Newcastle Thunder Vs Leigh Programme

Notes from the Chair
Good afternoon and welcome along to Kingston
Park for what is one of our biggest days of the
season.
Pre-match over 600 kids from clubs across
the North East and the heartlands have been
playing games at Kingston Park as part of this
year’s Moody Cup and it is always great to see
so many players from so many clubs enjoying
themselves.
It’s an event that has grown considerably since
we held it for the first time in 2015 and has
gone from strength to strength since Moody
Logistics came on board as sponsor and I am
delighted that a local company like them lend
their support and give the young players this
opportunity.
With that a big focus of today’s match-day,
I’d like to touch on the importance of making
North East Rugby League stronger.
The community game is a vital part of growing
the sport within the region and is something
that the club is starting to focus on strengthening
after the Covid pandemic.
Prior to 2020, the game in the North East was
one of the fastest growing areas for participation,
we had new junior teams forming and
the biggest number of registered players we
have ever had.
That has regressed somewhat after sport returned
last summer as people found other ways
to spend their free time after a year-long layoff,
but we are putting in place plans to start
getting the numbers moving in an upward trajectory
past where they were before.
Part of that process will see our academy play
a crucial role in developing players for our
grassroots clubs.
Whilst the aim of every player we enrol on one
of our junior teams is of course to make it as
a professional and join the ranks of the first
team squad, that doesn’t happen for everyone.
For those players, we need to develop their
skills and enjoyment of the game so they return
to their clubs better than when they first arrived
and drive forward the community game.
That then creates stronger clubs, which then
creates new clubs, which then creates new
fans, volunteers and so on which form solid
foundations on which to build on.
We will be announcing what we have planned in
the coming weeks to reach these goals and I’m
sure people will agree when we are ready to
announce them that there are exciting times
ahead.
Chair
Keith Christie
3

NOTES FROM
DENIS
Good
afternoon
and welcome to
Kingston Park for
the second time
within a week!
Today is a big day for both
club and team with the Moody
Cup festival taking place
beforehand for grassroots
clubs and the league leaders
Leigh Centurions providing
the opposition on the pitch.
They arrive here in the North
East looking to close out what
has been an impressive season and one
that has them as firm favourites to make
an immediate return to the Betfred Super
League following last year’s relegation.
With a squad assembled that would challenge
in this season’s top flight, they have been
the benchmark side in the Championship and
will no doubt show that again this afternoon.
As a player and a coach, these are the sort
of games you want to be involved in. They
give you an opportunity to measure yourself
against the leading outfit and to test your
skills and abilities, something we did well
when both sides last met back in March.
We were competitive throughout that game
with the Centurions’ win ultimately being
decided by some quick-fire tries at the end
of the first half.
There were some big efforts from our
players and our 18 points were the most
anyone had scored against Leigh up to that
point. In fact, it’s a tally that has only been
bettered by Barrow since, so I am calling for
more of the same effort levels today.
Not for the first time this season though,
we are facing the challenge of some
significant absentees through injury.
Jack Johnson, Jesse Dee, Jake Shorrocks,
Brad Day, Alex Foster, Dan Coates and Ollie
Roberts are all unavailable to us which
provides some additional challenges to
overcome today.
We are marginally better off than last week
against London, having two centres and a
wing available to us and hopefully, we won’t
lose anyone else during today’s match.
It has been something we have had to manage
throughout this season and the significance
of that shouldn’t be underestimated.
The most obvious impact is on the team
you can field on any given weekend, but it
stretches all the way through the week and
affects the level of cohesion that you’re
able to gel within the group.
That was very much a situation we had last
week with players nursing injuries and
playing out of position.
There are five games remaining this season
and there will be no shortage of effort from
everyone to perform as strongly as we can
and lay a solid launch pad for 2023.
DENIS
4

Craig Mullen 1
Jack Johnson 2
Jesse Dee 3
Gideon Boafo 5
Jake Shorrocks 6
Josh Woods 7
Nathan Wilde 8
Josh Eaves 9
Mitch Clark 10
Alex Foster 11
Brad Day 12
Connor Bailey 14
Ted Chapelhow 15
Jay Chapelhow 16
Ukuma Ta'ai 17
Dan Coates 18
Pat Moran 19
Brad Gallagher 20
Lewis Peachey 21
Alex Donaghy 22
Isaac Nokes 23
Jake Anderson 24
Nathan Clemmitt 25
Josh McDermott 27
Ellis Robson 36
Ollie Roberts 39
Tyler Hepple 40
Thomas Lacans 41
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Jy Hitchcox
3 Keanan Brand
4 Nene Macdonald
5 Tom Nisbet
6 Ben Reynolds
7 Joe Mellor
8 Adam Sidlow
9 Aaron Smith
10 Mark Ioane
11 Joe Wardle
12 Sam Stone
13 Tom Amone
14 Chris Green
15 Ata Hingano
16 Ed Chamberlain
17 Jacob Jones
19 Luis Roberts
21 Edwin Ipape
23 Krisnan Inu
24 Kai O'Donnell
26 Blake Ferguson
27 Josh Charnley
REFEREE: J. Vella
TOUCH JUDGE 1: A Sweet
TOUCH JUDGE 2: J. Hughes
RESERVE REFEREE: B Milligan
TIME KEEPER: P Hewitt

