Rivalry with Thunder to continue

The RFL verdict means a repeat, this time in the Championship, of Oldham v Newcastle games

Oldham have enjoyed tremendous games with Newcastle Thunder in the last few seasons - none better than the 2019 Promotion Play-Off Final at the Vestacare Stadium - and the rivalry will continue in 2021 following yesterday's (Thursday) decision to elevate Thunder to the Betfred Championship next season.

The ambitious Tynesiders, whom Roughyeds beat 18-14 in a thriller to book their passage to the Championship just over a year ago, got the nod to move up to the second tier to fill the vacancy caused by the forthcoming 'promotion' of one of six clubs from the Championship to the Betfred Super League to replace Toronto Wolfpack.

While there was unbridled joy for Thunder and their aspirations to make the North-East a rugby league hot-bed over the next decade, there was bitter disappointment for their rivals in application - Barrow Raiders, Doncaster, Rochdale Hornets and Workington Town.

The verdict means a repeat, this time in the Championship, of Oldham v Newcastle games, which have produced so many terrific clashes in the past.

Remember this (a descriptive par from Roger Halstead's match report of the 2019 Promotion Final) ?

"It was a Final that had everything - thrills, spills, great tries, desperation tackles and Jimmy Beckett's 63rd-minute winner which provided the 19-year-old and all the Oldham fans in a crowd of 1,204 with memories that will last a lifetime in Jimmy's case and probably nearly as long for everyone else."

The current situation regarding Championship places for 2021 sees nine clubs confirmed - Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, newly-named Halifax Panthers, Newcastle Thunder, OLDHAM RLFC, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven RLFC, Widnes Vikings.

Six clubs have applied to take Toronto's place in Super League - Bradford Bulls, Featherstone Rovers, Leigh Centurions, London Broncos, Toulouse Olympique and York City Knights. 

The five disappointed clubs when that big decision is made next week will remain in the Championship and join the nine named above to form a 14-club division.

Air Commodore Dean Andrew OBE, who chaired the five-strong panel that elevated Thunder up the ladder, wished the Tynesiders good luck in their preparations to play "in what promises to be a vibrant and high-quality Betfred Championship competition."

Oldham have high hopes of holding their own, having announced a squad of 27 which includes a dozen new signings in James Barran, Tommy Brierley, Tyler Dupree, Callum Green, Ben Heaton, Ben Holcroft, Ryan Ince, Liam Kirk, Luke Nelmes, Shaun Pick, Martyn Reilly and Max Roberts.

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