It's play-off time for Thunder

Saturday sees Betfred Championship play-off rugby arrive on Tyneside in what’s going to be an intense battle between Newcastle Thunder and Widnes Vikings. It’s Great North Run weekend on Tyneside and some play-off rugby league will no doubt add to the sporting drama!

Regardless of what happens both teams will play again, with the loser playing next weekend and the winner having a week off.

Widnes have earnt their trip to Tyneside after an excellent hard fought victory at Oldham in week one of the play-offs last weekend. The teams met in the 1895 Cup back in May where Widnes came out victors turning around an 0-18 half time deficit to win 30-20. 

Widnes are arguably the biggest club outside Super League especially in terms of fan base, they’re well backed as they showed in the 1895 Cup final. I expect that backing to be no different on Saturday night, the travelling support will be loud and will make for a good occasion. 

Widnes themselves under Allan Coleman look to be back on the up but they’re being sensible with it and will build gradually. Widnes have some quality in their ranks but they’re a real team and there’s no weak links. Former Thunder man Jay Chapelhow is back at his hometown club, Danny Richardson has been a mid-season arrival in the halves filling the boots of Leon Hayes who was excellent for Widnes before being recalled by Warrington. Max Roberts could go head-to-head with brother Will Roberts too with both selected.

Widnes will be full of confidence following Sunday’s victory and Thunder will be well aware that this Widnes side will never give up and will keep in the contest regardless of the score as we witnessed in the 1895 Cup at Wigan earlier in the season.

For Thunder, there’s been a welcome week off to refresh and recharge before the play-off campaign begins. Thunder will have to be at their very best to beat this stubborn Widnes outfit on Saturday. For Thunder it’s been a record breaking season and everyone involved has been a credit to the club and rugby league in the north east. We know that the players will give their all on Saturday and they’re going to need the crowd behind them.

Graham Steadman has named his squad and there’s some changes with Brenden Santi missing out, his experience will be a huge miss for Thunder. Andy Djeukessi and Sam Cook are back available, Andy will look to cause problems with his pace and it’s great to see Sam back, he’ll have a big part to play if selected. 

As I’ve said, Thunder will have to be at their very best and will need big games across the park against a side with no weak links. They’ll look to the likes of Mitch Clark, Ryan Jackson and King Vuniyayawa to set the platform for Will Roberts to run the game. 

After the game there’s the Thunder end of season awards in the marquee, this will be once they’ve changed. It would be great to see as many people as possible stay behind to show your appreciation for this group. 

Be loud and proud on Saturday night Thunder fans!

Newcastle Thunder: 1. Myles Harrison, 2. Andy Djeukessi, 4. Jude Ferreira, 5. Brad Ward, 7. Will Roberts, 8. Bailey Antrobus, 10. Ryan Jackson, 11. Harvey Reynolds, 12. Noah Whittingham, 13. Sam Cook, 17. King Vuniyayawa 18. Ukuma Ta’ai, 20. Mitch Clark, 22. John Sagaga, 26. Kieran Hudson, 27. Jordan Lipp, 33. Alfie Horwell, 34. George Birch

Widnes Vikings: 3. Jack Owens, 5. Ryan Ince, 6. Joe Lyons, 7. Tom Gilmore, 8. Dan Murray, 9. Jordan Johnstone, 10. Liam Bent, 11. Sam Wilde, 12. Max Roberts, 13. Nick Gregson, 14. Matty Fozard, 15. Lewis Hall, 16. Danny Langtree, 17. Danny Richardson, 18. Morgan McWhirter, 19. Adam Lawton, 21. Jay Chapelhow, 23. Nathan Connell, 24. Frank Sergent, 25. Kieran Taylor, 35. Max Bandit.

Referee: L. Rush

Reserve Referee: A. Marsh

Touch Judge 1: P. Marklove

Touch Judge 2: T. Topping-higson

Time Keeper: R. Johnson

Betfred Championship Play-offs

Qualifying semi final 1: London Broncos v Doncaster (home win)

Qualifying semi final 2: Newcastle Thunder v Widnes Vikings (home win)

Eliminator 1: Oldham v Midlands Hurricanes (home win)

Eliminator 2: Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles (away win)

Eight teams survive and after this weekend it’ll be six. Week two starts on Tyneside as Newcastle host a Widnes side full of confidence. I’m calling a home win but the fact is it’s too close to call. This is what play-off rugby is all about, these two will fully go at it. Widnes arrive on Tyneside buoyed by an excellent victory at Oldham and will be full of confidence. This is a real test for Thunder and Widnes may start as favourites given the 1895 Cup victory earlier in the season but I’m excited to see these two go at it!

Eight teams survive and after this weekend it’ll be six. Week two starts at London as they host red hot Doncaster. London rotated and rested but still came out emphatic winners against Swinton in a rearranged league game last weekend. For Doncaster, they annihilated Barrow to secure a trip to London including a world record for consecutive goals for Connor Robinson in a 72-0 rout. Doncaster will be confident and I can’t rule out an upset here but think London will just have too much.

The eliminators on Sunday, it’s season over for the losers. Oldham will be wary of how dangerous Midlands can be after Midlands caused a shock in the 1895 Cup earlier in the season. Midlands are experiencing their first Betfred Championship play-off campaign and were dominant as they beat Whitehaven last weekend, a free hit for them at Oldham with nothing to lose makes them dangerous. The pressure is on Oldham but I expect them to come through this one.

Sunday’s other game at Barrow will be a fascinating game, Barrow were well off it at Doncaster last weekend and Sheffield managed to overcome a determined Batley side. Barrow will look to try and erase that Doncaster result from their memory but a scoreline like that is going to have an impact, it’s about how they react. That’s why I think Sheffield could edge this one but it will be close.