Wests Warriors prepare to battle with Super League side Leeds Rhinos

Wests Warriors coach and co-founder Kimbo Parkinson says he has no concerns about his players from the London amateur club coming up against hardened professionals when they face Leeds Rhinos at Headingley on February 8 in the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup.

“I sat down with our halfback Jack Payne, who has played lower grades at St George Illawarra, and Neil Thorman, who I think played over 250 Championship matches, to see if they had any safety concerns or anything like that, “ Parkinson told Everything Rugby League

“They feel that it’s safer playing against a professional team where the tackle technique is correct. Pros aren’t out there to take out kneecaps. Whereas in our grade some guys are just ruthless and all they want to do is hurt. They said it doesn’t matter who you play the contact doesn’t change, you just get better technique at the higher level and I agree with them.”

Parkinson, who co-founded Wests Warriors in 2014 with the intention of it being a social hub for expat Kiwis and Aussies, revealed the change of venue to Headingley had attracted some debate amongst supporters. The club made a similar decision when they were matched against Championship side Widnes Warriors in the third round of the 2023 Challenge Cup.

“The RFL contacted me and they questioned things like the size of the pitch, no replay screen and no covered seating. So we went out and looked at sourcing temporary stands and things like that. The stands on there own were going to cost 6,000 pounds and no way were we going to get that back in gate sales so it wasn’t worth it.”

“Leeds actually reached out and said if you want to play it at Headingley we will pay your accommodation and obviously a percentage of gate sales as well. They are going to get more people through the gate than we would.

“I think the club ended up with around 3000 pounds after the Widnes game which helped with pitch hire for the following season, new training equipment and putting guys through first aid courses. “

Wests Warriors hooker Neil Thorman has had stints at York, Gateshead, Whitehaven and London Skolars. Parkinson described the 40 year old recruitment consultant as being the best in his position in the Southern Conference League.

“It’s going to be the biggest game or involvement in the club’s history. We were fortunate to play Widnes a couple of years back. The furthest I’ve been in the Challenge Cup is the quarter finals and played a very strong 2009 St Helens team,” Thorman revealed.

“This on the other hand is a lot different playing with a team that trains once a week, has a chicken parm club every Thursday and works as tradies, teachers and office workers. But know how excited everyone is to play, support and be part of the day at Headingley.

“The bigger picture is a lot different for us. We have to enjoy the smaller wins across the park. Those being winning a wrestle, a tackle, good finish to the set, kick chase etc. We have to just enjoy the moment. Even if that involves blowing out your arse for 80 minutes.

“Injuries are part and parcel of what we do as rugby players. We currently have picked up head knocks, stitches and broken thumbs from playing against amateur teams so it doesn’t concern us that we may pick up injuries from a professional outfit.”

Parkinson summed up the feeling the club will take with them on the five hour bus trip from London to Leeds, pointing to the unique opportunity and memories that will be made.

“We are obviously being quite realistic about it. You can’t go out there thinking they’re not going to put forty or fifty points on us, and maybe even more. I think we’re just excited about the whole occasion, going up and playing at Headingley. It will be similar to the Widnes game, in the build up to it. Like I said to the players we will just have fun and make the most of this because an opportunity like this probably might not happen again. So yeah, pretty stoked.”

Despite the doom and gloom surrounding rugby league in London at present with the London Broncos being relegated to the Championship and losing their long term owner on top of London Skolars dropping out of League One in 2023, Parkinson says his club is flourishing with two senior men’s teams and a women’s side.

“There is a 50/50 split these days between Kiwi/Aussie expats and UK born players which is a shift from 80/20 a few years ago and we are doing youth training camps this year to get junior players involved.”

Wests Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos, Saturday 8 February, AMT Headingley Stadium, 12pm.