prior knowledge of Rugby League’s second division in England, but is enthusiastic to learn all about it as he embarks on this new chapter of his career:
“I knew about Super League, but I didn’t know much about the Championship. I’ve only recently found out about the Challenge Cup competition, so this is all sort of new to me.
“I’ve only been here for just over a month and I’ve only just found out Batley Bulldogs’ famous hill!
London’s intentions are clear in 2026, and so are Campbell-Gillard’s:
“I want to see the club do great. I want to see the London Broncos in the Super League. That’s the goal, the dream and the vision that we’re driving at the moment, as a club.
“I’ve played some NRL games and it’s very fun, but I’m trying to get back to first grade and have the goal of playing first grade over here in England.”
As they gear up to face fellow Championship heavyweights and former Super League side Widnes Vikings on Sunday, the Cherry Red Records Stadium is set to be rocking, and Campbell-Gillard says his plan this year "aiming to do what (he does) best", which is playing the very best of his rugby league.
Just how much of a force will the Broncos be in 2026?
The full fixture list for the new Betfred Championship season can be found here.
