Revealed: How the Brisbane Broncos are going above and beyond ahead of World Club Challenge showdown against Hull KR in February
Brisbane are desperate to win the World Club Challenge against Hull KR – and will use an elite training base in London often used by the All Blacks as part of their preparation.
The defending NRL premiers will fly out on February 10 ahead of the February 20 AEDT showdown in Hull.
They will be based initially in London at The Lensbury, a resort on the banks of the River Thames famous for its links to elite sport.
The All Blacks have been regular users of the facility and were based there ahead of their 2015 Rugby World Cup title defence.
Manchester United also trained at the venue ahead of their 2023 semi-final win in the FA Cup and again before the final which they lost to Manchester City.
The standard of the pitches at The Lensbury is such that they were awarded UEFA Grade 5 status, placing them on par with Wembley Stadium.
Brisbane are desperate to win the World Club Challenge against Hull KR – and will use an elite training base in London often used by the All Blacks as part of their preparation (pictured, fullback Reece Walsh)
Broncos coach Michael Maguire, who won the 2015 World Club Challenge with South Sydney, has reinforced to his players how prestigious winning the title is
The facilities include two elite level sports pitches, a state of the art gym, team meeting rooms, a 25m pool and a team of chefs providing meals geared to the requirements of professional athletes.
To prepare for their lengthy stay in England, the Broncos will travel to Toowoomba on January 12 for a two-week camp where they will fine-tune preparations.
The Broncos have won the World Club Challenge twice, in 1992 with a 22-8 away win over Wigan Warriors and in 1997 following a 36-12 victory over Hunter Mariners in a unique final.
The 1997 format included 22 teams from Super League in Australia, England and France contesting six rounds and a finals series.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire, who was at the helm of South Sydney when they defeated St Helens 39-0 in the 2015 World Club Challenge, has reinforced to his players how prestigious winning the title is.
Prop Corey Jensen said being the first NRL side since the Sydney Roosters in 2020 to lift the trophy would be ‘massive’.
‘At the Broncos we strive to win trophies,’ he said.
‘That has been our motto since Madge (Maguire) came to the club.
‘We are under no illusions that they want to win it the same way we want to. It is going to be a good test.
‘An Australian team hasn’t won it for a while. The English take it personally so it is up to us to match it with them and bring the trophy back to Australia.’
