Twelve Rockets will be pulling on the Newcastle Thunder strip in the coming months for a series of matches against academy sides from around the country, including several Super League sides.

With games against Cumbria Storm, Salford Red Devils, Wakefield Trinity, Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers coming up, the squad is also made up of players from Wallsend Eagles, Catterick Crusaders, Durham Tigers and Cockermouth Titans.

Of the twelve, it is a familiar set up for Seth Kippax-Jones and Ryan Hull who impressed in last year’s squad when playing up a year and are joined by Dean Carling and Owen Wright who just missed out last time around

Joining them is a host of new faces from the Rockets including North East U14s player of the Year, Mark Roberts and nominees, Alex Donaghy and Fergus Simpson.

The other names selected from Cramlington are a number that lifted the U14s crown last summer and includes: Isaac Nikes, Jack Walker, Lewis Howe, Nathan Clemmett and Philip Brantingham,

With 35 players in the whole squad, Thunder are only able to select a 20-man squad, meaning 15 players missed out but are waiting in the wings for an opportunity, including six more Rockets.

With pre-season ahead of the U16s league starting in the coming weeks, the fact so many Rockets have spent the winter training together stands them in good stead.

The season begins at home on Sunday 22nd January with a 12 Noon kick off against Cumbria Storm, before Salford Red Devils visit on Sunday February 5th.

That fixture will form part of Joe Brown’s Testimonial Day, acting as a curtain raiser to the Newcastle Thunder v St Helens select match and giving the young players their first taste of playing in front of a large crowd.

Consecutive away fixtures against Wakefield, Leeds Rhinos and Cumbria in February will provide stern tests before the campaign concludes against Castleford Tigers at Kingston Park on Saturday April 29.

20-man match day squad for first set of matches:

Adam Hay – Wallsend Eagles
Alex Donaghy – Cramlington Rockets
Dean Carling – Cramlington Rockets
Calling Piert - Catterick Crusaders
Fergus Simpson – Cramlington Rockets
George Robinson – Catterick Crusaders
Isaac Nokes – Cramlington Rockets
Jack Walker – Cramlington Rockets
John Grey – Durham Tigers
Josh Leighton – Wallsend Eagles
Lewis Howe – Cramlington Rockets
Luke Broster – Cockermouth Titans
Mark Roberts – Cramlington Rockets
Nathan Clemmett – Cramlington Rockets
Owen Wright – Cramlington Rockets
Phillip Brantingham – Cramlington Rockets
Ryan Hull – Cramlington Rockets
Seth Kippax-Jones – Cramlington Rockets
Tony Saywell – Wallsend Eagles
Tyler Walton – Wallsend Eagles

Wider squad members:

Ewan Goodridge - Cramlington Rockets
Callum Poppett – Durham Tigers
Elliot Cowie – Cramlington Rockets
Joe Nelless – Cramlington Rockets
Leon Kelly – Durham Tigers
Leon Smith – Cramlington Rockets
Morgan Jobling – Durham Tigers
Oliver Robinson – Cramlington Rockets
Oscar Butterill – Catterick Crusaders
Ryan Mills – Wallsend Eagles
Rupart Civil – Catterick Crusaders
Tom Hall – Catterick Crusaders
Theo Stafford – Cramlington Rockets
Thomas Menton – Cramlington Rockets
William Todd - Durham Tigers