NEWCASTLE THUNDER STRIKE AND LAND JESSE DEE

Newcastle Thunder have moved to secure the services of Queensland Cup calibre centre Jesse Dee for the 2022 Betfred Championship

27-year-old Dee joins the club from Mackay Cutters on Australia’s north east coast on a one-year deal, with the player set to feature as a centre option for Eamon O’Carroll’s side.

An aggressive player who leads with his actions, Dee started out with Warilla-Lake South Gorillas aged seven and represented the team in Group 7, the NSW league competition contested between Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions.

He made his first professional steps with Illawarra Cutters in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and debuted against West Tigers early that year.

Suffering an injury as he had cemented a position in the centres, Dee rebounded strongly to reclaim his place and be a key figure as they finished the season eighth.

Moving north in 2018 to play in the Intrust Super Cup with Mackay Cutters, the player combined full-time work in the local mines, but  was robbed of his chance, after breaking a hand whilst captaining Queensland Rangers.

After being restricted to three appearances that year, a season back with Wests Tigers saw Dee help the side claim their first MDRL title in 30 years and earned a second stint with the Cutters.

With state-wide competitions cancelled in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dee had to wait until 2021 to make his return for the team.

Completing the season with 17 appearance and scoring three tries, he spent most of 2021 in the forwards for the Cutters, demonstrating versatility that he will bring to Kingston Park Stadium.

“Spoke with Eamon and he told me a bit about the club and the ambitions it had, which are exciting. I was thinking about a switch to England and there were a few clubs at home that were interested in me, but that conversation made me keen to come.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to a full-time environment, which I had with Illawarra and that has been a big sell. Being full time is good for bonding as a team and for working on combinations. I’m coming across as an edge so getting combinations working is something I want to work on.

“Newcastle sounds like a great city, Eamon has said good things and so has my manager. They’ve told me about the good vibes and good people and I’m looking forward to getting across in December.

Eamon O’ Carroll: “I’m really pleased we have Jesse on board. He is a versatile and experienced player who is going to fit in well with our group.

“He’s coming over after playing at a high standard in Australia and that experience is going to be really valuable to us next season.

“Jesse can play a range of positions but is coming to us as a centre and he is going to be a great mentor for some of our young lads coming through.

“When we found out that he was looking to come over to the UK, I got in touch with Setamata Sa, Aaron Herimia and Tyrone McArthy to get some feedback on Jesse, from which we were really keen to get him over to Thunder.

“He’ll arrive in early December and I’m looking forward to him getting started with us.”

Dee is Thunder's 13th signing for the 2022 season, joining Jake Anderson, Jay Chapelhow, Ted Chapelhow, Alex Donaghy, Brad Day, Josh Eaves, Alex Foster, Tom Minns, Craig Mullen, Ukuma Ta’ai, Kyle Trout and Josh Woods as confirmed members of Thunder’s squad.

Season ticket memberships to enjoy all the Betfred Championship action at Kingston Park Stadium are now on sale, with adult prices starting from just £190 for 13 games.

Click here for more information and details of how to purchase.