Newcastle Thunder coach Eamon O’Carroll excited by quartet of signings

Newcastle Thunder coach Eamon O’Carroll is excited by the club’s latest bunch of signings for the 2022 Championship campaign.

At the club’s season launch event on Friday night, Newcastle Thunder confirmed the signings of Brad Day (Featherstone), Thomas Minns (Featherstone), Craig Mullen (Leigh) and academy product Jake Anderson.

Brad Day

The 27-year-old back-rower has made more than 100 appearances in the Championship for Batley and Featherstone.

O’Carroll said: “Brad brings strike on an edge, is competitive in what he does and will add some real threat. He’s a player that can really excite fans and gives us some good experience and some skill.

“He has been one of the best in the Championship over the last couple of years. We have done really well to get him against some strong Super League interest.”

Thomas Minns

Also making the switch from Featherstone to Newcastle is Minns. The centre has made more than 50 Super League appearances for Leeds, London Broncos and Hull KR.

O’Carroll said: “Tom brings a different dynamic and I’m really looking forward to working with him. He is a resilient character and is really passionate about coming here and making this club his own.

“He is really good defensively and also has some strike in him and is going to add to us as one of the on-field leaders and we’re going to be open to some of the ideas that he is going to bring to us.”

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Craig Mullen

The 23-year-old utility back made 12 appearances for Leigh in Super League this season. A Wigan academy product, Mullen can play full-back, wing, centre, half-back or hooker.

O’Carroll said: “Craig is a versatile player and that is something that has probably been unfortunate for him in that whatever position you put him in, he does a really good job.

“He’s coming here as our number one full-back and that excites both him and me. He is a smart player; he organises the defensive line and has a high level of skill which is going to complement our edges.”

Jake Anderson promoted to Newcastle Thunder first team

Anderson, 18, is the latest homegrown talent to graduate from the club’s academy. He will now be part of Thunder’s full-time playing squad.

O’Carroll said: “Jake was fantastic and had he not got injured, he would have played more games last season as well. He is really passionate about being a Super League player for Thunder and I am really excited to work with him.

“He’s a level-headed kid who comes from a great family. He knows he has a lot of work to do, but I’ve probably got a little bit of a soft spot for him as a fellow front-rower so I’m happy I am going to be part of a journey that is no doubt going to be successful.”

The quartet join Alex Foster and Ukuma Ta’ai as the signings so far confirmed by Thunder for the 2022 Championship season.

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