Page 49 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

NEWCASTLE THUNDER

RLW PREDICTS: 1st
Newcastle Thunder so nearly celebrated their
20th year as a club in the best possible way after
being 16 minutes away from promotion to the
Championship.
A try by Oldham’s Jimmy Beckett ensured it was
the Roughyeds that would take the prize, leaving
Thunder to go at it again in 2020.
But with ever growing-participation levels across
the city and the Magic Weekend returning to St
James’ Park, Rugby League has never been as hot a
topic in Newcastle as it is now.
Coach Simon Finnigan, who had an almost instant
COACH STAR PLAYER impact when he arrived last April, will be hoping his
outside backs are once again firing on all cylinders
If determination alone was With over 400 appearances under as they continue to play an attacking style of rugby.
enough to win promotion, Simon his belt, Ireland international Bob If wing-centre partnership Kieran Gill and Alex Clegg
Finnigan and Newcastle would be Beswick will be one of the most can come even close to the 42 tries they bagged
celebrating already. experienced players ever to pull between them last season, Newcastle will have no
Since his arrival at the club last on a Thunder shirt, having signed trouble in racking up big scores once again.
April, Newcastle worked hard week from Toronto Wolfpack. And with the club entering a team in the new
after week and put themselves in Beswick has played at all levels Reserves competition and their Academy team
with a great chance of promotion, of the game since his debut continuing to develop, there will be plenty of
only to fall agonisingly short of for Wigan in 2004, Beswick’s options available to Finnigan if injuries do start to
that aim in the play-off final. experience, as well as his ability become a factor.
But having already helped take to remain calm under pressure With new signings ranging from 25-time Ireland
Toronto up from this league as an could prove to be the final international Bob Beswick to 20-year-old Bradford
assistant coach, Finnigan will be piece of the jigsaw as Thunder Bulls Academy graduate Jake Lightowler adding to
looking to repeat that feat in the look to win promotion to the the bulk of last year’s squad, Finnigan could have
north east. Championship. created the perfect blend of youth and experience.

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS

2020 could prove to be somewhat of a transitional RLW PREDICTS: 8th
period for Anthony Murray and his new look North
Wales Crusaders side.
Long serving trio Jonny Walker, Alex Thompson and
Stephen Wild all hung up their boots at the end of
last season, whilst influential captain Kenny Baker
has made the move to the Championship with
Widnes Vikings. While Murray has replaced some
of these departures with players from elsewhere
in League 1, and former Super League Academy
stars, he has also once again looked to the local
community game to bolster his numbers.
Baker originally came from the amateur set up
with Ince Rose Bridge, so Murray clearly has a COACH STAR PLAYER
track record of finding some hidden diamonds and
turning them into League 1 stars. He will be hoping Anthony Murray looks to be building Tommy Johnson will be returning to
for more of the same success with Joey Brady, something special at North Wales the squad after missing the whole of
Jordan Gibson and Gav Roden. Crusaders as his second spell in charge 2019 with a knee injury.
With all these new signings, it may take the of the club runs into a third season. Having been at the club since
side some time to fully gel together and it is Not afraid to give local amateur it started in its current guise in
only realistic to expect that this won’t happen players a shot at this level, Murray 2012, Johnson has been a hugely
overnight. As much as the Crusaders will be aiming has once again built a squad full of influential figure and is the club’s
for a play-off spot, they might find themselves experience, exuberance and youth. second-highest appearance maker
falling just short again, just as they did in 2019. They almost earned them a play-off of all time.
But with a young squad coming together eager for spot last year after giving several of His solid performances and ability
success with the Wrexham-based club, if they can the bigger clubs a real fright. with the boot were no doubt missed
avoid as heavy a turn around again in 12 months’ Now he just needs to find a way in 2019 and his return looks set to
time, 2020 could also be the start of a blossoming of getting his players to step it up help the club take that next step
period for the club. another gear. towards reaching the play-offs.

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