Match Preview: Whitehaven v Newcastle Thunder

The Betfred Championship is back this weekend and it's another away day for Newcastle Thunder as they head to Whitehaven in round two.

It's been another weekend of excitement for rugby league fans in the north east with Newcastle Lightning being announced as having a place in the Yorkshire Premier Division. This is great news not just for the game locally but also nationally, growth of the game is crucial as is giving players a pathway.

Whitehaven have played Sheffield Eagles twice so far this season and pushed a Sheffield side who have recruited well in the off season close. Whitehaven themselves went through a rebuild last season and re-built with players from the community game, this season they've stayed with that policy.

In Anthony Murray, Whitehaven have a coach who knows the Cumbrian rugby league scene well and on home soil especially Whitehaven will cause teams problems. The club itself seems to be in good hands with Lee Butterworth as CEO determined to keep the club on a sound financial setting and being realistic with it. He recognises the importance of the community to the club and is showing that through the efforts being made off the pitch with the events that take place to generate income. For anyone that isn't aware, his diary of a CEO makes for a good watch.

On the playing side Jordan Burns is one to keep an eye on, he's an experienced campaigner. Conditions on Sunday might not make it much of an advert for summer rugby, I expect this Whitehaven side to battle hard in front of their own fans, as I've said they've pushed Sheffield over the last two weekend's.

Newcastle Thunder have named their squad and there's a familiar face in Tyler Walton who has re-signed and named straight into the squad. With Tyler we know what we're getting, he won't take a backwards step.

The first couple of games has seen Thunder been unlucky on the injury front with four so far including Bailey Antrobus last weekend. There's a nineteen man squad named, albeit a very familiar one given injuries. The loans are Will Roberts who scored a jinking solo effort last weekend, Ryan Jackson who has stood out in his two outings, Matty Foster who has carried hard, Jack Smith who looked lively in the Midlands game and Jordan Lipp who debuted last weekend at Doncaster.

Thunder will be looking to improve their discipline this week as they brought on a lot of pressure last weekend through set restarts and penalties. Given the conditions I expect the pitch will be heavy and this is a game that Whitehaven will be well up for. These types of games are where the experience of Brenden Santi and Ukuma Ta'ai will be invaluable.

Whitehaven: Brett Bailey, Ethan Bickerdike, Josh Blinkhorn, Brad Brennan, Lewis Brown, Jordan Burns, Dave Eccleston, Ellison Holgate, Connor Holliday, Jack Kellett, Joe Lowe, Rio McQuistan, Ellis Nixon, Ben Pearce, Jake Pearce, Marc Shackley, Jordan Thomson, Mitchell Todd, Cole Walker Taylor, Ciaran Walker, Liam Williamson (trialist).

Thunder: 1 Myles Harrison, 2 Andy Djeukessi, 5 Brad Ward, 6 Cody Hunter, 7 Will Roberts (loan), 9 Taylor Pemberton, 10 Ryan Jackson, 11 Harvey Reynolds, 12 Noah Whittingham, 14 Maxime Rostang, 15 Brenden Santi, 16 Leo Tennison, 18 Ukuma Ta'ai, 19 Jack Brown, 23 Aidan McGowan, 24 Matty Foster (loan), 25 Jack Smith (loan), 27 Jordan Lipp (loan), 28 Tyler Walton.

Referee: D. Arnold, Reserve Referee: P. Clayton, Touch Judges: M. Bolton & A. Sweet and Timekeeper: G. Hewer.

Kick off 15:00 at The Ortus Energy Recreation Ground.