Heritage Players to
be hosted at York
Newcastle Thunder heritage players will
be hosted at the final home game of the
season against York City Knights as the club
continues to embrace its rich history.
After presenting 16 players with
their newly assigned heritage numbers at
the inaugural Hall of Fame dinner in July,
another batch will be presented at the last
home game of the year.
Heritage numbers have been
assigned to every player who has pulled on
the club’s rhubarb and custard colours in the
last 23 years as part of a National Lottery
Heritage Fund supported project that has
researched the history of professional
rugby league in the north east.
After a superb day on Friday, Super
League’s Magic Weekend went on to
enjoy a similarly successful instalment
as six thrilling games from the top
-flight were played out at St James’
Park.
One of the best-ever single-day crowds
attended on Saturday as Toulouse, St
Helens and Leeds Rhinos won, with a
total weekend attendance of 62,154
seeing all six of the city’s events in the
top ten all-time attendances.
With another successful weekend
under the belt, Super League chief
commercial officer indicated
Newcastle sits in pole position to
attract the 2023 iteration.
With more than 450 numbers assigned, the
presentations are set to become a regular
occurrence at Kingston Park matches,
whilst the Hall of Fame gala will remain a
headline annual event.
The club will confirm in due course the
players that will be in attendance for
the September 3rd clash and encourage
supporters to join us in celebrating their
achievements.
Thunder GM to race
Great North Run
Newcastle Thunder’s general manager
Jordan Robinson will be taking on the Great
North Run in support of the Newcastle
Rugby Foundation this September.
It is five weeks until Robinson, who
regularly runs distance events takes
on the challenging, iconic course from
Newcastle to South Shields, to raise
valuable funds for the charity that aims to
motivate, educate, and inspire using the
power of sport.
It will be Robinson’s second time
running the Great North Run and sees
him attempting to complete the world’s
biggest half marathon sub-1h 40.
Robinson said: “I am really looking forward
to running the Great North Run this year,
to raise money for the Newcastle Rugby
Foundation.
“The foundation is doing great work
around the region to make sure as many
people as possible can benefit from the
great sport of Rugby League.”
To support and help raise money for
Newcastle Rugby Foundation, please head
to https://newcastlerugbyfoundation.
enthuse.com/pf/jordan-robinson-7d1e1
8

Adding Rugby to
lessons with School
Connections
Are you a teacher looking to incorporate rugby
into your school’s PE lessons? Then the Thunder
Community Schools Connection Programme is the
vehicle you have been looking for.
Delivered by the award-winning Newcastle
Rugby Foundation, Thunder Community Schools
Connections offers the opportunity to create
a tailored programme suitable for schools’
individual needs.
From Mini Thunderbolts sessions for Early Years
children to promote fundamental movements,
social skills and energetic learning to a range of
rugby and multi-sport sessions at secondary ages.
In addition to rugby programmes from tag to
contact, Primary deliver also offers the
opportunity to use rugby as a focus in the teaching
and development of healthy eating and lifestyles,
numeracy skills and positive character traits.
Three levels of affiliation mean that programmes
come with a range of entitlements including visits
from Newcastle Thunder’s professional players and
coaches, match tickets to watch Newcastle Thunder
in action during the rugby league season and the
chance to take part in affiliated festivals.
With an extensive menu of options available, your
schools connections package can genuinely be
tailored to provide a programme designed to
provide a meaningful contribution to the education
provided to you pupils.
Places are filling fast for the new academic year
beginning in September and with Rugby League
World Cup taking place in England this autumn,
now is the perfect time to add the sport to your
curriculum and use the power of high profile sport
to motivate and inspire your cohorts.
For more information, please contact community@
newcastle-thunder.co.uk or call 0191 2142866
9

