Toronto and London face off for a place in Super League. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Toronto Wolfpack
Toronto are just 80 minutes away from sealing a spot in Super League for the first time, in only their second year of existence.
They achieved a symbolically historic win last Friday when they overcame Leeds Rhinos at Headingley, and they will keep top flight company every week if they can beat London on home turf for a third time this season.
There is just one change to the squad, with an injury to forward Cory Paterson a big blow for Paul Rowley’s side. Winger Adam Higson is in the 19 for the first time since July in his place.
There were doubts surrounding half-back Blake Wallace but he has been included in the side alongside Ryan Brierley, who could deputise despite not playing a minute in the Qualifiers.
Toronto 19-man squad: Wheeler, McCrone, Brierley, Buchanan, Beswick, Sims, Dixon, Ackers, Sidlow, Wallace, Higson, Krasniqi, Whiting, Rawsthorne, Emmitt, Russell, O’Brien, Lussick, Caton-Brown.
London Broncos
London are searching for a return to Super League for the first time since their relegation in 2014, and in Danny Ward’s first season in charge.
They were given a stern test last week at home to Halifax, but got over the line to set up this all-or-nothing showdown in Canada.
Matt Davis has played his final game for the club before moving to Warrington, while Sadiq Adebiyi also comes out despite being one of their better forwards last week.
Rob Butler returns to the squad, as does half-back Jamie Meadows despite not featuring for the Broncos since the transatlantic trip in early June.
London 19-man squad: Kear, Williams, Hellewell, Dixon, Sammut, Spencer, Ioane, Pitts, Walker, Battye, Gee, Channing, Evans, Lovell, Butler, Davies, Hindmarsh, Meadows, Pelissier.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two sides will meet for the fourth time this season, with the Wolfpack searching for a third win over London in a row on home soil.
The Broncos inflicted one of only two Championship defeats on Toronto when they gave them an early-season reality check with a stunning 47-16 win at Ealing.
Both meetings at the Lamport Stadium have been won by the hosts though, starting with a 32-12 victory in June.
They then defeated London again in the Qualifiers, building up a 32-0 lead before withstanding an unlikely comeback in which the visitors scored four tries in 11 minutes, to hold on 34-22.
KEY BATTLE – Blake Wallace vs Jarrod Sammut
The forward pack will of course have a large part to play, and if the Toronto forwards can be as dominant as they were when they faced London in the Qualifiers then it should be a comfortable afternoon, with the Broncos looking less convincing in that department against Halifax last week as well.
It’s a massive match though, and two very motivated sides with everything to play for will hopefully give us a close-fought clash.
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Jarrod Sammut is the key to everything for London, almost single-handedly leading them to victory last Saturday, and they will look to him for inspiration on every final play to break through a sturdy Wolfpack door.
For Toronto, Blake Wallace has been a key player in the Qualifiers despite not being a first-choice half-back for much of the season, and he will be instrumental in creating tries in the Million Pound Game.
If it goes right down to the wire, the battle between Sammut and Gareth O’Brien, who certainly has history in this game, for a drop goal would be an exhilarating one.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 7th October
Venue: Lamport Stadium
Kick-off: 7:00pm (UK time), 2:00pm (local time)
Referee: Chris Kendall
