Newcastle Thunder vs Whitehaven RLFC Programme

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RUGBY EXcELLENCE PROGRAMME
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NEWCASTLE

Kingston Park, Sunday 09 July, 15:00 KO // Betfred Championship
JACK JOHNSON 1
ALEX YOUNG 2
MARCUS WALKER 3
OSCAR THOMAS 4
ALEX CLEGG 5
ALEX DONAGHY 6
NIKAU WILLIAMS 7
Jay Chapelhow 8
Curtis Davies 9
Mitch Clark 10
Alex Foster © 11
Brad Gallagher 12
Connor Bailey 13
Denive Balmforth 14
Ted Chapelhow 15
Robert Tuliatu 17
Jake Lightowler 18
Nathan Clemmitt 19
Gideon Boafo 20
Evan Lawther 21
Jake Anderson 22
Connor Moore 23
Daniel Okoro 24
Max Flanagan 25
Mac Walsh 26
Jack Miller 27
Matthew Laidlaw 28
Nick Staveley 29
Evan Simons 40
Tyler Walton 00
Dane Windrow 00
1 Sam Freeman
2 Dave Eccelston
3 Chris Taylor
4 Curtis Teare
6 Karl Dixon
7 Alex Bishop
8 Liam McAvoy
9 Callum Phillips
10 Tom Walker
11 Connor Holliday
12 Lachlan Lanskey
13 Dion Aiye
14 Jamie Doran
15 James Newton
16 Lasarus Tabu
17 Guy Graham
18 Perry Singleton
19 Ryan King
20 Jake Bradley
21 Marcus O'Brien
22 Lucas Castle
23 Josh Rourke
24 Daniel Spencer-Tonks
26 Oscar Doran
27 Jake Carter
28 Ross Ainley

Good afternoon and welcome back to Kingston Park for
another Thunder match day.
We’re delighted to have you back with us at the home
of rugby league in the North East, for what is a very
important fixture for the club.
We know the results of recent have left the club with
a fight on their hands but it’s one I know Chris and the
lads are up for.
We need you to be with us too. Going into the business
end of the season and the position we’re in, your
support is vital.
We need you to get behind the lads and rally them on
every step of the way. There’s plenty of opportunities
for us to turn the season around but it can’t be done on
our own, get yourselves behind the lads.
I’d like to extend my welcome to Whitehaven Directors
and all their support who have travelled across for
today’s fixture.
I’d like to give a big well done to all the junior players
who have taken part in both the inspiresport champions
finals yesterday and the North East Rugby League finals
today – it’s great to see so many involved in what’s a
fantastic celebration of sport in the region.
Thank you once again for your support, we had a great
result last time out at Kingston Park against Keighley
Cougars and we know how good that felt, so I’m confident
the lads can replicate that this time around.
KEITH CHRISTIE
Chair of Newcastle Thunder
4

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CHRIS
THORMAN
6

CHRIS THORMAN
Good afternoon and welcome back to
Kingston Park once more.
A big thank you to all the fans who have
joined us for another Thunder match day,
your support is invaluable and vital to us
going into the back end of the season.
I’d like to extend a welcome to our
opposition in Whitehaven RLFC. They’ve had
some great results this season and we’re
excited for the challenge ahead.
As a group we know results haven’t been
good enough in the league and we’re now in
a challenging position with a big fight on
our hands.
I know we can turn results around but we’re
going to need your support to get us over
that line. You are the lifeblood of this club,
and we need you to be the 14th man for the
rest of the season.
I’m confident going into today’s game with
Whitehaven. We know it’ll be a tough fixture
given how the reverse fixture played out
but I’m positive the lads will rally together
and secure them two points.
Let’s be loud and let’s be proud for today’s
game. Make sure you get behind the lads,
cheer them on and push them all the way.
CHRIS THORMAN
Head coach
7

CLUB
NEWS
THUNDER SKILLS
CHALLENGE SERIES
Throughout the 2023 season,
players from Newcastle
Thunder have been working
hard in the background to set
YOU, our supporters a series
of skills challenges to try at
home, that will help improve
your rugby league game.
All five challenges in the
series have now been uploaded
to our YouTube channel and can
be viewed HERE.
Now it’s your turn. We want
YOU to try out this challenge at
home and share how you got on.
Post your attempts, record
your scores and be sure
to use both hashtags
#ThunderSkillsChallenge and
#ThunderArmy and tag us
wherever you post.
In case you didn’t know, here
are our social media channels:
•Facebook: NewcastleThunder
•Instagram: @thunder.rugby
•Twitter: @ThunderRugby
We’ll be reviewing all entries
and putting them to the players
to see what they think too!
10

