It's a trip to see our friends at North Wales

After last weekend’s big win at Barrow, Newcastle Thunder are back on the road and it’s a trip to Colwyn Bay to take on North Wales.

I’m sure Thunder fans will do what they can to support Cru

Since the two teams met earlier in the season with a powerful Cru side coming out 20-30 victors in an impressive performance from the Welsh outfit. I have a soft spot for North Wales, they’re doing it tough at the moment but their fans are always brilliant on their trips up to Newcastle and the club is pulling back together after a torrid time under the previous ownership. They reached out last year following the death of Kevin Barlow to see what they could do to pay tribute to him, gestures like that go a long way.

With Jamie El-Kaleh back on board as the owner there’s been a big focus on building foundations, re-building damaged relationships and getting the club through this season. El-Kaleh built North Wales towards challenging for promotion into The Championship under his previous ownership and I’ve no doubt that the aim will be to get them being an established Championship club, with time I can see that happening. 

At the moment it’s tough for them and we’ve seen it at Thunder on the end of big scores, I know the Cru fans will stick with them and get behind their team regardless of how things are on the pitch being loud and proud. They’re some of the best fans in the game. The message is clear from North Wales, if you’re travelling to the game, they have food and drink on at the ground. Get there early and spend your money there as all money goes back into helping the club. If there’s anything else that North Wales need from us at Thunder all they have to do is shout up and I’m sure our fans will do what they can to help.

They do have former Thunder man Joe Bradley in their squad and he got on the scoresheet in their defeat last weekend at home to Widnes. Although he’s not named this weekend. 

Play-off rugby secured

Thunder came through their toughest league test of the season with a dogged display at Barrow on Saturday night. Barrow threw everything they could at Thunder but determined defence kept them out. To a man the team fought for each other in an impressive defensive display that allowed them to score tries late in the game. 

Brenden Santi misses this one as it’s the last of his suspension. Taylor Pemberton misses out through injury, this has led to Thunder bringing in reinforcements this week with hooker, Alfie Horwell joining on loan from Castleford for the rest of the season. Horwell spent time with Thunder last season and this will be a chance for him to gain some valuable experience. Another former Thunder man signed on is Welsh international George Birch who will be keen to get stuck in on Sunday.

We saw a performance full of heart and courage where the lads kept backing each other on Saturday night and I expect that to continue. They’re a close knit group and are a real credit to the club. The squad is being stretched at the moment and hopefully we can get through this one with no further injuries or suspensions but they can’t afford to take their foot off the gas either.

Despite the play-offs being secured, the next aim has to be to keep winning to try and secure a top two spot which gets a break week the first week of the play-offs and by my reckoning three weeks of play-off rugby guaranteed with home games. If we make it to week four and we’ve finished in the top two then we’d be at home too. There’s a lot to play for and I’m sure Graham Steadman will have this group focused on one game at a time and whatever happens from now till the end of the season, those who have watched Thunder a lot longer than me keep saying this is some of the best rugby they’ve seen.

Squads

North Wales Crusaders: 2. Kye Jacobson, 3. Matty Welham, 4. Sam Littler, 6. James Shields, 7. Ben Fisher, 11. Bailey Dawson, 13. Brad Clavering, 14. Jamie Billsborough, 19. Stevie Watson, 22. Lewis Fairhurst, 26. Connor Terrill, 27. Dom Horn, Jordan Cella, Jamie Fozard, Marcus Geener, Ben O’Connell, Trent Ruddy, James Thornton, Issac Wheatley, Ralph Wood, Seth Woodend, 

Newcastle Thunder: 1. Myles Harrison, 2. Andy Djeukessi, 3. Joe Law, 4. Jude Ferreira, 5. Brad Ward, 7. Will Roberts, 8. Bailey Antrobus, 10. Ryan Jackson, 12. Noah Whittingham, 13. Sam Cook, 17. King Vuniyayawa, 18. Ukuma Ta’ai,  20. Mitch Clark (loan), 22. John Sagaga (loan), 25. Jack Smith (loan), 27. Jordan Lipp (loan), 33. Alfie Horwell (loan), 34. George Birch.

Referee: A. Williams

Reserve Referee: J. Jaundrell

Touch Judge 1: K. Silcock

Touch Judge 2: T. Prescott

Venue: Eirias Stadium

Kick off: 15:00

Betfred Championship:

Widnes v Barrow (home win)

Sheffield v Workington (home win)

Whitehaven v Goole Vikings (away win)

Midlands Hurricanes v Rochdale (home win)

Dewsbury v Halifax (home win)

Hunslet v Oldham (away win)

North Wales Crusaders v Newcastle Thunder (away win)

Salford v London (away win)

Swinton v Doncaster (away win)

It’s another bumper weekend of fixtures in the Betfred Championship and it kicks off on Saturday night as Widnes host Barrow in a fifth v fourth clash and my game of the weekend. Barrow were disappointed with their attack last weekend and will look to put this right against a Widnes side who got back to winning ways last weekend. This is another game that has a play-off feel to it but I think Widnes will take it at home.

Sheffield host Workington on Sunday and although Workington have a performance in them, I think Sheffield will take this one. Whitehaven v Goole is a really interesting one, James Newton is getting everything out of his side and it’s a difficult place to go but despite their league position, Goole have experience in Ferres and Watts and I think they could edge this one. Whitehaven know they’re in a fight to get a play-off spot though. Midlands host Rochdale in what is always a keenly contested game but Midlands at home should edge this one. Dewsbury will be pleased to be at home and in charge of their own pitch preparation this weekend as they host Halifax, this will be a physical game but I think Dewsbury will come out on top.

I expect Oldham to keep their excellent run going at Hunslet although as Thunder found out earlier in the season, Hunslet can be a tough place to go. Thunder should win comfortably at Crusaders to keep pressure on Oldham, North Wales will look to keep building and working their way through the season and they’ll be in a much better place for it. London should win comfortably at Salford after they dismantled Doncaster last weekend. Speaking of Doncaster, they go to Swinton. It’ll not be an easy game as Swinton are improving but I think Donny will come out on top there. 

Thunder supporters meet up

Just a reminder for anyone in the north east, we’re having a Newcastle Thunder Supporters Group meet up at The Town Wall on Wednesday 22nd July at 19:00, it would be great to see as many people as possible there as we look to build on that side of things.