FOR the moment at least, Sunday will see Warrington Wolves travel to their only ‘new ground’ of the season.
The Round Five trip to London Broncos sees them visit the Cherry Red Records Stadium in the south of the capital for the very first time and will be the first of two visits in Super League’s regular season this year – they will return in Round 21 on Sunday, August 11.
The Broncos moved into their new home in 2022 having struck up a groundshare agreement with football club AFC Wimbledon, who opened the Plough Lane ground as their new home back in 2020.
On Sunday, it will become the eighth ground to have hosted a London/Harlequins home fixture against Warrington in the Super League era.
Here’s a look back at the other seven…
EALING TRAILFINDERS
Wire visited the Broncos’ most recent Super League home ground twice, the most recent being during London’s last stay in the top-flight in 2019.
Steve Price’s side ran out 36-6 winners that day as Mike Cooper, Bryson Goodwin, Jack Hughes, Toby King, Tom Lineham and Jake Mamo touched down.
The game was perhaps better known for England rugby union international Luther Burrell making his Wire debut in a move that proved unsuccessful, with Burrell released from his contract the following year after making just eight appearances.
They also visited back in 2017 and narrowly avoided an embarrassing Middle 8s defeat – Wire had turned round a 14-10 half-time deficit to be seemingly cruising to victory at 40-20 up, but a late Broncos onslaught had them clinging on for a 40-38 win.
THE HIVE, BARNET
Back in 2014, Warrington’s trip to London was hosted at The Hive Stadium in Barnet and Tony Smith’s side ran out 44-16 winners.
Rhys Evans starred with four tries as the visitors stormed back having trailed 16-14 at the break, with Ryan Atkins also touching down twice.
Roy Asotasi, Chris Bridge and Gene Ormsby were also on the scoresheet while current club captain Stefan Ratchford kicked four goals.
PRIESTFIELD, GILLINGHAM
In 2013, The Wire were the visitors for one of only two home matches the Broncos played at Priestfield and came away with an 82-10 win that remains a club record to this day.
A rampant Wolves side ran in 15 tries, including a hat-trick for Simon Grix and two each for Ryan Atkins, Michael Monaghan and Richie Myler.
Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford, Chris Riley and Ben Westwood also posted tries in the rout.
TWICKENHAM STOOP
Of all the grounds in and around the capital that the Broncos or Harlequins have called home, the Stoop was the one Wire visited most in Super League.
They played there 10 times in the summer era, the first being a 30-6 defeat back in May 1997 and the last being a 62-18 thumping in August 2012, a week before they would successfully win back the Challenge Cup across the city at Wembley against Leeds.
Their record there is a symmetrical one with five victories and five defeats.
GRIFFIN PARK
The former home of Brentford Football Club hosted Super League matches against Warrington five times in the early 2000s.
Wire lost three of those trips, with their last win being a 36-24 success in April 2004 thanks in part to two tries from Jerome Guisset.
Jon Clarke, Mike Forshaw, Paul Noone and Mike Wainwright also touched down that day.
Previously, tries from Graham Appo, Sid Domic, Brent Grose, Ian Sibbit and Ben Westwood earned Warrington a 29-8 win at Griffin Park in March 2003.
STADE ALBERT DOMEC, CARCASSONNE
A young Ben Westwood would mark his Warrington debut following his signing from Wakefield with two tries, but Wire wilted in the French heat as Super League went “on the road” to Carcassonne.
Lee Briers also touched down as Warrington were beaten 30-18 by the Broncos back in June 2002.
THE VALLEY
The home of Charlton Athletic FC hosted Warrington four times, including their first Super League trip to the capital in 1996 which ended in a 20-13 defeat.
Wire won there twice in 2000 – 28-18 in June then 32-16 in August – but their final visit saw them go down 38-16 in May 2001.
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