Broncos relish return to happy hunting ground

The London Broncos' coach, Tony Rea, hopes his side can draw on happy Challenge Cup memories of Headingley when they return this afternoon to the venue where they beat Castleford in a dramatic semi-final in 1999 before losing to Leeds in the final.

"We think of Headingley more as a neutral venue," said Rea yesterday. "It's a bit heart-warming just to be going there again in the Cup."

The Broncos suffered a shock home defeat against Halifax on the opening weekend of the Super League season last Sunday. "It wasn't what we wanted, but I haven't lost faith in the guys," insisted Rea. "If anything, we were over-keen. We need to relax a bit."

Rea has named an unchanged side, although his hands were tied with Paul Sykes, Jason Hetherington and Dom Peters all carrying long-term injuries, and Dennis Moran still a couple of weeks from fitness. But the newest member of the Broncos' squad, the "Prop Idol" talent search winner, James Hersey, will have to wait to make his competitive debut for the club.

"James is doing OK and we now want to get him some game time," said Rea. "We might ask the London Skolars, because it would be good for him to play at that level."

There is a tie at Headingley tomorrow as well, with Hunslet opting to switch their match against Bradford from their 2,500-capacity stadium.

Doncaster will be encouraged by seeing a Wigan side with Andy Farrell added to its injured list and with Paul Johnson suspended. The highly promising loose forward, Gareth Hock, makes his debut from the bench, while Mick Cassidy has made a surprise recovery from injury.

"We won't be pussy-footing," warned the Doncaster coach, St John Ellis. "This will be a very physical game and that is the way my boys like to play. We're at home and no one likes coming to our den."

The only all-Super League tie tomorrow is at Wakefield, who face Widnes, the side they knocked out last season.

The Swinton coach, Peter Roe, welcomes his former club, Featherstone, to Moor Lane, while Sheffield Eagles have also given up home advantage for their tie against Hull.