OPPOSITION GUIDE | NEWCASTLE THUNDER

Ahead of this Saturday's Betfred Championship Round 12 clash, we take a look at our opponents - Newcastle Thunder!

Formbook

- Newcastle Thunder head into Saturday's match on the back of a morale boosting 52-22 win over London Broncos last Friday.

- Eamonn O'Carroll's side currently sit 10th in the Betfred Championship ladder, with five wins from their opening eleven fixtures.

The Squad

- Former Super League giant Ukuma Ta'ai is one of a number of big hitters in the Thunder pack in 2022 - alongside fellow former top tier stars Mitch Clark and Alex Foster.

- Jake Shorrocks and Josh Woods lead the team around the park - with Jack Johnson and Gideon Boafo speedy options on the edges. 

The Coach 

-  Eamon O'Carroll took to the reins as head coach of the Thunder in late 2020, completing his first year in charge at Kingston Park last year.

-  The 34-year-old spent 13 years as a player and represented Wigan Warriors, Hull FC and Widnes Vikings before retiring to become a coach in 2017.

Connections 

- There are four former Bulls in the Thunder ranks in 2022, most notably, Brad Gallagher who was a product of the Bradford Bulls Academy before moving to the North East.

- Mitch Clark, Ted Chapelhow and Jay Chapelhow all spent brief spells in the red, amber and black - the latter duo representing the club on loan. 

The Stadium

- Newcastle Thunder share their home with Rugby Union outfit Newcastle Falcons. Kingston Park has a capacity of 10,200. 

Previous affairs 

- Bradford did the double over Newcastle in 2021, with the two sides meeting for the first time since 2018. A 31-12 win at Odsal Stadium preceded a 36-12 win up in the Toon later on that year.

CLICK HERE to book your spot - alternatively, call us on 0333 323 5075 or visit the Team Shop. 

Bradford Bulls Team Shop Opening Hours

Tuesday to Friday (10:00-17:00)

Saturday (10:00-14:00)

Sunday HOME MATCHES ONLY (13:00-15:00)