Newcastle Thunder v Keighley Cougars match preview

Sunday afternoon sees Newcastle Thunder host Keighley Cougars in the latest round of Betfred Championship action. Thunder will be looking for a first home win since September 2023. There might be a football match taking place on Sunday lunchtime but this is the big one on Tyneside on Sunday!

Matches between Thunder and Keighley always seem to have a bit of an edge and I expect this will be no different. Once the football is done, there's still enough time to jump in the car or on the bus and get down to Blaydon and get behind Thunder!

Keighley back on the up

After a tough season last season where Keighley will feel they underperformed finishing ninth in League One they are back on the up this season. They currently sit tenth in the league having won two, drawn one and lost two so far this season.

This Keighley outfit come with no shortage of experience, the evergreen George Flanagan has Championship experience, so does fellow ex-Bradford flyer Dee Foggin-Johnston. Papua New Guinea powerhouse Emmanuel Waine has just joined Keighley this week.

I expect that this Keighley outfit, similar to last season will bring the phyiscality.

Antrobus returns

Graham Steadman welcomes Bailey Antrobus back from an injury suffered in The Challenge Cup defeat at Doncaster. King Vuniyayawa is named in a Thunder squad for the first time this season having spent time with York. Both will add extra power to the Thunder pack and more go forward in attack.

Thunder put in a solid performance against Workington last Sunday to get the job done in Cumbria and book their place in the next round of the 1895 Cup. Cody Hunter and Will Roberts ran the game well. It was always going to be a tough trip to Cumbria and so it proved, to get the result was the main thing along with no further injuries.

Thunder have looked at their most dangerous when they've gone wide this season and although that has to be earnt, with the return of Bailey Antrobus and a potential debut for King Vuniyaywawa alongside Taylor Pemberton looking to play quick that could create more space for Hunter and Roberts to find the space in the Keighley defence.

Tickets

Tickets are available to buy online. Please buy in advance to speed up entry to the ground or use the QR codes before the turnstiles, the pricing is:

Adult (17-64): £15

Concession (over 65): £12

Student: £7.50 (bring valid I.D.)

Hospitality: £40

Under 16: FREE!

Squads and officials

Newcastle Thunder: 1. Myles Harrison, 2. Andy Djeukessi, 3. Joe Law, 5. Brad Ward, 6. Cody Hunter, 7. Will Roberts, 8. Bailey Antrobus, 9. Taylor Pemberton, 11. Harvey Reynolds, 12. Noah Whittingham, 15. Brenden Santi, 16. Leo Tennison, 17. King Vuniyayawa, 18. Ukuma Ta'ai, 22. John Sagaga (loan), 24. Matty Foster (loan), 25. Jack Smith (loan), 27. Jordan Lipp (loan), 28. Tyler Walton, 30. Tom Inman.

Keighley Cougars: 5. Dyland Proud, 6. Izaac Farrell, 8. Dan Parker, 11. Lucas Green, 14. George Flanagan, 16. Leo Aliyu, 17. Jordan Schofield, 19. Dee Foggin-Johnston, 19. Leo Skerrett Evans, 21. Alfie Dean, 23. Brandon Pickersgill, 24. Ben Dean, 25. Will McCardle, 26. Nathan Rushworth, 27. George Hill, Joe Diskin, Brad Holroyd, Sam Littler, Connor Sayner, Jacob Stead, Emmanuel Waine,

Referee: S. Mikalauskas

Reserve Referee: L. Grundy

Touch Judge 1: P. Brooke

Touch Judge 2: A. Billington

Time Keeper: S. Williams

Venue: Blaydon Rugby Club

Kick off: 15:00

Other games this weekend:

There's some quality Championship games this weekend, starting at Sheffield where I think they'll overcome an Oldham outfit who are doing some cost cutting at the moment. Doncaster v Widnes should be a cracker but I expect Widnes to edge it. I think Halifax will edge out a North Wales side looking to get some form back. Hunslet and Barrow could be close but I think the Cumbrians will edge that. It could be a long afternoon for Salford at London although they do have some injuries. Given the quality on show in the Thunder camp I think they'll edge Keighley in a physical encounter. Rochdale and Midlands will be close but I can see Midlands edging that. I think Workington will miss Evan Lawther at home to Dewsbury and it'll be close but the Rams could edge that. There'll be lots of close games this weekend in a really enjoyable competition.

Saturday 21st March:

Sheffield v Oldham (home win)

Sunday 22nd March:

Doncaster v Widnes (away win)

Halifax v North Wales (home win)

Hunslet v Barrow (away win)

London v Salford (home win)

Newcastle v Keighley (home win)

Rochdale v Midlands (away win)

Workington v Dewsbury (away win)