James Meadows believes London cannot be ignored as Broncos’ home run begins

JAMES Meadows hopes to further prove to rugby league that London cannot be ignored when it comes to finding talent.

After five years, top flight rugby league returns to the capital tonight.

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The Broncos’ top flight stay may be a short one after they were ranked a lowly 24th in IMG’s initial grading of clubs before they come in properly this year.

But after a stream of players brought through at the club going on to England honours and in Kai Pearce-Paul’s case the NRL, the potential is undoubted.

And Teddington boy Meadows sees no reason why more people down south cannot be turned on to the 13-a-side code, and why other clubs should not be looking there.

He said: “There’s a crazy amount of talent in London.

“It’s such a diverse community and a wide talent pool, if people aren’t tapping into it now they’re missing a trick. That’s where the game should be looking to produce players.

“A load more will come through in the future. The London community game’s growing and the game’s there, we’ve got to let as many people from London find it as possible.

“It’s not common, there aren’t many rugby league players from Teddington but my dad and granddad are from Leigh.

“More people are finding it. At home, more people I never thought would talk about the game are mentioning it. Hopefully there are more players from Teddington in future.

“And the club’s working so hard to do what it needs to do. A lot of people are putting in a lot of work in the background – I just hope that gets reflected.”

London’s life at the top table started with defeat at a St Helens side hell bent on getting its hands back on the Super League trophy.

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Now AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane hosts the visit of Catalans Dragons, with more than 4,500 people – more than double who went to the last top flight capital clash between the sides – expected.

And Meadows will have a better knowledge of what boss Mike Eccles is saying as he remains coach of Leeds University’s side, even though he has moved back from Batley.

The 24-year-old half back added: “I’ve a bit more sympathy now. If I make a bad decision and he’s pulling his hair out, I get it now.

“And I’m still doing as much as I can with Leeds Uni, even though I live in London.”