London Broncos pay for ‘really poor’ defensive showing against Wigan Warriors

London Broncos coach Mike Eccles described his side as “really poor defensively” in Sunday’s 60-22 home defeat against Wigan Warriors.

Tries from Jacob Jones and Lee Kershaw meant that the Plough Lane-based club were only trailing 22-10 at half-time.

Broncos also scored from the first attack of the second period through Rhys Kennedy.

But the hosts had Rob Butler sinbinned for a dangerous tackle after the restart as Wigan ended up running in 10 tries in total to go top of the Super League table.

Eccles told BBC Radio London: “We were really, really poor defensively. The biggest ‘learn’ we’ve had so far in Super League is that we’ve got to compete much harder defensively to get a crack at winning the game – we did that last week but today every time we made an error they scored, and good teams don’t do that.

“In the second half the lads went out with a rocket up them, scored straight away, and we were in the game. I think they [Wigan] were worried – they took the two (from a penalty), we had the ascendancy and were very good. Then it was a cascade effect. We got the yellow card, which I wasn’t happy with at all, but again with 12 men you have to be better. I wasn’t happy with the official James (Vella) in the second half at all.

“We got absolutely nothing – they were lying all over us, and a lot of second efforts which were supposed to have been eradicated.”
Broncos are at home to Warrington Wolves on Sunday (3pm).