Last updated on .From the section Rugby League London Broncos were last in Super League in 2014 Million Pound Game Toronto Wolfpack (0) 2 Goal: O'Brien London Broncos (2) 4 Goals: Sammut 2 London Broncos head coach Danny Ward praised his side's "unbelievable achievement" after they booked the final Super League spot for next season by beating favourites Toronto Wolfpack in the Million Pound Game. Broncos will return to the top flight for the first time since relegation in 2014 after holding off Wolfpack in a cagey encounter in Canada. Just three goals were exchanged by the two sides as stubborn defence and sloppy mistakes made for a nervy game. Ward said he had to convince the Broncos players that promotion to Super League was a realistic target back in November. "They have been a credit to London rugby league since day one when we looked around on the first day of pre-season at a room full of kids," he said. "We lost a lot of experience and we've not replaced anyone. Me and Langers [assistant Jamie Langley] had to drill into them that we were going to do something special this year and they took some convincing. "But they've not stopped since, they've been outstanding." Jarrod Sammut slotted a penalty in either half to lead London to a narrow win. Gareth O'Brien registered Wolfpack's only points, but he missed a second attempt off the tee from distance which would have brought the scores level at 4-4 in the closing stages. Former Leeds and London forward Ward was promoted from the role of assistant coach when Andrew Henderson left the club at the end of last season to join Warrington, and the Londoners were outsiders for promotion. But Ward was named Championship coach of the year after guiding them to a second-place finish - and they then toppled favourites Toronto at the Lamport Stadium. "They've put me through it this year and I'm glad it's done now. I can sit back, have a nice glass of scotch and enjoy it," he said. "The next job is to get these blokes on a plane back to London." Wolfpack tamed in home den Neither Toronto or London Broncos could break through for a try in the Million Pound Game Broncos will replace relegated Widnes Vikings in Super League in 2019 while Toronto will remain in the Championship for a second year after being denied automatic promotion in the regular season on points difference by Hull KR. The Canadian club were looking to seal back-to-back promotions after their rise from League One last term, and they were only beaten twice in the Championship season. "We congratulate London on their victory and wish them the best of luck in Super League," said head coach Paul Rowley. "We didn't play well, we didn't get any territory and we didn't put any pressure on them. "That's sport. Unfortunately this is a bitter pill to swallow but we'll go again." Victory for Broncos in the promotion play-off was sweet revenge after they had lost on their two previous visits to Toronto earlier in the season. In a nervous atmosphere, with the prize of £1m in additional funding on the line from Super League for the winners, two of the Championship's most free-scoring sides were unable to produce a try. It was not for lack of effort and endeavour though, as Toronto had four tries ruled out either for infringements or last-ditch Broncos defence holding the ball up over the line. A bruising encounter at times also saw Toronto hooker Andy Ackers sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on his opposite number Eloi Pelissier. Their loose forward Bob Beswick was also unable to continue after taking a blow to the head attempting to make a tackle just before the hooter sounded. Where next for Toronto? Ashton Sims was one of the big-name additions to Toronto's squad this season All the signs before the Million Pound Game pointed to Toronto Wolfpack taking the final Super League spot and creating a transatlantic frontier for the 13-man code's top flight. Backed by Australian mining tycoon David Argyle, who has stated he has a five-year plan to take the team into Super League, this is their first setback. Wolfpack finished eight points clear of Broncos in the regular season and impressive victories in the Qualifiers against the likes of Leeds ensured they would be at home for this match. International experience already abounds in their squad and more big names in the game are reportedly bound for Ontario next season. Argyle will hope many of the 9,266 crowd who flocked to the city's Lamport Stadium on Canada's Thanksgiving Day will be back for Wolfpack's second tilt at Super League promotion next season. Toronto Wolfpack: O'Brien, Caton-Brown, Rawsthorne, Wheeler, Russell, McCrone, Wallace, Lussick, Beswick, Sims, Dixon, Whiting, Emmitt. Replacements: Buchanan, Ackers, Sidlow, Higson. Sin bin: Ackers (32) London Broncos: Walker, Williams, Kear, Hellewell, Dixon, Pitts, Sammut, Evans, Pelissier, Ioane, Gee, Lovell, Hindmarsh. Replacements: Spencer, Battye, Butler, Davies. Referee: Chris Kendall (RFL)<doc-sep>The Toronto Wolfpack's quest for promotion to the top tier of British rugby league was thwarted Sunday following a 4-2 loss to the London Broncos. London scrum-half Jarrod Sammut converted penalties in each half and the Broncos' defence stymied the Wolfpack's attack throughout the Million Pound Game at Lamport Stadium in Toronto. With the win, London earns a spot in Super League next year despite finishing second to Toronto in the Betfred Championship regular season. The Broncos have been outside the top tier since 2014. Match Wrap: Toronto Wolfpack fall short of promotion in Million Pound Game Sports 3:40 The Toronto Wolfpack will not be headed to Super League after a 4-2 loss to the London Broncos. 