KINGSTON PARK
RETURNS TO HOST
THE INSPIRESPORT
CHAMPION SCHOOLS
FINALS
The inspiresport Champion
Schools finals returned to
Kingston Park, the home of
Newcastle Thunder, on Friday,
July 7 for a bumper day of
schools Rugby League.
Inspiresport Champion
Schools is the RFL’s flagship
schools’ competition for girls
and boys at years 7 to 11 which
first began in 1981, contested
in just the U16’s age group in
its first year.
Friday’s event saw six finals
from Year 7 Girls to Year 10
Boys.
The event had a fantastic
turnout and was a great
celebration of rugby league.
PLYMPTON VICTORIA
RFC FUNDRAISER
Members of the Plympton
Victoria rugby club have been
cycling 525 miles over five
days to raise funds for The
Bike Network.
The charity gifts bicycles
and cycle equipment to aid
rehabilitation of cancer
patients and was set up by
one of their players, Adam,
following his own cancer
diagnosis.
Finding that the act of cycling
helped both his physical and
mental health, Adam wanted
support those going
through the same difficult
cirumstances.
During their bike ride they
visited each of the Gallagher
Premiership rugby stadiums
and will finish their journey at
Kingston Park stadium, the
home of Newcastle Thunder and
Newcastle Falcons this Sunday.
We’re asking supporters to
please donate whatever they
can for this incredible cause
by clicking HERE.
Every donation helps.
NEWCASTLE THUNDER
TO HOST FANS’ FORUM
Newcastle Thunder are gauging
interest from supporters
about potentially hosting a
fans’ forum later this month.
The proposed date is currently
as follows:
Tuesday, July 25.
The event is currently set
to involve an open floor
discussion with chair of
Newcastle Thunder, Keith
Christie alongside head coach
Chris Thorman addressing the
season so far and what lies
ahead for the club.
Further details about the
event will be confirmed in due
course.
To register your interest
in attending the Newcastle
Thunder fans’ forum, please
complete the form HERE.
11

COMMUNITY
NEWS
JOB VACANCIES AT
NEWCASTLE RUGBY
FOUNDATION
Newcastle Rugby Foundation is currently
recruiting for the following two positions:
• Falcons Community development officer
(women’s & girls’ rugby).
• Marketing, data and admin officer.
For further details please visit the club website.
Applications for both positions close at 5pm on
Friday July 14.
SIGN YOUR SQUAD UP FOR THE
2023 MOODY CUP FESTIVAL
Newcastle Thunder’s ever-popular Moody Cup
will make a welcome return to Kingston Park
this summer. Entries for the 2023 Moody Cup
are beginning to flood in, with the competition
set to be the biggest and best yet!
Supported by Cramlington-based Moody
Logistics and ran by Thunder Community, the
Moody Cup offers clubs a brilliant day of rugby
league for players from U7 to U16.
All players, coaches, parents and spectators will
be able to enjoy the popular fan zone with live
entertainment, and plenty of food and beverage
stations, including the famous Kingston Park
BBQ.
The Moody Cup is open to all grassroots club
across the UK, with the festival free to enter.
All participants receive a complimentary ticket
for the Newcastle Thunder game that follows,
while spectators watching can join the young
players in the stand for £7.
To register or for more information, please
contact community@newcastle-thunder.co.uk
The Junior rugby league grassroots festival will
take place ahead of Newcastle Thunder’s Betfred
Championship clash against Widnes Vikings on
Saturday 5th August.
14

