London Broncos head coach Jason Demetriou has praised his side's defensive resilience after they claimed the 2026 1895 Cup on Monday.
In a tense and fiercely contested final against Widnes Vikings, the Broncos were forced to withstand long periods of pressure before lifting the trophy and adding another piece of silverware to their memorable season.
Reflecting on the performance, Demetriou admitted his team had to overcome a few setbacks but was delighted with the way they responded defensively:
"I was just saying before, if there was a script on how to lose, how to beat yourself, then we were ticking every box at times in that game - but at the same time credit to Widnes for the pressure they put us under.
“They [Widnes] barely made a mistake in that first 60 minutes and kept putting the ball down our end. It felt like there were moments where we started to get ascendancy and then we were just pushing passes or not being disciplined.
“But our trial in defence and our defence throughout the whole game was outstanding and it had to be, especially in that first half.
“I said to the players at half time, our trial on defence is as good as it's been all year. If we defend like that and we're keeping teams to one try, then we're going to be very difficult to beat."
Demetriou highlighted the importance of experience in big games, noting that despite outside perceptions, his squad are still learning how to navigate the these kind of occasions:
"Everyone talks about us being full-time a lot and how we’re this international side, but the reality is that's not true - there’s only two or three players in there that have played big games and understand how to get yourself through big games and how important every set of six is, every moment is and how just to stay calm.
The Broncos coach pointed to the influence of his seasoned stars such as skipper Reagan Campbell-Gillard and believes the lessons learned from matches like Sunday's final will continue to drive the team forward:
“Reagan Campbell-Gillard's efforts and the way he played there was exactly what I'm talking about. He just consistently doing his job, front foot, footy, doing what we need from him.
“And the boys will take a lot of lessons out of that.
“The bigger games we play in, the better we’ll get. I felt like we've taken some lessons the last few weeks, and we’ll take a few more today, but like I said, from the defensive perspective, we were outstanding today."
Demetriou was full of praise for this year’s 1895 Cup Final, and thought both teams rose to the occasion and successfully delivered on the big stage:
"The crowd was massive today. There’s been a lot of talk around that 1895 Cup and the way it's played out, but I think we saw the end result today.
“It was two quality sides going at it. It was a great spectacle for anyone watching it, and great spectacle for anyone who was in the ground."
As well as securing another trophy, Demetriou believes the victory represents another important step in the club's efforts to build momentum for the club's long-term vision in the capital.
London have already enjoyed a season of milestones, and the head coach feels yesterday’s 1895 Cup success can help attract even greater support as the Broncos prepare for the Play-Offs:
"I think we've spoken about it throughout the year, that we're trying to gain momentum for the club and we're trying to create interest in the area in London as well and grow the game.
“To do that we've got to be successful and when we're ticking boxes like first minor premierships and first cups and all those types of things and it gains traction for the club and it gives the players confidence and the supporters.
“I can't credit our supporters enough.
“It’s five minutes from Widnes to this stadium and it's five hours for our supporters and huge number of them come out here today.
“It sets up well for the final series in London where we can grow some more momentum. I'm really excited for what the cup does - it allows us to grow more momentum and hopefully we can kick that into the final series and then beyond that."
With 1895 Cup celebrations now complete, attention quickly turns to the Championship Play-Offs, where London will look to carry their winning form into the business end of the season and achieve a Championship treble.
Demetriou knows the challenge ahead will be demanding, but he is confident his squad is well equipped for what lies ahead:
"It’s a big final series; it's a top 10 and a five-week final series. It’s going to take some winning for the team who gets to the end.
“This group is a special group. They’ve come together so quickly and now they've got an opportunity to have some magic moments over the next month. The biggest focus is for the players is to go out and enjoy that time and enjoy playing in London and whatever happens after that will take care of itself.
“We're a really strong squad - achieving great things on and off the field.”