3:40 "There's some shattered people in there," said Wolfpack director of rugby Brian Noble, referring to the Toronto dressing room. "It's the first rebuttal, the first hurdle that we've stumbled at. But it can only make us stronger if we treat it in the right way." Mistakes, near-misses sink Wolfpack Gareth O'Brien broke the ice for Toronto with a converted penalty in the 56th minute to level the score, but a muffed kickoff from Blake Wallace gave the ball back to the Broncos and led to another shot at goal for Sammut. O'Brien later missed a long attempt at goal in the 70th minute. Trailing late, Toronto's Blake Wallace appeared to score two minutes later as he went over the try line in a sea of bodies. Video review, however, confirmed that he was held up as the Broncos defence stepped up again. Congratulations to the @LondonBroncosRL who have earned promotion to the 2019 @SuperLeague. Wishing you all the best next year! 🏉 pic.twitter.com/VIAvWOmqLq —@TOwolfpack It was the last in a series of near-misses for the Wolfpack; Toronto looked to have scored in the first minute after Broncos fullback Alex Walker fumbled a kick near the try line and Toronto captain Josh McCrone went over, but video review ruled that the Wolfpack were offside on the kick. The crowd thought Wolfpack prop Ashton Sims had scored after he crashed over the line in the 48th minute but video replay ruled he had been held up. "It's tough to end a season like that because it's not how we've been all year," McCrone said. "We'll be back next year ... unfortunately from Square 1 again. But that's life." Thomas Spencer ran over Toronto's Bob Beswick in the final minute, crumpling the Toronto hooker. The Irish international was helped off the pitch several minutes later. The game is known as the Million Pound Game because that figure — about $1.7 million — is said to be the difference in funding that a Super League club gets over a second-tier Championship side from the Rugby Football League. In August, Super League clubs voted to scrap the Super 8s Qualifiers with a simple one-up, one down promotion-relegation format.<doc-sep>The fledgling Toronto Wolfpack have been denied promotion ot the Super League by a gutsy London Broncos. @TOWolfpack. THE Toronto Wolfpack have been denied an historic Super League berth with a 4-2 loss to the London Broncos in the Million Pound Game in Canada. A near-capacity crowd of 9,266 packed into the suburban Lamport Stadium for the fourth-versus-fifth play-off which affords the winner a promotion to England’s Super League from the second-tier Championship. Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 2 months free with no lock-in contract. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply. The Broncos outlasted the fledgling Wolfpack, who were founded in 2016, to seal the fourth and final spot in the Super League for next season - as well as more than STG1 million in funding. In the first minute of the game, a disallowed try to Wolfpack skipper and former NRL playmaker Josh McCrone set the tone for a defensive and scrappy contest. The Wolfpack balanced a litany of errors with solid defence in the first half as they withstood a series of attacks on their own line, which the Broncos squandered with poor fifth-tackle decisions. Despite the Wolfpack being reduced to 12 men after a dangerous hit from their utility Andy Ackers, neither side managed to cross and the Broncos drew first blood with an early penalty conversion giving them a 2-0 lead at the break. Midway through the second half, Toronto made an unusual decision to take the two points from a penalty 42 metres out, but full-back Gareth O’Brien slotted it to level at 2-2. But the Broncos responded in kind only a minute later to regain the lead at 4-2 and never looked back. MORE NRL NEWS PITCH INVASION: PNG fans stop play after flooding the field PM’S XIII EDGE PNG: Australia has held off PNG in a drama-filled clash DONE DEAL: Cleary agrees to return to Penrith — and the move could happen soon SEASON REVIEW: No fairytale, but Storm maintain special 14-year record TRANSFER CENTRE: The big names still without clubs for 2019 ‘I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS’: Emotional Gus breaks down CASUALTY WARD: NRL stars sidelined by off-season surgery<doc-sep>Get the latest Rugby League updates, direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Winners and losers from the recent rugby league news and action from around the Super League and beyond. 3 up London secure promotion to Super League London Broncos have earned promotion back to the Super League after spending four seasons in the Championship. Danny Ward’s men shocked Toronto Wolfpack on Sunday afternoon in Canada by coming up with a 4-2 victory in the Million Pound Game. Jarrod Sammut landed both penalty goals in the win and the Broncos can now prepare for Super League next year, with the club needing plenty of reinforcements for a squad which is naturally very light for the top tier at this stage. Bradford back in the Championship Bradford Bulls also earned an important promotion this weekend as they captured the League One play-off final trophy thanks to a 27-8 win over Workington Town. Soon to be free-agent winger Jy Hitchxox bagged a hat-trick for the six-time top-tier champions as they worked their way back into the second tier. The Bulls won four Super League titles from 1997 to 2005 but dropped down to League One for this season following a points deduction for going into liquidation again last year. Next year they will be part of an intriguing Championship which will