Johnson launches
online coaching
venture
Thunder’s Jack Johnson is putting his
qualifications to good use from mid-August
with the winger launching a new online coaching
service.
Aiming to share the experience and knowledge
gained from 10 years as a professional athlete to
help people achieve their own personal, fitness
and sporting goals, it is a venture that has been
a while in the offing, with Johnson excited to have
the business launched.
“I’m a qualified Level 3 personal trainer and did
that through lockdown at Widnes and through
Rugby League Cares.
“Some of the lads have been working with me to
help launch it and get some before and after bits.
“I know that finding a balance between fitness and
lifestyle can be particularly tough at times and
setbacks will happen along the way (I’ve had my
fair share) which is where my passion for helping
others comes from.
“It’s online based which means I can do this from
wherever I am, and it makes my life easier.”
Details of the player’s new business can be found
via the Instagram account @jjonlinecoach
11

STAR OF
THE MONTH
Katie Coburn
12

The countdown is officially over, and we are
delighted to announce the Moody Cup is finally
here! Thunder Community would like to offer
the warmest welcome to all 30 teams who have
travelled across the UK to join us at Kingston
Park to compete in the Moody Cup. We have a
fantastic schedule of rugby league, and we can’t
wait to watch!
Thunder Star of the Month
Thunder Community is delighted to announce
Katie Coburn as Thunder Star of the Month.
Katie was the youngest player to participate in
our Thunder Beach Tag Rugby Tournament on the
weekend. With age just being a number, Katie
was a standout performer at the tournament,
voted ‘Player of the Tournament’ by our Thunder
Community Development Officers
Squads on the Tyne
This October, we are excited to host one of the
biggest-ever festivals in rugby league to kick
start the World Cup in style. We have teams from
across the country signing up to be a part of
Squads on the Tyne, running 14th-16th October
and your team could be in with the action.
Thanks to the support from Newcastle City
Council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority,
Squads on the Tyne will be hosted at the home of
Newcastle Thunder, Kingston Park Stadium.
We are calling teams from across the rugby
league community, including primary and
secondary schools, Junior rugby league clubs,
touch rugby, PDRL, LDRL and Masters (35+). The
festival is free to enter and there is still time to
secure entry. To sign up, please head to https://
www.rlwc2021.com/squads-on-the-tyne
13

Book onto our Summer Coaching
Camps for only £19!
Places still available for our summer
coaching camps, held at Kingston Park,
Newcastle Magpies and Yarm Wolves
training ground. Calling girls and boys
aged 6-14 years old to get involved in
our ever-popular summer coaching
camps. Each day of camp runs from 10am
to 3pm and includes a range of rugby
skills, games and multi-skills.
We had the biggest number of
participants attend our May coaching
camps, and we can’t wait for the return
of our camps. No experience in rugby
league is required, our camps are a
great way for kids to have a run-around
and get active in the holidays.
Camp participants receive five hours
of coaching from DBS-cleared, RFLqualified
community coaches, a Thunder
camp t-shirt, and a £5 credit which
can be redeemed in the club shop,
ticket office and selected drink outlet
throughout Kingston Park Stadium. Use
the promotional code 25CLUB for 25%
off camp!
30th August – Kingston Park
31st August – Newcastle Magpies
1st September- Yarm Wovles
To book, please head to https://www.
rugbycamps.co.uk/thunder.
For more information, please contact
community@newcastle-thunder.co.uk
15

MOODY
CUP
2022
Newcastle Thunder welcome junior
rugby players from across the north
of England to Kingston Park Stadium
ahead of today’s match with Leigh
Centurions as the Moody Logistics Cup
grassroots festival makes a welcome
return.
First held in 2015, today’s edition is
the seventh holding of the event which
offers a fun day of games for young
players from under 6s through to under
16s.
Games began earlier this morning with
a festival format for teams at Under
8/9/10 levels and a competitive cup for
Under 12/14/16.
Supported by Cramlington-based
Moody Logistics since 2017 the festival
is the largest of its type in north east
rugby league, with over 650 players
taking part last year.
Matches across all age groups are
nine-a-side with no maximum number
of players per squad.
As in previous years, clubs from
outside the region join those from the
north east and Cumbria giving those
taking part the opportunity to face
players they would ordinarily not meet.
This year’s Moody Logistics Cup
welcomes:
Aspatria Hornets | Catterick Crusaders
| Cramlington Rockets | Gateshead
Storm | Lowca ARLFC | Ince Rose Bridge
| Newcastle Magpies | Oulton Raiders |
Sheffield Hawks | Ulverston | Wallsend
Centurions | Wath Brow Hornets | Wigan
St Cuthberts | Yarm Wolves
With every participant receiving
a complimentary ticket for this
afternoon’s game against Leigh
Centurions, the festival adds a carnival
feel to the match-day experience
creating one of the best atmospheres
of the season.
16

