Phil W

We know it's going to be a tough season for us at Thunder. In previous games we've been in the fight first half then tailed off second. It's a reversal this week!

Oldham, Crusaders and Workington this week. Although Rochdale might fancy a scalp at Workington. From a Thunder perspective we played well first half last week I just want to see us in the fight for longer each week.

So he's been sentenced to a loan spell at Odsal then.

I'll be at Thunder and being completely realistic I want to see us be in the fight for longer as our results at Hunslet and Midlands suggest we have been first half. Other than that I expect Oldham to win and the other two games could be quite tight but will go for Keighley and North Wales.

Completely get that but we have to start somewhere. A European Championships Nations League would give promotion and relegation and guarantee matches. Yes England would dominate for a while but it's frustrating to see the can being kicked down the road. Netherlands, Serbia, Greece and Malta to name some are doing more at the moment. If that's our foundation, let's be patient and build it!

My frustration is we're waiting on others but this goes from year to year and the wait continues. If what we have to do as England Is starting somewhere with a European Championships and build it then so be it. But waiting and waiting can't go on.

If we hadn't have gone again this year I don't think we would've gone next year to be honest. We have to keep backing the team, we knew it would be difficult and it is.

I know I live on another planet at times in the world of what's feasible. But it would be great to have a Championship and League One broadcast deal. It would give Midlands a chance to showcase their new stadium to a base, us at Thunder a chance to try and grab an untapped audience and with Sean Long at Oldham a real look at their resurgence. That's just three teams, there'll be more stories out there. At the very least us League One clubs should be allowed to offer a streaming service. I'd also like to see some Championship on terrestrial, I've enjoyed watching it over the last couple of seasons since Covid despite Thunders woes. It's a good league to watch and I would watch it on the red button on BBC or wherever. I guess I'm a bit frustrated that as we come into a new IMG era as a game we're not grasping at chances to generate new audiences and streaming is definitely one of those ways.

Given the League One season is now underway and appreciate there's been server issues on the site @John Drake could we be moved to the League One section?

One point for me on this and I'm not condoning contact with an official. But when Alex Foster was at Thunder he got an eight match ban for making contact with an official. In real time it didn't look that bad. So eight games for this seems lenient in comparison.

Well done to Wakefield, they've turned up and done their job in a professional way, as a Thunder fan I wouldn't expect any different. I know most will be aware, our start off the back of two weeks pre-season has been York, Sheffield and Wakefield it doesn't get much tougher. We are starting from scratch trying to be sustainable. As a club we have to stick together. What I would like is if people can make Thunder their second team as it will be tough but we do feel the goodwill of the rugby league family. Support us if you're near where we're playing or share and like anything on social media. There is an option to buy a £50 membership online.

Reckon the Wakefield squad need three weeks off to make sure they're ok for the season proper. Just remember our pitch at Thunder is artificial so probably best resting players for that one!

Just a quick one to say thanks for the support, as I've posted elsewhere previously we know it's going to be tough this season. The lads who played yesterday have had three training sessions together and we have literally started from scratch. I understand the comments re not a good look for the game but also appreciate there is a lot of goodwill towards us which is appreciated. We are trying to build something that is sustainable, we have no backer to fall back on anymore. So we're not going to get everything right and volunteers are now a huge part of the club. This is with the aim of keeping rugby league alive in the north east. Again I get people argue we have had magic and the World Cup but that's done now and we have to concentrate on the here and now. If you're in the north east or know anyone who is encourage them to get to Kingston Park. If we're at a ground near you then please come and support us. We know there's a lot of goodwill. I know social media is divisive with IMG but please share, like and comment on anything we post as you doing that genuinely helps raising awareness of rugby league. That's the bigger picture beyond IMG fandom points! As a club we'll stick together and get behind everyone as we do want to keep rugby league alive in the north east. That wasn't as quick as I thought!

There'll be a squad out but very young and inexperienced. I believe the first training session was last Thursday and these games have come too soon to be honest. So will be used to have a look at players. Given we've got to the start line that's the main thing for us, we know York and Wakefield will be really tough games.

There was a fans meeting on Monday night and we were told that we have around 29 players being a mix of last year's academy, some younger squad players, university students and some others. We have kit which to be fair is very smart. Being honest the Cup has come far too early for us and these games will be more around preseason and having a look at players, as fans we're happy to have a team on the pitch given where we were a couple of months ago. The main thing is those who had pledged membership and season tickets is that they pay as we're heavily reliant on fans money.