THUNDER NAME 21-MAN SQUAD FOR LEIGH

Newcastle Thunder make three changes to their 21-man squad ahead of Sunday’s visit of league-leaders Leigh Centurions (KO 3pm)

Isaac Nokes returns from a one-match suspension, whilst Tom Forber has recovered from the injury picked up against York City Knights at the end of July and is again made available by parent club Wigan Warriors.

Umyla Hanley is also available from the Cherry and Whites, while Sam Halsall again remains with the Warriors ahead of this week’s Betfred Super League clash with Wakefield Trinity.

The incoming players replace Dan Coates, who suffered a dislocated patella in the opening minutes of last week’s fixture and Brad Day.

Coates and Day join a growing list of players unavailable to Thunder as the season enters the final furlong, with Jack Johnson, Jesse Dee, Jake Shorrocks and Ollie Roberts all injured and Alex Foster still serving a suspension.

It adds to the challenge of facing a side that has lost just once in the Betfred Championship this season and heads to the north east aiming to continue its relentless charge towards top spot in the regular season.

Thunder will enjoy strong home support in the face of that task with over 1,500 tickets already issued for Sunday’s game, with the Moody Cup grassroots festival providing a sizeable boost to the numbers in the stands.

Tickets for the game are on sale now and can be booked by clicking here, calling 0191 214 5588 or by visiting the Kingston Park Stadium box office with advance prices in place until 12 Noon on matchday.

Thunder’s 17-man match-day squad will be named at 2pm on Sunday.

Newcastle Thunder squad

v Leigh Centurions – Sunday 14^th August – KO 3pm

FROM

1 Craig Mullen, 5 Gideon Boafo, 7 Josh Woods, 8 Nathan Wilde, 9 Josh Eaves, 10 Mitch Clark, 14 Connor Bailey, 15 Ted Chapelhow, 16 Jay Chapelhow, 17 Ukuma Ta’ai, 20 Brad Gallagher, 21 Lewis Peachey, 22 Alex Donaghy, 23 Isaac Nokes, 24 Jake Anderson, 25 Nathan Clemmitt, 27 Josh McDermott, 31 Umylay Hanley, 36 Ellis Robson, 41 Tom Forber, 51 Thomas Lacans