Moment of truth (From Warrington Guardian)

Moment of truth

PAUL Cullen is under no illusions to the size of the task facing Warrington Wolves when their Engage Super League season starts at London Broncos on Sunday.

Wolves' head coach said: "This is going to be one of the toughest games we've had against London for many, many years."

It is a mark of the progress and expectancy surrounding Wolves this year that Cullen fully backs his troops to come home from Griffin Park with the important opening two points.

Barring any late training hiccups, Cullen will have his first choice 17 players doing the business for him in the capital against a new-look Broncos side that contains 11 players who have clocked up more than 1,000 appearances between them in Australia's NRL competition.

Wolves' team for the 3pm kick-off is expected to be: Brent Grose; Henry Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Toa Kohe-Love, Dean Gaskell; Lee Briers, Nathan Wood; Chris Leikvoll, Jon Clarke, Mark Hilton, Logan Swann, Mike Wainwright, Paul Noone. Subs: Mark Gleeson, Ben Westwood, Paul Wood, Danny Lima. Eighteenth man: Graham Appo.

It will be full senior debuts in Warrington colours for Great Britain international Martin Gleeson and Kiwi back rower Swann plus it will be Noone's first game since the nasty eye injury he collected against Widnes Vikings on December 28

Wolves will be one of only a few clubs to start the new campaign with all first choice players available, which is tribute in itself to the quality of the club's preparations.

Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, St Helens, Wigan Warriors and Hull FC are top six rivals to have lost the services of players before the season kicks off and London will be missing their club captain and prop forward Francis Stephenson, who bust his knee in the weekend's narrow defeat of London Skolars.

The Broncos will, however, hand debuts on Sunday to many of their overseas stars, including half backs Mark McLinden and Thomas Leuluai.

Twenty-five year old captain and likely stand off McLinden joins Broncos after six years of spearheading Canberra Raiders' attack at scrum half while 19-year-old Leuluai is no stranger to these shores after becoming New Zealand's first choice scrum half in last autumn's Tri-Nations tournament.

Cullen said: "We've only got one goal in this game and it is to come back with the two points. We know it's going to be exceptionally hard and we cannot afford to offer the same opening 20 minutes against London as we did against Salford in the friendly on January 30.

"London are a much improved side than last year. The inclusion of all of their NRL players has to mean they are a better side and in McLinden they've recruited a very talented half back. The loss of Dennis Moran to Wigan has been offset by the inclusion of McLinden, who is an outstanding player."

A huge turnout of primrose and blue support is expected at the home of Brentford Football Club as fans have been planning their trips by car, coach, bus, plane and train since the fixture was announced in December.

Cullen said: "I've got no doubt in my mind we'll have a massive following at London. We have always had it and it's always very welcome. It's needed and it'll be needed even more than before on Sunday."

The biggest question mark surrounding the Broncos of 2005 is how quickly their 12 new recruits can knit together with the established players to form a solid team. Five pre-season friendlies have helped in this area but, like Wolves, they have not been totally convincing in their friendly performances.

Broncos' Australian head coach Tony Rea says: "Every minute of every training session and pre-season game has been important for the team to gel together. There's all the other times when we're together off the field as well and the players have handled all facets really well.

"We're simply expecting to play well in this game. Both sides have new groups of blokes and so it will just be about going out there and doing the simple things right and building a good season on the back of it."

Rea did not appear too concerned at losing Stephenson with a busted knee at such a late stage in the preparations to the new campaign.

He said: "There are blokes ready to fill in. The main thing is that we have 17 players that are willing - the rest don't matter."

For directions to Griffin Park and for a statistical preview, see adjacent story.

Don't miss next week's Guardian for build-up to the February 20 clash with Leigh.

Broncos v Wolves stats

Last meeting: Broncos 34 Wolves 26, August 22, 2004. Wolves' try scorers were Henry Fa'afili, two, Jon Clarke, Ben Westwood and Ian Sibbit. Lee Briers kicked three goals. Away results versus Broncos in Super League (Wolves first): 1996, 13-20; 1997, 6-30; 1998, 4-14; 1999, 30-18; 2000, 28-18 and 32-16; 2001, 16-38; 2002, 18-30; 2003, 29-8 and 12-19; 2004, 36-24 and 26-34. Broncos squad: 1, Paul Sykes, 2, Jon Wells, 3, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, 4, Mark O'Halloran, 5, John Kirkpatrick, 6, Mark McLinden, 7, Thomas Leuluai, 8, Francis Stephenson, 9, Neil Budworth, 10, Steve Trindall, 11, Solomon Haumono, 12, Lee Hopkins, 13, Rob Purdham, 14, Danny Williams, 15, Mitchell Stringer, 16, Joe Mbu, 17, Mark Tookey, 18, Anthony Armour, 19, Dave Highton, 20, Filimore Lolohea, 21, Luke Dorn, 22, Lee Sanderson, 23, Lee Greenwood, 24 Tyrone Smith, 25, Zebastian Luisi. Links with Wolves: Dave Highton was sacked by Wolves, Rob Purdham played for Paul Cullen at Whitehaven. Danger man: Vastly experienced Aussie half back Mark McLinden. Broncos' last five home games (including last season): Drew with Leeds, 36-36; beat Wigan, 22-20; beat Wolves, 34-26; lost to Wakefield, 24-16; lost to Wigan, 26-22. Directions to Griffin Park: Exit the M25 at junction 15 (M4, London (W) on to the M4 eastbound. Exit the M4 at junction 2 (A4, N and S Circular A406 (A205), Chiswick A315), on to the slip road down to the A4, which runs underneath and parallel to the M4. At Chiswick Roundabout, take the 4th exit (s/p S. Circular A205, A316, M3 Richmond) on to Chiswick High Road/Kew Bridge Road. Go straight on for 0.3 miles to the junction/lights (Kew Bridge Junction). Here, keep in right hand lane for the A315. At the lights, after 0.5 miles, turn right (by McDonald's) into Ealing Road, which runs past Griffin Park on the left hand side.