LONDON Broncos fans probably all had a feeling of Deja Vu on Saturday night.

For the second week running, The Valley-based team raced into a lead, only to squander it.

Last week, after 18 minutes, they were 16 points up against Hull in a Silk Cut Cup Challenge match, but ended up losing 30-20.

This week, in the club's first Super League match of the new season, they raced to an 18-0 lead over Leeds Rhinos in 20 minutes. Once again they blew it and lost the match 50-18 as the Rhinos ran in nine tries without reply.

Broncos coach Tony Rea put a lot of it down to the fitness of his players. He said: “The Rhinos had already played several physical games leading into the new season, while this was only our second official fixture. We were playing smart football, but did not step up and find another level when it was needed.

“It looked to me as if we weren't handling the physical aspect of the game very well,” he said.

Despite the loss of key playmaker Jim Dymock, who had to have elbow surgery during the week, coach Rea added: “There's no excuse for some of those tries. They were the result of missed one-on-one tackles.”

London next play at Halifax on March 18 before returning to The Valley to take on St Helens on Saturday, March 24.