Moody Logistics & Storage
Long-term supporters of Newcastle
Thunder’s biggest grassroots festival
of the year, Moody Logistics and
Storage is currently marking its 75th
anniversary having been founded in
1947 by David Moody on returning home
after serving in the Second World War.
He bought a household coal round and
began collecting sea coal from the
Northumberland coast, also delivering
to local businesses before branching
out into transporting bricks.
By 1953 he was operating five trucks,
which included Bedford’s like Peggy – a
restored vintage truck named after the
Chairman Alan’s mother, that frequents
local truck shows and museums during
the spring and summer.
Today, Moody’s remains a family-owned
business lead by the third generation
with Managing Director Caroline
Moody working alongside her brother
Richard Moody,
Operations Director, and brotherin-law
Gavin Cape who runs sister
company Heathline Commercials Ltd,
a truck service and maintenance
workshop that looks after the Moody
fleet as well as servicing customers
throughout the north east.
Moody Logistics and Storage
specialises in overnight pallet
distribution for customers, while also
offering storage and warehousing
solutions, and dedicated haulage
services across the UK.
Shareholder members of the Pall-Ex
network, the firm currently holds FORS
Bronze accreditation, operating a fleet
of 30 trucks from a seven-acre site in
Bolam Business Park, Cramlington.
The fleet comprises vehicles from
3.5T and 7.5T to 18T and 44T, including
standard curtain-sided vehicles
double deck curtain-sided trailers
and skeletal trailers for the movement
of containers.
17

Rugby League is played by two teams of 13
players, playing on a pitch that is 100m
long.
Games are played in two 40-minute halves,
with the team with the highest score after
the combined 80 minutes winning the game.
You may run forwards with the ball, and you
may kick the ball forwards, but as in rugby
union, you can only pass the ball backwards
or sideways.
If you pass the ball forwards or knock the
ball on (that is deflect the ball towards the
opposition, try line by contact with the
body or arms) possession is handed over to
the opposing side.
In rugby league, teams are allowed up to six
tackles to score. Once a player is tackled,
the tackler must let go of the ball carrier
and his teammates must retreat 10 meters.
The ball carrier is allowed to stand up and
then play the ball back to a team mate to
start the process again.
If a team is tackled a sixth time, possession
of the ball is handed over to the defending
team who gain possession of the ball from
the spot of the tackle.
To make it more difficult for the other team
to score, the attacking team will usually
kick the ball away on the fifth tackle to
increase the distance between the opposition
and the try line.
The object of the game is to score more
points than the opposing team with several
ways to do this during a match.
Try – Worth four points a try is scored when
downward pressure is applied to the ball on
the ground in the opponents in-goal area.
The ball can either be ran into the in-goal
area or kicked through and touched down.
Conversion – After scoring a try teams
can add additional points by successfully
kicking a goal called a conversion. Taken
from a spot 20 meters from the goal line
and perpendicular from where the try was
scored. Kicking the ball over the crossbar
and between the posts scores two points.
Penalty – If the opposition commits a foul,
teams can opt to attempt to score a goal
by kicking the ball between the posts and
over the crossbar from the spot where the
infringement took place, this also scores
two points.
Drop Goal – A drop goal can be scored by
kicking the ball through the posts and any
point in open play. To score these, the ball
must be dropped onto the ground before
being kicked. Worth just one point, a drop
goal is rarely seen, but in close games it
can be the difference between victory and
defeat.
In summary, if you can count to six, you are
going to enjoy a game of rugby league.
A team will run with the ball, get tackled,
play the ball backwards and repeat this
process up to six times in the attempt to
score up to six points at a time, before the
other team will have a go.

Ball Steal
When two or more people are involved in
a tackle, a ball steal occurs when a player
from the defending team takes the ball off
the attacking player who has been tackled.
Dissent
If a player disputes decisions taken by the
referee or verbally abuses the officials
then a penalty for dissent may be awarded.
Double Movement
If the ball carrier is tackled and held before
the try line and then lifts their arm
to reach out and place the ball over the try
line, this is classed as a double movement
with a penalty awarded to the defending
team
High Tackle
If a defending player contacts the head of
the attacking player carrying the ball, a
penalty for a high tackle will be awarded.
Late Tackle
If the attacking player passes the ball to a
team-mate and the defender has had time
to pull out of his attempted tackle but carries
through, he has committed a late tackle
and will be penalised.
Not 10
When a player doesn’t retreat behind the
next 10m line or goes too early when defending
the next tackle of a set, a penalty
will be awarded. This can also be awarded
as an offside penalty.
Obstruction
When an attacker prevents a defender from
getting to the ball carrier to effect a tackle
by getting in between the two players, a
penalty is awarded for obstruction
Offside
As well as an infringement around being
10m from the play the ball, offsides can also
be awarded in instances where players are
in front of a kicker.
Tackle in the air
If a player has jumped to take the ball in the
air and the defending player makes no attempt
to play at the ball, but instead goes
straight for the player or makes a tackle
before the gathering player returns to the
ground, a penalty will be awarded
For a host of other offences, referees will
simply reset the tackle count bay awarding
a “Six Again”
This is signaled by the referee waving a
clenched fist above his head from left to
right.

