Salford v London. 

Last Sunday turned into a very frustrating afternoon for Salford. It’s was a match we definitely looked like winning for most of the eighty minutes but some key decisions at crucial moments in the match came at a real cost. Failure to deal with the astute kicking game of Sheffield half back Jordan Abdull was probably the difference on the day. With all that said this inexperienced Salford side is evolving week by week. It’s important that lessons are learnt though because you can only excuse mitigation for so long. 

London Broncos have swept aside every team they’ve played in the Championship so far in 2026. They’ve come up short just once in the Challenge Cup with narrow loss against Bradford. For most of the season they’ve looked certain to be back in the top flight for 2027 but just recently murmurings in the press have thrown in a bit of doubt. It’s seems crazy the current system of teams not knowing their fate for the following season. Huddersfield are really struggling in Super League and I’ve got no personal agenda against the Giants like some seem to have but if they finish bottom they should be relegated in my opinion. That’s sport. That said if London go on to win the Grand Final they should be promoted. Sport shouldn’t be played on spread sheets. It leaves too much doubt for inside interests and manipulation. I don’t think supporters truly trust this method either. I hope in the near future we get back to promotion and relegation as long as the club coming up wants to come up and can manage financially being able to complete the fixtures. 

You’ve probably gathered by now that I have quite strong opinions on certain aspects of our sport. I always try and look at things fairly though without my blinkers on. If all goes to plan for the Broncos they will be back in Super League and I for one hope they make a success of it.

London’s last victory in this fixture came back in 2013. This was a really miserable year for Salford. The Broncos thumped us by 4-38 and that saw the end of coach Phil Vievers who lost his job. Salford went on to finish bottom that season but we did win at thrilling away match in London 30-44.

 League home record.

Salford 14

Draws 0

London 9

2024 Salford 34 London Broncos 4

2019 Salford 24 London Broncos 0

2014 Salford 58 London Broncos 26

2013 Salford 4 London broncos 38

2012 Salford 44 London broncos 12

2011 Salford 26 Harlequins 18

2010 Salford 17 Harlequins 14

2009 Salford 18 Harlequins 48

2007 Salford 5 Harlequins 2

2006 Salford 28 Harlequins 29

2005 Salford 26 London Broncos 18

2005 Salford 20 London Broncos 16

2004 Salford 30 London Broncos 12

2002 Salford 18 London Broncos 42

2001 Salford 12 London Broncos 50

2001 Salford 12 London Broncos 14

2000 Salford 42 London Broncos 26

1999 Salford 31 London Broncos 14

1998 Salford 23 London Broncos 20

1997 Salford 16 London Broncos 27

1984 Salford 28 Fulham 12

1984 Salford 4 Fulham 6

1982 Salford 13 Fulham 26

They played for both.

Since Fulham made there debut season in 1980 there have been a lot of players to represent the capitals team (Fulham,London,Harlequins)and Salford, here are a selection;

Steven Bannister, Radney Bowker, Andrew Brocklehurst, Luke Burgess, Mason Caton Brown, David Cruikshank, Luke Dorn, David Driver, Carl Forster, Matt Gardner, Matty Gee, Tony Gourley, George Griffin, Gareth Haggerty, Tim Hartley, David Highton, Andy Johnson, Ben Jones Bishop, Olsi Krasniqi, Tommy Lee, Ian Maccorquodale, Martin Offiah, Rob Parker, Gareth Price, Jon Roper, Darren Shaw, Andy Smith, Anthony Stewart, Trevor Stockley and Josh White.

A match to remember Sunday 10th February 2019.

Salford 24 London Broncos 0.

Another chilly afternoon awaited the two sides at kick off with the thought of Summer Rugby still a few months away. It is still very much big coat and bobble hat weather.

The Broncos came up with an early error spilling the ball in front of there own posts. There defence stood strong though in the early stages with Salford throwing a lot at them on attack.