have the likes of Toronto, Widnes Vikings, Leigh Centurions, Toulouse, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax and York City Knights vying for Super League. Wigan could continue remarkable success Wigan Warriors are the benchmark in rugby league and their success could continue this weekend when they face Warrington Wolves in the 2018 Super League Grand Final. Shaun Wane’s men defeated Castleford Tigers in the league semi-finals last Friday to book another trip to Old Trafford. (Image: SWpix) Wigan have won four Grand Finals in the summer era since 1996 but it’s their overall record which is even more impressive. The Warriors have won 21 league titles, which is eight more than any other club, with St Helens in second with 13. Warrington, however, haven’t won the Super League trophy and have only landed three league titles in their history. The last of those was in 1955. 3 down McShane omitted from England selection Not only did Paul McShane’s Castleford Tigers lose to Wigan Warriors in the semi-finals of the Super League, the hooker wasn’t selected for the England squad last week. McShane has had a fine season but even that wasn’t enough to see him make Wayne Bennett’s 24-man squad for the Test series against New Zealand. Canberra Raiders star Josh Hodgson has impressed the NRL since returning from injury and will start for Bennett, while Warrington Wolves’ Daryl Clark is seen as the ideal back-up dummy-half off the bench. Toronto fail in MPG This was a great opportunity for Toronto to make the Super League. They were at home against a heavy underdog in London but couldn’t get the job done. This is not just about the Wolfpack being denied promotion for one more year. Next season is going to be very difficult for the Canadians again. Seven aforementioned sides will be eyeing the Championship play-off final next year and considering Toronto choked in the Million Pound Game, it really does prove anything could happen in 2019. Saints lose another semi St Helens narrowly missed out on the Grand Final last year as they went down to a dramatic defeat at Castleford Tigers and a year on they suffered the same fate at home to Warrington Wolves. But this time around they were heavy favourites after cruising to the League Leaders’ Shield. Tom Lineham bagged a brace to inspire Warrington to an 18-13 victory at the Totally Wicked Stadium. This means that star full-back Ben Barba leaves for the NRL without a major trophy to his name.<doc-sep>
TORONTO Wolfpack skipper Josh McCrone choked back tears after a 4-2 loss to the London Broncos in the Million Pound Game, with a series of disallowed tries denying the club an historic berth in England’s Super League. The fledgling Canadian rugby league side were subject to a series of controversial refereeing decisions with McCrone, Wolfpack deputy Ashton Sims and fellow Australian Blake Wallace all crossing the line only to have their tries overturned. Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 2 months free with no lock-in contract. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply. The Broncos sealed the fourth and final promotion spot to the top-tier Super League for next season - as well as more than STG1 million ($1.9 million) in funding. They had halfback Jarrod Sammut to thank as the Australian converted both penalty goals. “It’s a tough pill to swallow; I’ve Invested a lot of time and moved my family to the other side of the world for a dream, but the dream has to wait another year now,” an emotional McCrone told AAP. “I have to be careful what I say... but full credit to London.” Former St George Illawarra Dragons playmaker McCrone was denied a try in the first minute of the game, which set the tone for a scrappy contest in front of a near-capacity crowd of 9,266 at Toronto’s suburban Lamport Stadium. After the Broncos took a 2-0 half-time lead courtesy of an early penalty conversion from Sammut, former North Queensland Cowboys enforcer Sims was denied a try in the second half. When Toronto evened the score with a penalty in the 56th minute, the visitors responded in kind only a minute later with Sammut’s conversion to regain a two-point buffer. Toronto were again left heartbroken when halfback Wallace crossed in the 71st minute, only for a video review to rule he was held up. “It is incredibly frustrating; we crossed the line four times and they didn’t cross once but we still came up short on the scoreboard,” McCrone said. “We’ve put a lot of time and effort into a whole season of football and it’s really, really disappointing to end on a note like that.” But McCrone promised the Wolfpack, who only formed in 2016, would rebound next year. “It’s the only thing you can do; we’re not going to sit on our hands and sulk over this and there’s another opportunity to come up,” he said. A Super League berth will become even tougher next season with the amount of teams promoted being reduced from four to one. Super League officials have scrapped the Super 8s play-offs series in favour of a conventional one-up, one-down promotion-and-relegation system. MORE NRL NEWS WOLFPACK HEARTBREAK: Toronto denied historic Super League berth PITCH INVASION: PNG fans stop play after flooding the field PM’S XIII EDGE PNG: Australia has held off PNG in a drama-filled clash DONE DEAL: Cleary agrees to return to Penrith — and the move could happen soon SEASON REVIEW: No fairytale, but Storm maintain special 14-year record TRANSFER CENTRE: The big names still without clubs for 2019 ‘I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS’: Emotional Gus breaks down CASUALTY WARD: NRL stars sidelined by off-season surgery