MORE GREAT WORK FROM OUR
LEARNING DISABILITY TEAM!
As part of Learning Disability Week, a couple of
our LD players recently joined our coaches to
help promote the team at the RVI in Newcastle.
Our ambassadors shared information and raised
awareness of LD rugby to support patients with
a learning disability. The fun day was held at the
RVI for staff, patients and families, including a
sensory room and chill out area.
The LD team have been competing for a couple
of years with players coming from all areas
of the region to participate in festivals with
other Rugby League clubs. All LD festivals are
tag rugby with participants encouraging each
other and enjoying the challenge.
We currently offer two hubs for participants
to train, with sessions at Kingston Park on a
Monday night between 5:30pm and 6:30pm and
at Mowbray School in Bedale with sessions on a
Thursday afternoon between 3:30pm and 4:30pm.
Newcastle Falcons Head Coach Alex Codling and
Defence Coach Scott Baldwin made a special
appearance at the most recent LD training
session.
More brilliant work from the team to spread the
word, well done!
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT
At our last home game the Futures Programme
U15’s played an internal fixture in preparation
for their external game later in the Summer.
Not only did the girls play a 30-minute game
prior to Thunder’s win over Keighley, and played
at half time, they also formed the Guard of
Honour and provided the Ball Operatives for the
Thunder game.
The Junior Thunder zone took place in the 1877
bar for families which was enjoyed by all who
attended!
Another fantastic day of rugby at Kingston Park!
NATIONAL FINALS
OUTING FOR
HEXHAM MIDDLE
SCHOOL
Year 7/8 girls from Hexham
Middle School had a great day at
the InspiredBy9’s series national
finals today! They only just missed
out on second place finish in the
seeding round by a single try!
They were however, well placed
in the ‘Group of 3rds’, with all the
teams finishing on equal footing.
A fantastic effort from the girls.
15
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @falcons_community Facebook: Falcons Community Twitter: @FalconsCF LinkedIn: Newcastle Rugby Foundation

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.
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.
The object of the game is to score more
points than the opposing team with several
ways to do this during a match.
16

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.
17
17

NIKAU
WILLIAMS
“
I wanted to
experience a new
way of life and a new
style of the game
Although Thunder currently find themselves
battling at the bottom of the Betfred
Championship league table, one of the positive
stories to come out this season is the
performances of half-back Nikau Williams.
Not only exceptional from the tee, Williams has
also consistently put Thunder on the front foot
through strong carries in the middle.
The 23-year-old joined the club ahead of the
2023 campaign and in his maiden season so far
has made 18 appearances, scored two tries and
kicked 37 goals.
Born in New Zealand, Williams has seen rugby
league play a huge role in his life, starting the
game at just four years old.
“I started playing rugby league when I was four
or five years old and took up because my whole
family played it.
“The first junior club I played for was called Te
Atatu Roosters in New Zealand before moving to
Australia in 2012 and went through the junior
system at Melbourne up until about under-16s
and under-18s level.”
“After that I did a bit of under-20s in Sydney,
playing at a club called Newtown just before
COVID hit. Once that was all over, I moved to
Whitehaven for two years before signing for
Thunder.
18

“It’s a great
physical sport that
pushes you to the
max and if you have
your mates there
to get behind you,
it makes it even
better.
Acknowledging that it was a
big change of scenery moving
across the world to pursue his
dream of playing rugby league,
Williams ensures that there
are no regrets in his decision.
“I wanted to make the move
because it was an opportunity
of a lifetime, playing rugby
league on the other side of the
world.
“I wanted to experience a new
way of life and a new style of
the game and since I’ve been
over here, I’ve loved every
minute and really enjoy it.”
Heading towards the backend
of the 2023 season, Williams
reflects on his time on
Tyneside and how he’s adapting
to the Toon way of life.
“I love Newcastle and all the
boys are really close. A lot of
them are travelling this year
so when we are together is
makes it more special and we
became a tight close group.
“I’ve been living with Rob
(Tuliatu), Marcus (Walker) and
20

pretty much Curtis (Davies),
which has made my time easier
and they’re like a little family
away from my family.”
Acknowledging the difficult
situation Thunder finds
themselves in, the half-back
insists the club are putting in
performances but getting over
the line has let them down.
“I think we’ve put together a
few solid performances and
our team performing well
recently, besides the last two
fixtures.
“We’re just not quite hitting
the final yards and falling a try
or two short. We just haven’t
been able to get over the line
but we’re working hard to
make sure we can have these
complete performances.
Williams has had a strong
season in Thunder colours and
enjoyed several standout
performances.
Alluding to what has helped
him achieve these feats and
offering a modest reply he
said: “I’ve got to thank the
forwards really.
“I’m playing off the back of like
Mitch (Clark) and the other
lads, who just make it easier.
They give me the platform to
play.”
Outside of playing rugby
league, Nikau is also a huge
fan of the sport and explained
what he loves best about it.
“I think what I love most about
playing the sport is being
around the boys and being with
your mates.
“It’s a great physical sport
that pushes you to the max and
if you have your mates their to
get behind you, it makes it
21