The Red Devils continued to push forward with relentless pressure. Jackson Hastings short kicking game became a little predictable with London reading the plays well.

The dead lock was broken after 20 minutes. Gil Dudson with some fantastic defensive work to force a drop out. Neat work from Josh Jones followed to send Ken Sio over for his third try of the season. Hastings took on the kicking duties and got off to a fine start, 6-0.

Salford were on the front foot now but still London’s stubbornness was hard to break down.

Sio almost grabbed his second try just before the break but referee James Child brought play back for a forward pass.

If The Red Devils had any nerves they were soon disbursed on there first attack of the second half. A sublime kick through from Niall Evalds, perfectly placed for Hastings to pounce for a super try under the posts. Salford’s scrum half again successful with the boot, 12-0.

London continued to battle with some solid defence and Danny Ward’s side showed glimpses of the pace they have on the edges. Salford had to be mindful of the threat from speedsters Kieron Dixon and Elliot Kear.

Hastings added a penalty goal on 55 minutes to extend the advantage to 14-0.

Kris Welham was again a rock in defence before making a thrilling break down the right wing. His clever kick through for Derrell Olpherts forcing a goal line drop out.

Salford camped on the Broncos line once again, at times though Ian Watson’s men tended to over play with perhaps to many passes.

Evalds put the game to bed in the right place at the right time as usual to touch down for his fourth try in two games.

Lee Mossop went to the sin bin with 5 minutes remaining before Josh Jones got a well deserved try in the final minute. Jackson Hastings kicking 4 out of five conversions.

The teams that day,

Salford, Evalds, Olpherts, Welham, Sa’u, Sio, Lui, Hastings, Mossop, Lussick, Dudson,  Jones, Turgut, Flanagan.

Subs, Griffin, Burke, Nakubuwai, Tomkins.

London, Walker, Dixon, Morgan Kear, Williams, Abdull, Cunningham, Richards, Fozard, Mason, Pitts, Gee, Yates.

Subs, Battye, Lovell, Ioane, Pellisier.

Attendance, 3,236.

Referee, James Child.

Sunday’s match.

This is going to be one hell of a mission for the Salford team against arguably the best ever team to play outside the top flight. I’ve never known a team to score this many points and dominate matches the way London have in 2026. Of course they have assembled a very good side and spent a lot of money on the salary cap. Their owners have huge ambition and aspirations. It’s a huge leap from the Championship to Super League and now I think the gulf is as big as it’s ever been. I was thinking back to our season in 2003 in the National League as it was called then. Karl Harrison our coach assembled a fantastic team full of quality players and some exciting young players too. Looking back at the matches that year though we had some real close games. What has changed since 2003 to 2026? I don’t think this London squad is any better than that team we had. I think the game has changed immensely since then, it’s quicker and the elite players seem to be bigger and stronger.

The Championship and League one merging certainly hasn’t helped but with all that said I am not taking anything away from the way the Broncos are playing. I’ve seen us play Doncaster three times this season and the two matches away from home I thought Doncaster were outstanding and arguably the best team we’ve played this season. Hold that thought though! Last weekend London beat Doncaster 68-18. That just highlights how ruthless the Broncos are. They also seem to score a lot of points in the final quarter of matches. Again their superior fitness and conditioning stands out for all to see.

With all that said how will Salford coach Dave Hewitt approach Sunday’s game? I think it’s a case of picking your best seventeen players and going for it. It’s an opportunity to test ourselves against the best. A lot can happen in eighty minutes. Over the years we’ve seen Salford win matches against teams where nobody gave us a chance. A particular game stands out in February 1996! 

Since the two sides last met at the Cherry Red Records Stadium back in March Salford have improved out of sight. With a passionate home crowd behind us this is another perfect opportunity to show the world of Rugby League that Salford Rugby League Club are here to stay. 

The action gets under way at 3pm

Safe travels and enjoy the game.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick, Adam Hanglin and Gareth Lyons for the photos and the Salford match day programme.