Newcastle Thunder have announced an extended match day squad for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Widnes Vikings at Kingston Park (KO 3pm) including three products of the Cramlington Rockets youth system.

In the first run out of the New Year, head coach Mick Mantelli has announced a squad that features a talented blend of senior squad members and the U19’s academy.

Jake Woods will fill the full back berth, with fellow Thunder U19 Academy prospects, Kieran Bruce and David Weetman amongst the replacements.

“We are thrilled that these lads are being given this opportunity” said Rockets Chairman Jeff Ball. I always enjoy watching them play for the mixture of skills and aggression that they bring to any team they feature in.

To be able to line up next to the likes of Peter Fox, an England international as well as the rest of the Thunder squad will be a big step forward in their development.”

Tickets for tomorrow’s game are still on sale priced and £10 for adults, £7 for concessions and £5 for Under 16s and can be bought on the day from the stadium ticket office and cash turnstiles.

Newcastle Thunder squad
v Widnes Vikings – Sat 9th January
KO 3pm

1 Jake Woods, 2 Peter Fox, 3 Dan Turland, 4 Joe Brown, 5 Ali Blair, 6 Josh Kittrick, 7 Ben Hardcastle, 8 Rhys Clarke, 9 Evan Simons, 10 Fran Welsh, 11 Harry Aldous, 12 Sam Luckley, 13 Craig Boot 14 Paddy Hargreaves, 15 Lee Fewlass, 16 Josh Stoker, 17 Mick Ridley, 18 Craig Cook, 19 Dan Parker, 20 Alex Bielby, 21 Sam Stephenson, 22 Aidan McCallion, 23 Kieran Bruce, 24 Sandy Rae, 25 Dave Weetman, 26 Ryan Millington, 27 Adam Bielby