“
I also asked if I could
keep the testicle
that was removed
so I could put it in a
jar.
”
JACK
JOHNSON
22

JACK JOHNSON - BALL BREAKER
What a load of b******s!
That was the reaction put out to the
world by Jack Johnson following a
freak injury sustained in the build-up
to this year’s Summer Bash in July.
Gearing up for the clash with York
City Knights an errant knee belonging
to Isaac Nokes set Johnson off on what
he describes as the worst 10 hours of
his life.
“We were doing a defensive drill at
training, I made a tackle, but as I’ve
gone to put Nokesy on his back, his
knee came up and it went straight into
my testicle,” Johnson said.
“I tried to get up, did another tackle,
but then I walked off the ground and
threw up three times on the pitch. I
went green.
“I laid down in the physio’s room and all
the lads came in having a laugh. They
enjoyed seeing me in pain. They didn’t
realise how bad it was at the time.
“After an hour, I checked on my testes
and one of them was huge, like three to
four times the size of normal. It was
like a tennis ball. That’s when I drove
myself to the hospital.“
“I was sent to ‘minor injuries’ but I
thought, ‘Bloody hell, it’s not minor,
it’s killing me!”
Following scans, doctors discovered
the blood supply to the affected
testicle, his favourite left one as
described to Premier Sports ahead
of the Headingley match, had been cut
off and as a result, would need to be
removed.
Undergoing surgery successfully, the
obvious follow-up questions about his
wince-inducing experience came to
Johnson’s mind.
“The first thing I asked was about
having kids, and they said as long as the
other testicle was fully functioning,
I’d be OK,”
“I also asked if I could keep the testicle
that was removed so I could put it in a
jar on the mantelpiece in the living
23

oom, but they just got rid of it.”
Convalescing away from training
Johnson reports that his recovery
is going well, however with a likely
return to sport being outlined as five
to six weeks, his 2022 season is done
and dusted.
“The way it’s fallen it’s probably me
done for the year. It’ll be too close to
the end of the season when I’m back
and then I’d have to get back up to full
fitness so I might as well get right for
next season now and go for it that way.
“Pre-season for me will probably start
a bit earlier this year. It will be a long
time to have off if I did nothing until
the club starts pre-season, so I will
probably get a separate programme
now that will let me stay up to speed so
I will build back into it and be fully fit
and fresh.
“
The way it’s fallen
it’s probably me
done for the year.
”

“I haven’t been that for a good few
years so that will be good for me. I’ve
always had little niggles going into
pre-season and I think for the last
three or four years I’ve not had a full
pre-season which I think has probably
affected me a bit going into the season
and might have led to me having more
injuries and niggles along the way.
“After I got over the hamstring injury
this year, I was feeling good. Obviously,
I’ve ended up doing the testicle, but
before that I was flying. A full preseason
will be massive for me.”
With his involvement in the season
now over, Johnson’s personal review
can begin on what has been a testing
year.
From his own standpoint, it has been
another solid season. 10 tries to his
name in 15 appearances and a step up
to one of the leaders in the group
but from an overall club view, it has
been a year that the winger says shows
how much work Thunder still have to
do.
“The honest takeaways are we
still have a long way to go. We have
improved in areas, but it has been a
very difficult season. We’ve not had
any real consistency throughout the
full year which sometimes can’t be
helped but that has massively affected
us.
“We had a change of coach, which at
any point of a season is disruptive and
has been tough, but we can take things
away of how we need to be as a group
and what we need to do to achieve what
we want because I think it is very clear
that this is a very competitive league,
and you can’t just turn up and do it.
“There’s going to be some honest
assessments of everyone and