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“I don’t think it’s said often
enough but they’re vital in
helping us get over the line.
It’ll be great to see as many
down for the game
even better. You can really get
the best out of yourself and
that’s something I’ve always
enjoyed.
“I’ve also played it since I was
young, so it’s always been a
part of my life.”
Looking at today’s opposition
and Williams’ previous club,
the half-back insists their will
be a tough physical battle at
Kingston Park this afternoon.
“We can expect a tough game
no doubts. They’re a physical
bunch and are a real tough side
and always turning up for each
other.
“They might not have the most
money or the best of the best
players, but they have a squad
that are built different,
and they manage to turn up
every week and put in solid
performances.
“When you catch them on a
good day, they’re unplayable so
we need to ensure we dictate
how the game’s played.
“It’ll be a great match I’m sure
of it and I’m looking forward
to meeting up with the squad
after the game.
“We know we’re in a tough
position now but we’re going
to fight all the way. We need the
fans to get down to Kingston
Park and get behind the lads.
“I don’t think it’s said often
enough but they’re vital in
helping us get over the line. It’ll
be great to see as many down
for the game and hopefully we
can do them proud.”
23

Name
Thunder
career
apps
Thunder
career
points
Thunder
career
tries
Season
2023
apps
Season
2023
points
Season
2023
tries
Name
Thunder
career
apps
Thunder
career
points
Thunder
career
tries
Season
2023
apps
Season
2023
points
Season
2023
tries
Jake Anderson 10 0 0 3 0 0 Evan Lawther 3 8 2 3 8 2
Connor Bailey 63 36 9 20 12 3 Jake Lightowler 3 0 0 3 0 0
Denive Balmforth 17 16 4 17 16 4 Jack Miller 16 28 3 16 28 3
Gideon Boafo 34 52 13 8 8 2 Connor Moore 13 8 2 13 8 2
Jay Chapelhow 45 20 5 18 16 4 Daniel Okoro 7 0 0 7 0 0
Ted Chapelhow 57 24 6 20 16 4 Evan Simons 147 172 43 2 0 0
Alex Clegg 68 140 35 18 32 8 Nicholas Staveley 12 4 1 12 4 1
Mitch Clark 45 12 3 18 8 2 Robert Tuliatu 16 0 0 16 0 0
Curtis Davies 21 4 1 21 4 1 Marcus Walker 13 8 2 13 8 2
Alex Donaghy 39 52 13 16 16 4 Mac Walsh 3 4 1 3 4 1
Max Flanagan 3 4 1 3 4 1 Tyler Walton 0 0 0 0 0 0
Alex Foster 27 24 6 15 12 3 Nikau Williams 18 82 2 18 82 2
Brad Gallagher 35 20 5 13 4 1 Alex Young 10 20 5 10 20 5
Jack Johnson 45 108 27 12 20 5

26
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OFFICIAL CLUB PARTNERS

1.
1.
1.
1.
1 Jack Johnson
Fullback
2 Alex Young
Wing
3 Marcus Walker
Centre
5 Alex Clegg
Wing
BTS Boiler
Technical
1.
1.
1.
1.
6 Alex Donagh
Standoff
The Tynemouth
Castle Inn, part of
The Inn Collection
Group
7 Nikau Williams
Scrum-half
8 Jay Chapelhow
Prop
1. 1.
1.
1.
9 Curtis Davie
Hooker
10 Mitch Clark
Prop
11 Alex Foster ©
Second row
12 Brad Gallagher
Second row
13 Connor Bailey
Loose forward
Ludwell
Electrical
Ludwell
Electrical
1.
1.
1.
1.
14 Denive Balmforth
Hooker
15 Ted Chapelhow
Prop
17 Robert Tuliatu
Prop
18 Jake Lightowler
Loose forward
28

1.
1. 1.
1.
20 Gideon Boafo
Wing
21 Evan Lawther
Centre
22 Jake Anderson
Prop
23 Connor Moore
Prop
The Mosley
Family
Jan & Jim
Neighbour
Derwent View
Group
1. 1.
1.
1.
24 Daniel Okoro
Prop
1.
25 Max Flanagan
Fullback
National Care
Network
1. 1.
26 Mac Walsh
Centre
National Care
Network
27 Jack Miller
Standoff
THE PARKER
FAMILY
28 Tyler Walton
Prop
Lowes Financial
Management
29 Nick Staveley
Prop
AVAILABLE TO
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40 Evan Simons
Hooker
NEWCASTLE THUNDER
SQUAD
2023
29

