EXCLUSIVE: Darren Lockyer opens up on his plan to 'put heartbeat back' into London Broncos as new owner

Darren Lockyer is hopeful he can help "put a heartbeat back" into the London Broncos as he continues negotiations around the potential acquisition of the club.

The Queensland legend spent time in England last week to discuss buying the club, with the Brisbane Broncos director the face of a consortium engaged in talks.

The UK based Broncos have endured tough times, with both the side's performance and financial battles under the spotlight in recent weeks.

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Despite the club's struggle "to stay alive", the London Broncos have outlined a bid to be one of the two teams included in the Super League's proposed expansion next season.

The Broncos are currently playing in the second-tier Championship after a troubling run of results that saw them dropped out of the top flight in 2024.

"I am one person who is part of a consortium that is looking at acquiring the London Broncos and hopefully getting them back into the Super League," Lockyer said when asked about his involvement with the English club on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"It is a club that has had its ups and downs. At the moment they are in a position where they are struggling to stay alive. We are looking to put a heartbeat back into it.

"The exciting part is that it is rugby league, it has the Broncos name attached to it ... the most exciting thing is it's London, a great city."

However, the club could be set to begin a new era in the Super League, if Lockyer's consortium is approved to take ownership of the club and its bid to re-join the top league is approved, with an ex-South Sydney Rabbitohs coach at the helm.

Jason Demetriou is the man who will take on the top coaching job should Lockyer take ownership of the club.

Sky Sports reports Demetriou has accepted a three-year pre-commitment deal.

"He's committed," Lockyer said of Demetriou's situation with the Broncos.

"Whether the Broncos are in the Super League or the Championship, he has committed.

"He is sitting their waiting for an opportunity, he is hungry. He has played in the Super League and coached in the Super League. We're looking forward to that."

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While reports have suggested that Broncos are also in the process of securing pre-commitments from players in the NRL, Lockyer stayed focused on other dilemmas around his potential purchase.

One of those is the risk that accompanies the Super League's expansion plans.

"The view is that their at 12 and they are looking to bring in two more," he explained.

"They'll go to the negotiation table with the broadcasters next year.

"The risk that people have raised is whether that dilutes the competition but we will wait and see.

"I think if you can distribute the talent across the teams, I don't think that dilutes it."