ourselves that we need to do more, and
we need to be better.”
“One positive is it is a very young
squad and we are going to be a year
older with that experience, but that is
something we can’t say going forward.
“We can use this year to take a lot and
learn a lot from it, but it is a matter
that it has to kick on now which is on
us, the lads.”
“When you become one of the senior
players in the group you have to take
more responsibility on and that means
you have to perform to a higher level
to lead by example.
“As a senior group, we have to take a
lot of what has gone wrong this season
on ourselves and be the ones to bring
people along with us and to roll with it.
Things are bound to go wrong in rugby,
it’s about learning to move past that
and get on with it.
“That’s one thing that Denis tries to
instil in us and you’re only ever two
results away from the mood in a camp
completely changing.
“We have a group that can do it, we just
need to all be on the field and playing
consistently together.”
While the season may be done for
himself, Johnson is backing his teammates
to keep pushing over the next
month as they aim to demonstrate
progress has been made over the
course of 2022.
“There are still five games left for the
lads who are still playing and involved
so we can’t give up.
“We need to show there is a plan and
building in place to kick on and show
the fans to keep them interested for
next year.
“They do turn up for us and they need
to see and everyone involved needs
to see that we are going in the right
direction.”
We have a group that
can do it, we just
need to all be on the
field
“
”

OPPOSITION
LEIGH CENTURIONS
Another Sunday, another Thunder match
day at Kingston Park. This time hosting
current league leaders Leigh Centurions
in what is expected to be a tough test for
the North East outfit.
Founded in 1878, the Centurions play their
home games out of Leigh Sports Village
Stadium and are currently headed by
former Wigan Warriors and Papua New
Guinea international, Adrian Lam with
Adam Sidlow and Joe Mellor leading the
squad as team captains.
The side from Greater Manchester have
a decorated history that includes nine
league titles, two from the first division
in 1905 and 1981 and seven from the
second division in 1976, 1985, 1988, 2004,
2014, 2015 and 2016. The Centurions have
also secured a number of cup titles during
their tenures including two Challenge
Cups in 1920 and 1970 and as recently
as May this year, they secured the 1895
Cup at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium,
finding themselves on the better side of
a 16-30 score line against Featherstone
Rovers.
Leigh Centurions are having a stellar
season so far, currently sitting fivepoints
adrift at the top of the table. They
have recorded 21 wins out of a possible 22
with their only loss coming against their
closest challengers Featherstone Rovers
in February, where they fell to a 28-6
defeat. Although it meant a strong 1895
Cup campaign, the Centurions would be
disappointed their Challenge Cup campaign
fell short, exiting in the fifth round to Hull
KR – despite an impressive performance,
the Centurions fell to a 24-18 defeat to
the Super League outfit. Despite the minor
setback, they have set the benchmark for
the season with a number of impressive
league results which in turn has resulted in
them obtaining both the best attacking and
defensive output in the division.
The Centurions current head coach is
Adrian Lam. The former Sydney Roosters
and Wigan Warriors scrumhalf joined
the side in 2021 after a stint coaching
his former side the Warriors for three
seasons. He has also enjoyed coaching
spells with the Papua New Guinea national
team between 2006 and 2015. The 51-yearold
is looking to lead his side to a return
to the Super League having been relegated
last season.
The two sides have already faced off
this season, with the Centurions hosting
Thunder back in March. The league leaders
showed their worth with a 34-18 victory but
the lads from the North East could be proud
of one of the stronger showings against
such a clinical opponent this season.
With the Centurions full of confidence,
looking to further cement their position at
the head of the table and Thunder desperate
to make amends for their last outing at
Kingston Park, an intense matchup is
expected at Kingston Park this afternoon.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Blake Ferguson
The 32-year-old winger who can also feature at centre and
fullback has enjoyed an impressive start to his career at
Leigh Centurions. Having signed ahead of the 2022 season,
the Australian international has featured 11 times so far
and in return has crossed the white-wash 12 times, which
includes a four-try haul in May against Workington Town.
Ferguson prior to his move to the Betfred Championship
had featured heavily in the NRL, enjoying stints at
Cronulla Sharks, Cranberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters and
Parramatta Eels. The winger featured 272 times in total
during his NRL tenure and recorded 138 tries.
Krisnan Inu
The experienced winger, who can also play at centre, is another
Centurions player with a stellar try-scoring record this season.
In his 17 starts this season, Inu has recorded 19 tries with
five of those coming in his last three games. The 35-year-old
also recently scored his third hat-trick of the season against
Whitehaven in Round 21.
With over 250 career appearances, 126 tries and over 1300 points
to his name, Inu has enjoyed spells at NRL outfits Parramatta
Eels, New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs as well as
current Super League clubs Catalans Dragons and Salford Red
Devils. He also had a stint at fellow Betfred Championship side
Widnes Vikings before a short spell at French side FC Lézignan
XIII, eventually signing for Leigh Centurions ahead of the 2022
season.
The former New Zealand and Samoan international also switched
codes for a season in 2014, signing for French rugby union side
Stade Français. Inu went on to feature 10 times for the side
returning four tries.
Caleb Aekins
The 24-year-old fullback is another having an impressive
season for the side hailing from Greater Manchester.
Aekins like his teammates listed above has previously
enjoyed stints in the Australian and New Zealand rugby
league division, the NRL. He has featured for most recent
champions Penrith Panthers as well as Canberra Raiders
before signing for the Centurions ahead of the 2022
season.
Aekins has enjoyed a stellar season so far where he has
started all 26 games for the Centurions and in the process
has scored 16 tries. This includes six in his last five games
including back-to-back braces in Rounds 20 and 21 against
Whitehaven and Featherstone Rovers respectively.

