London host Halifax needing a win to seal a place in the Million Pound Game. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
London Broncos
London will be aiming for a second win in a row, and third at home, when they welcome Halifax to the Trailfinders Sports Club.
Head coach Danny Ward makes just one change from the victory over Salford Red Devils last week, with Will Lovell replacing Rob Butler in the 19.
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There are plenty of possibilities but a win should earn fifth place at least, and depending on other results they could claim a home tie for the Million Pound Game.
London 19-man squad: Kear, Williams, Hellewell, Dixon, Sammut, Spencer, Ioane, Pitts, Davis, Walker, Battye, Gee, Channing, Evans, Adebiyi, Lovell, Davies, Hindmarsh, Pelissier.
Halifax
Part-time Halifax travel to the capital with nothing but pride to play for after six defeats out of six so far in the Qualifiers.
Richard Marshall makes three changes to the side that was defeated by Leeds last weekend, with Shane Grady and Sion Jones both suffering injuries in that game, while Will Maher is in the squad for parent club Castleford.
Curtis Davies joins twin brother Connor in the squad and could make his first-team debut, while James Saltonstall and Frazer Morris return to the team.
Halifax 19-man squad: Sharp, Heaton, Tyrer, Saltonstall, Murrell, Johnston, Kaye, Tangata, Fairbank, Moore, Woodburn-Hall, Butler, F Morris, Moss, Fleming, Douglas, Cooper, Connor Davies, Curtis Davies.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The home sides have come out on top in both meetings between the two in the Championship this season, with Halifax winning 26-16 at the Shay back in April before London edged the return 20-18 in July.
In total the Broncos have won five of the last seven meetings, while the West Yorkshire side haven’t beaten them in the capital since 2003 – when current Fax boss Marshall was part of the London team.
KEY BATTLE – Jarrod Sammut vs Scott Murrell
Summut was instrumental in the win over Salford last week, and London will need their half-back in top form again to control the game and create try-scoring opportunities against Halifax.
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If the visitors want to stay in the game and give themselves a chance of victory, they need their own classy half-back to step up, with captain Murrell’s game management usually spot-on, even if creativity has been more of a struggle in these Qualifiers.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 29th September
Venue: Trailfinders Sports Club
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Referee: Gareth Hewer