08 October 2023

Featherstone’s successful 2023 season came to an abrupt end with a surprise home defeat against a resurgent London Broncos in the Championship Playoff Semi-finals. After finishing top of the league with 25 wins from 27 games, Rovers were hot favourites to make the Grand Final, but a hugely disappointing performance allowed the visitors to take full advantage and, frustrating though defeat was, Rovers could really have no complaints.

London started the sharper and Walker sliced through after four minutes to establish a early lead the visitors never lost. A Crossfield kick was not cleared and the Broncos moved 12-0 ahead. It was not until Rovers made a triple substitution that they started to make an impression. Firstly Chris Hankinson dived onto Mark Kheirallah’s kick through, before Kheirallah offloaded to put the dangerous Joey Leilua over. Both Kheirallah’s conversions were successful and the scores were level. Just when it looked like the home time were finally taking control, Walker scored his second try just before the break after some soft tackling to give London an 18-12 half-time lead.

If the first half started sluggishly for Featherstone, the second half started disastrously. A scrappy opening suddenly swung London’s way when Brad Day was sinbinned for a tip tackle. Against 12 men, London sensed their chance. With two tries wide out, both converted, put the Broncos 30-12 up. Errors and penalties mounted up against the home side before London’s 6^th try left them 36-12 up with just fifteen minutes to go.

Rovers rallied, but it was all too little too late, as three late tries failed to recuperate lost ground. Hankinson raced over straight from a scrum, but Kheirallah’s conversion hit the post. Luke Briscoe then raced over straight from a scrum, and Kheirallah’s conversion went over. Leilua grabbed his second try, but Rovers were still ten points behind when time ran out.