UPCOMING FIXTURES
STATS
Date Opponent Venu Competition Result Score
Fullback
Wing Centre Centre Wing
Scrum
Half
Stand
Off
30th Jan
Workington
Town
Derwent Park Championship W 6 - 20 Mullen Johnson Dee Nokes Boafo Shorrocks Bailey
6th Feb Batley Bulldogs Kingston Park Championship L 14 - 32 Donaghy Johnson Dee Halsall Boafo Shorrocks Woods
13th Feb Barrow Raiders Craven Park Championship L 14 - 6 Mullen Johnson Dee Halsall Boafo Bailey Woods
19th Feb
Whitehaven
RLFC
Kingston Park Championship W 40 - 24 Mullen Johnson Halsall Foster Boafo Bailey Woods
28th Feb
York City
Knights
LNER Community
Stadium
Challenge Cup L 42 - 13 Mullen Donaghy Sutton Nokes Boafo Shorrocks Woods
6th Mar
Leigh
Centurions
Leigh Sports
Village
Championship L 34 - 18 Mullen Hanley Halsall Nokes Boafo Shorrocks Woods
20th Mar Dewsbury Rams Tetley's Stadium Championship W 22 - 24 Mullen Donaghy Nokes Dee Boafo Shorrocks Coates
4th April Widnes Vikings Kingston Park Championship W 12 - 6 Mullen Boafo Nokes Halsall Miski Shorrocks Dee
16th
April
York City
Knights
LNER Community
Stadium
Championship L 36 - 6 Johnson Hanley Nokes Costello Boafo Shorrocks Coates
22nd
April
Sheffield Eagles
Millenium
Stadium
Championship L 34 - 20 Johnson Hanley Nokes Sutton Boafo Shorrocks Coates
30th Apr Halifax Panthers Kingston Park Championship L 10 - 30 Donaghy Boafo Croft Nokes Sutton Bailey Coates
13th May London Broncos Cherry Red Records
Stadium
Championship W 22 - 52 Sutton Boafo Foster Croft Nokes Shorrocks Woods
21st May Bradford Bulls Odsal Stadium Championship L 36 - 20 Mullen Boafo Croft Nokes Johnson Shorrocks Woods
2nd June
Featherstone
Rovers
Kingston Park Championship L 10 - 46 Donaghy Boafo Croft Nokes Johnson Coates Dean
5th June Sheffield Eagles Kingston Park Championship L 18 - 31 Mullen Johnson Halsall Croft Boafo Dean Woods
12th June Batley Bulldogs Fox’s Biscuits
Stadium
Championship l 58 - 18 Hanley Nokes Croft Foster Johnson Dean Woods
26th
June
Workington
Town
Kingston Park Championshi W 66 - 22 Mullen Johnson Nokes Halsall Hanley Dean Woods
2nd July
Featherstone
Rover
Millenium
Stadium
Championshi L 58 - 22 Mullen Boafo Nokes Halsall Johnson Bailey Woods
8th July Bradford Bulls Kingston Park Championship W 53-10 Mullen Boafo Halsall Hanley Johnson Shorrocks Woods
17th July Widnes Vikings DCBL Stadium Championship L 26 - 33 Hanley Boafo Halsall Nokes Johnson Mullen Woods
23rd July Dewsbury Rams Kingston Park Championship D 24 - 24 Mullen Boafo Nokes Halsall Johnson Shorrocks Bailey
31st July
York City
Knights
Headingley
Stadium
Championship L 18 - 27 Mullen Boafo Nokes Gallagher Donaghy Shorrocks Bailey

