Nathan Wilde extends Newcastle stay

Newcastle Thunder have announced that Nathan Wilde has signed a new one-year deal with the club for the 2022 Championship season.

Arriving at Kingston Park Stadium for the club’s return to the second tier, Wilde made an immediate impression with his pre-season effort rewarding him with the number eight on the club’s 2021 squad list.

He appeared in all-but-three of Thunder’s 2021 fixtures.

Wilde spent six years with Wigan before making the move. He was part of the Under-19s set up at the Warriors.

READ: Nathan Wilde relishing being part of Newcastle Thunder’s rise to the top

Nathan Wilde on new contract

“It was a great first year,” he said. “When I signed, I didn’t expect to get as much game time as I did. So, to cement a starting spot last season, I just want to kick on from that and enjoy my time with the club.

“There were some long minutes in there but its what I enjoy, playing and getting stuck in. I adapted to that and it felt like I did it well.

“I want to improve certain parts of my game that Freddy and Denis have spoken about. I want to keep the starting spot and continue enjoying my rugby.

“It’s my first full-time pre-season, which is exciting itself. Hopefully it all goes well, I can kick on and everyone can see the difference.”

Head coach Eamon O’ Carroll’s comments

Head coach Eamon O’ Carroll said: “It’s a great challenge for Nathan this year. I had a great chat with him before we came in for pre-season as obviously, he is aware that we have strengthened in that area, but he was my young player of the year last year and I love everything about him.

“Wildey has so much courage and works really hard. There were times last year when I had to leave him out there for big minutes. He was playing 70-odd minutes every game and he never gave in.

“For someone who had only ever played academy and come up into the Championship and in the circumstances that it was done with us jumping up when he was signed for League 1.

“He is going to develop so much in a full-time environment and you can tell he is loving it.”

Newcastle’s squad for 2022

Wilde is the 21st member for the club’s squad announced so far.

Squad so far: Jake Anderson, Connor Bailey, Gideon Boafo, Jay Chapelhow, Ted Chapelhow, Mitch Clark, Alex Donaghy, Brad Day, Jesse Dee, Josh Eaves, Alex Foster, Brad Gallagher, Sam Hallas, Jack Johnson, Tom Minns, Pat Moran, Craig Mullen, Jake Shorrocks, Ukuma Ta’ai and Josh Woods.