ThunderLeague

Aye Sam hallas who jumped ship

Won’t be long for falcons to fold. Cheaper season tickets and words of being sustainable. We heard these words this season at thunder.

Not a word. We didn’t know until game caller said

On the plus it’s great broncos and Toulouse are in champ final and Catalan have a chance to win grand final. Great for expansion

We can only guess but a lot was pumped into the full time year. We have now football back on the map with the Saudis and seemingly women’s football team at Kp under nufc is growing big decent attendances. There was a rumour last year owner of thunder said thunder were propping the ground up. Falcons will always remain the bigger of the two but because relegation hasn’t been at play in union then falcons have survived without having to even spend big. Can see this happening also with img structure. Clubs will not bother spending if there miles off and can’t go up on performance wins

Wouldn’t be fair on other clubs that’s gone to start that now. Expansion hasn’t really been protected or properly thought of. I can also see why heartland clubs would want to protect there own as well. Expansion Clubs needed a chance to build in super league like Toulouse I believe would of be frites another year (luckily for them they get a slight hope of getting back up) but they should be allowed to build for a few year then if it’s not going to work so be it. Trying to go into each season in the unknown and signings are all done and dusted before the season and with a playoff system that doesn’t gaurentee you promotion as anything can happen, then no wonder clubs are at a loss what to do because of structures. Can only see more going bust/pulling out

Samoa game at at James’ The stat that really stands out for me – 55% of those inside St James’ Park were from the north-east. I think if we just reflect on that for a moment, that is really quite staggering. I think that is the impact of major events; attracting a new audience. On Saturday night, after the England game, we had our highest sales since we opened the ballot two years ago. The top buying postcode on Saturday night was for London. We are now seeing a trend where people are plotting an England path. what raised many eyebrows with thunder fans was the lack of advertising of thunder especially with worldcup on door, ppl in the area not even knowing we had a league side. Falcons get thousands in. Something not right that we couldn’t pull in the big numbers. Kurdi has probably thought long and hard at the money he’s losing each year in league and the img restructure. Money coming in now with the nufc women’s game being played at Kingston park and supported by Amanda staverly. We struggled to get quality players up here because of training on evenings and players living on the m62 with family’s. Could only attract younger academy super league cast offs and put them in accommodation in town whist our local players were kicked out of the side by dual reg players who would just come up to play and not train and play. Went full time which ended in disaster. Took too long to sack Betts and ocarrrol off, bigger sides would of fired them 6 games in. Players told moving back to part time of which they had full time contracts still and hence cheesed them off. Few moved on and ones that couldn’t find a club got stuck with a nice wage weren’t up to the task of keeping us up. Not been a good two years

The numbers are there but performances on the pitch have been shocking. Dennis Betts and Ocarrol should of been rid of faster. A lot of false promises and spouting super league put alot of pressure on the side. Attendances of 700-2,000 during seasons. Won’t be the last club to jack it in. Img grading anything to do with it. Thunder nailed on as grade B. Oldham spending big, what if they are not a cat B, could it all be a waste of money

https://www.thunderrugby.com/article/737/newcastle-thunder-academy-update-

Academy was already announced mate month back

We’re all devastated as Thunder fans. Big investment in the squad the last two seasons and talk of having the foundations laid out. Community game was thriving with funding in a local club setup on there own grounds. This is going to be a big impact locally and magic weekend seemingly trying to be pulled from st James’ when the stats showed high numbers of fans were from the north east. Greatly backed worldcup games at KP. Unfortunately it hasn’t made our own home crowds any bigger apart from the big tv games but the fact we appointment some poor coaches and went full time for some bizarre reason and bought players who were no good and unable to get rid of them this year as they were contracted. We went down. In the end we had some good home wins and we’re looking forward to more our level of league 1. Devastated as we have some very passionate fans and now looking at where to go and what to do next

Us at thunder tried throwing money at it last year and got us nowhere due to betts and co. Your very much apart from us turning full time that yesr in the same boat as thunder were with players leaving, coach gone and going for loans and youngsters. It will be enough to Survive. This year at thunder spent hell of alot less and just loans and worky buys plus the players we couldn't get rid of with there contracys. Still poor. Your owners are doing right as you can't match fev and would be wasting money on this season. Stay in the league and rebuild to the img standards. Sadly we will be in league 1 which is a far cry from the heights the club were supposed to be hitting. Attack our outside backs and you will have success tomorrow.

I think we need a miricle already to stay up. Can see swinton haven and barrow winning more. Still to face all three at home but that wouldn't be enough points. Need to beat cougars and york on top of those three wins

Keighley seem to be doing a thunder of last year. Coach gone. Players quitting and short loans coming in at youth level. Should be an intresting game sunday. Tight one I'd hope and a one we can sneak

Come on Thunder!!