21st Aug Halifax Panthers The Shay Stadium Championship
27th Aug Barrow Raiders Kingston Park Championship
3rd Sept York City Knights Kingston Park Championship
10th Sept Whitehaven RLFC The LCL Arena Championship
Prop Hooker Prop Back Row Back Row
Loose
Forward
Interchange Interchange Interchange Interchange
Wilde Eaves Moran Foster Gallagher Hallas Clark Peachey Nicholson Donaghy
Wilde Eaves Moran Foster Gallagher Hallas O'Neill Bailey Peachey Clark
T Chapelhow Eaves Moran Nicholson Gallagher Hallas O'Neill Peachey Clark Sutton
Moran Eaves T Chapelhow Nicholson Gallagher Hallas Clark Peachey O'Neill Sutton
Moran Eaves T Chapelhow Nicholson Gallagher Hallas Peachey J Chapelhow Wilde Bailey
Wilde Eaves T Chapelhow Dee Foster Hallas Moran Peachey Day Nicholson
Clark Eaves T Chapelhow Day Gallagher Wilde Clemmitt Bailey Moran Hepple
T Chapelhow Eaves Clark Gallagher Nicholson Hallas Peachey Bailey Wilde O'Neill
T Chapelhow Eaves Clark Day Nicholson Wilde Moran Peachey Bailey Gallagher
T Chapelhow Eaves Clark Day Gallagher Bailey Wilde Peachey Nicholson Clemmitt
T Chapelhow Eaves Clark Nicholson Day Wilde Peachey Field Clemmitt Adebiyi
T Chapelhow Eaves Clark Day Gallagher Wilde Bailey Ta'ai Adebiyi Bailey
Wilde Eaves Clark Foster Day Gallagher Ta'ai Bailey Moran Peachey
Clark Hepple Wilde Bailey Gallagher Robson McDermott Moran Peachey Clemmitt
Wilde Eaves Moran Foster Day Robson Ta'ai Clark Peachey Bailey
Clark Eaves Wilde Gallagher Day Robson Bailey Ta'ai Peachey Clemmitt
Roberts Eaves Wilde Foster Day Robson Clark Peachey Bailey Ta'ai
Roberts Eaves Wilde Foster Day Robson Clark Peachey Ta'ai Forber
Roberts Eaves J Chapelhow Foster Day Peachey Clark Ta'ai Gallagher Forber
J Chapelhow Eaves T Chapelhow Foster Day Roberts Gallagher Clark Ta'ai Forber
J Chapelhow Eaves Peachey Day Robson Roberts Ta'ai Clark Gallagher Forber
T Chapelhow Eaves J Chapelhow Roberts Day Wilde Forber Robson Clark Ta'ai
35

MEET
LAD
1.
1.
1.
1.
1. CRAIG MULLEN
- Fullback
SPONSOR
2. JACK JOHNSON
- Wing
SPONSOR
3. JESSE DEE
- Centre
SPONSOR
5. GIDEON BOAFO
- Wing
1.
1.
1.
1.
6. JAKE SHORROCKS
- Stand Off
SPONSOR
Bryn Thomas
Cranes
7. JOSH WOODS
- Scrum Half
8. NATHAN WILDE
- Prop
9. JOSH EAVES
- Hooker
SPONSOR
Rob Gardner
1.
1.
1.
1.
10. MITCH CLARK
- Prop
11. ALEX FOSTER
- Back Row
SPONSOR
12. BRAD DAY
- Back Row
SPONSOR
14. CONNOR BAILEY
-

1.
1.
1.
1.
15. TED CHAPELHOW
- Back Row
16. JAY CHAPELHOW
- Back Row
17. UKUMA TA’AI
- Back Row
19. PAT MORAN
- Prop
1.
1.
1.
20. BRAD GALLAGHER
- Back Row
21. LEWIS PEACHEY
- Prop
Ludwell
Electrical
22. ALEX DONAGHY
- Fullback
23. ISAAC NOKES
- Centre
SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR
1.
1.
1.
1.
24. JAKE ANDERSON
- Prop
SPONSOR
24. NATHAN CLEMMITT
- Back Row
SPONSOR
Blakelaw
Pharmacy
27. JOSH MCDERMOTT
- Hooker
TYLER HEPPLE
THE
S

Ukuma has gone through his return to play
in training, so we have gradually built up
his running load and taken him into full
training which has seen him go into live
contact and live skill.
We’ve been mindful of how much load
that we have been putting him through
and we’ve been using a brace to off-load
his knee a little bit when he hasn’t been
training just to give him a little bit more
time to settle and recover.
We’ve then been using the Physio Lab
equipment post-training to settle down
any swelling that might have been going
on in there.
He’s built up his training minutes and
we’re happy to have him included in the
squad for the game down in London.
+3

SUMMER
SEASON
TICKETS
COMING SOON...