FIXTURES & RESULTS
JANUARY
F: SAT JAN 18 V KEIGHLEY COUGARS (L 12-24)
FEBRUARY
BC: Sun Feb 5 v Swinton Lions (W 6-18)
BC: Sat Feb 11 v Toulouse Olympique XIII (L 58-0)
BC: Sun Feb 19 v Keighley Cougars (L 44-24)
BC: Sun Feb 26 v Featherstone Rovers (L 56-6)
MARCH
BC: Sun Mar 5 v Barrow Raiders (D 18-18)
BCC: Sat Mar 11 v Stanningley SARLC (W 16-58)
BC: SAT MAR 18 V LONDON BRONCOS (L 6-36)
BC: Sun Mar 26 v Widnes Vikings (L 24-16)
APRIL
BCC: Sat Apr 1 v Rochdale Mayfield ALRFC (W 12-
22)
BC: FRI APR 7 V SHEFFIELD EAGLES (L 20-44)
BC: Sun Apr 16 v Whitehaven RLFC (L 31-6)
BCC: Fri Apr 21 v York RLFC Knights (L 22-18)
MAY
BC: SUN MAY 7 V HALIFAX PANTHERS (L 16-36)
BC: Sun May 14 v York RLFC Knights (L 26-22)
SB: Sun May 28 v Sheffield Eagles (L 38-32)
NEXT TIME AT KP
V SWINTON LIONS
SUN JULY 30th
BETFRED CHAMPIONSHIP
Kick-off: 15:00
JUNE
BC: FRI JUN 2 V BRADFORD BULLS (L 12-28)
BC: SUN JUN 11 V BATLEY BULLDOGS (L 12-26)
BC: SUN JUN 18 V KEIGHLEY COUGARS (W 18-16)
BC: Fri Jun 23 v Sheffield Eagles (L 40-0)
JULY
BC: Sun Jul 2 v London Broncos (L 56-10)
BC: SUN JUL 9 V WHITEHAVEN RLFC (3PM)
BC: Sun Jul 16 v Halifax Panthers (3pm)
BC: SUN JUL 30 V SWINTON LIONS (3PM)
AUGUST
BC: SAT AUG 5 V WIDNES VIKINGS (3PM)
BC: Sun Aug 20 v Bradford Bulls (3pm)
BC: FRI AUG 25 V YORK CITY KNIGHTS (7:45PM)
SEPTEMBER
BC: SAT SEP 2 V TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE XIII (3PM)
BC: FRI SEP 8 V FEATHERSTONE ROVERS (8PM)
BC: SAT SEP 16 V BARROW RAIDERS (3PM)
BC: Sun Sep 24 v Batley Bulldogs (3pm)
KEY: BC = Betfred Championship, BCC = Betfred Challenge Cup,
SB – Summer Bash, F = Friendly.
(Home games in capital letters)
FIRST TEAM
30

RESERVES & ACADEMY
MARCH
R: Sat Mar 4 v St. Helens Reserves (L 72-4)
R: SAT MAR 18 V LONDON BRONCOS RESERVES (W 48-6)
U16: Wed Mar 22 v Huddersfield Giants Academy (L 66-4)
U18: SUN MAR 26 V LEEDS RHINOS ACADEMY (L 0-84)
R: FRI MAR 31 V CASTLEFORD TIGERS RESERVES (L 10-22)
APRIL
U16: WED APR 5 V BRADFORD BULLS ACADEMY (L 20-30)
U18: Thu Apr 6 v Bradford Bulls Academy (L 78-16)
R: Sat Apr 15 v Huddersfield Giants Reserves (L 32-18)
U18: THU APR 20 V HULL FC ACADEMY (L 10-76)
R: FRI APR 28 V WARRINGTON WOLVES RESERVES (L 6-54)
MAY
U16: Wed May 3 v Castleford Tigers Academy (L 44-14)
U18: SUN MAY 7 v ST. HELENS ACADEMY (L 110-4)
R: Sun May 14 v Hull FC Reserves (L 58-12)
U18: Sat May 20 v Warrington Wolves Academy (L 68-6)
R: FRI MAY 26 V WAKEFIELD TRINITY RESERVES (L 14-32)
U18: SUN JUN 18 V WAKEFIELD TRINITY ACADEMY (L 18-72)
R: SUN JUN 25 V LEIGH LEOPARDS RESERVES (PP)
U16: Wed Jun 28 v Hull KR Academy (L 30-10)
JULY
U18: Sun Jul 2 v London Broncos Academy (L 46-26)
R: Sat Jul 8 v Wigan Warriors Reserves (12pm)
U16: WED JULY 12 V WIGAN WARRIORS ACADEMY (7PM)
U18: Sat Jul 15 v Castleford Tigers Academy (2pm)
R: FRI JUL 21 V LEEDS RHINO RESERVES (7:30 PM)
U16: WED JULY 26 V LEEDS RHINOS ACADEMY (7PM)
U18: SUN JUL 30 V BRADFORD BULLS ACADEMY (5:15PM)
AUGUST
R: Sat Aug 5 v Salford Red Devils Reserves (3pm)
R: Sat Aug 19 v Bradford Bulls Reserves (1pm)
U18: Fri Aug 25 v Hull KR Academy (5:30pm)
SEPTEMBER
U18: FRI SEP 8 V HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS ACADEMY (5:45PM)
JUNE
R: Sat Jun 10 v Hull KR Reserves (PP)
U16: Sat Jun 17 v London Broncos Academy (W 18-26)
NEXT TIME AT KP
V WIGAN WARRIORS RESERVES
WED JULY 12th
Kick-off: 19:00
KEY: R = Reserves, U18 = Under-18s, U16 = Under-16s
PP = Postponed
(Home games in capital letters)

