RUGBY LEAGUE; Broncos eye reinforcements

LONDON BRONCOS are poised to move for one of Australia's best forwards of recent years, the North Sydney prop or second-row, Gary Larson.

The club's chief executive, Tony Rea, who played alongside Larson at Norths, will study his form in this morning's televised match from Australia and then decide whether to go ahead with the approach. "I don't think he is particularly happy at Norths, but could still have a lot to offer to us," said Rea.

The injury-hit Broncos have been desperate for reinforcements, one of whom, the New Zealand-born St George-Illawarra forward, Andrew Wynard, is to make his debut from the bench against Salford today.

Salford, Super League's bottom club, who dispensed with Andy Gregory this week, hope to have Gary Broadbent and David Hulme back in their side at The Stoop. Meanwhile, the former Gold Coast coach, John Harvey, has emerged as a strong candidate for their vacant coaching role.

Gateshead, at home to Bradford tomorrow, have shelved plans to sign the Brisbane and former London utility player, John Plath. Although their captain, Kerrod Walters, is still in Thailand with his wife following her serious injuries in a road accident, the club is confident that he will be back with them in time for next weekend's match against London.

This weekend the Thunder are otherwise at full strength, with Ben Sammut at hooker, Steve Collins at full-back and Deon Bird returning via the bench.

The Bulls, second in Super League, are without their forwards Paul Anderson and Bernard Dwyer, but hope that Tevita Vaikona will recover sufficiently from a groin injury to play.

Wigan Warriors could be closer to maximum strength than they have been all season, with Kris Radlinski, Paul Johnson and Greg Florimo all due to return against Huddersfield. Only Brett Goldspink is still missing.

Huddersfield's scrum-half Bobbie Goulding will have more to prove than usual on his return to his first club. Goulding was omitted from Great Britain's 35-man training squad this week, much to the bafflement of his coach, Malcolm Reilly.

"I just don't understand why Bobbie has been left out," said Reilly. "It's beyond me why other players who aren't in the same class as him have been chosen."

The pick of tomorrow's games could be at Warrington, where visitors Leeds are still something of an uneven proposition in the aftermath of their Wembley triumph.

Leeds are without their long-term injury victims Richie Blackmore, Marc Glanville and Martin Masella, but Lee Jackson is expected to be fit.

Today's principal fixture illustrates the continued vigour of the amateur game across a broad swathe of northern England. Wath Brow Hornets are virtually at home at the Cumbria Sports Academy in Whitehaven for the BNFL final against Skirlaugh, the Humberside team coached by Bradford's Steve McNamara.