IN OPP
WHITEH
The West Cumbrian side have had a mixed
bag in terms of results so far this season
and will be the first to admit consistency
in form has been a struggle.
Whitehaven currently sit 9th in the Betfred
Championship league table, where from 17
fixtures played, they’ve won seven games
and lost 10.
The club are level on points with Widnes
Vikings but sit below them due to a poorer
points difference.
In fixtures where Whitehaven have shown
their class they’ve completed the league
double over York Knights, taken home the
bragging rights in the Cumbrian derby
against Barrow Raiders, humbled today’s
hosts in Newcastle Thunder as well as
also taking full points from high-flyers
Sheffield Eagles, Widnes Vikings, and
Swinton Lions.
Frustratingly for them, the season has
seen Whitehaven fall to defeats against
Keighley Cougars and Featherstone Rovers
on two occasions. They’ve also struggled
against Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls,
their Cumbrian rivals in Barrow Raiders
and London Broncos alongside suffering
heavy losses to Halifax Panthers and
Toulouse Olympique XIII.
Photography credit: Ben Challis
Whitehaven also struggled in their
Challenge Cup run, bowing out in the third
round after a 32-10 defeat against London
Bronos.
Looking to make amends for a tough 60-0
loss to Featherstone Rovers last time out
and with Thunder eyeing to overturn the
reverse fixture’s result, we can expect
nothing short of a great showcase of rugby
league at Kingston Park.
Photography credit: Ben Challis
32

OSITION
AVEN RLFC
JONTY
GORLEY
HEAD
COACH
Gorley took over as head coach at
Whitehaven RLFC ahead of the 2022
season, having been promoted from the
assistant coach position he held under
Gary Charlton.
The West Cumbrian has been involved in
professional rugby league for close to
10 years now and has previously held an
assistant coach role at Workington Town.
Gorley is renowned for his work within
the community and has enjoyed success
coaching across academy and scholarshipgrade
rugby.
Photography credit: Mal Walker
33

IN OPPO
THREE T
GUY GRAHAM #2
(PROP)
Son of former cross-code professional and
Scotland international, George Graham as well
as brother to former Newcastle Falcons and
Scotland player Gary Graham, Guy Graham has
featured 44 times for the West Cumbrian side
across three seasons.
Also holding international honours for Scotland
Rugby League, earning two caps at the most
recent Rugby League World Cup, the 24-yearold
has scored four times for his domestic
club, which included a brace against Keighley
Cougars earlier this season.
JOSH ROURKE #23
(FULL-BACK)
In his maiden season at Whitehaven RLFC, having
joined from Super League outfit Salford Red
Devils, Rourke has featured 18 times for the
West Cumbrians.
The 23-year-old is joint top try-scorer for the
club with nine this season and has also been
successful from the tee on 35 occasions, taking
his points tally for 2023 to 106 so far – top of
the club’s rankings.
Rourke made his Super League debut in 2022
against Warrington Wolves.
Photography credit: Lee Macaulay
34

SITION
O WATCH
CURTIS TEARE #4
(CENTRE)
Teare began his rugby league playing career
at Workington Town where he made 15
appearances and scored 2 tries.
Signing for Whitehaven RLFC ahead of the
2022 season, the centre has featured 24 times
across two campaigns so far.
In 2023, the 24-year-old is joint top try-scorer
for the club with nine tries in 18 appearances,
which included a brace against Cumbrian rivals
Barrow Raiders earlier in the season.
35
Photography Photography credit: Batley credit: Bulldogs Lee Macaulay