Newcastle Thunder’s Lewis Young and Cole Oakley head out on loan

Newcastle Thunder have announced that duo Lewis Young and Cole Oakley have headed out on short-term loans.

Young, 25, will join up with Hunslet on an initial two-week loan, while Oakley will link up with Matt Calland at Rochdale Hornets for the same spell of time.

Young has made four appearances for Newcastle so far this season and has been sharing duties with Calum Turner and academy graduate Alex Donaghy.

Oakley has also made four appearances for Thunder so far in 2021, including the home game against Sheffield Eagles where he was one of four Newcastle try-scorers on the day.

Both players link up with their loaning clubs in time for this weekend’s League 1 action, which sees fifth placed Hunslet take on Doncaster and while sixth-placed Rochdale travel to face Workington Town at Derwent Park.

Newcastle Thunder director of rugby Denis Betts said: “Lewis and Cole are going to spend the next couple of weeks out on loan and gain some additional game time.

“We have great competition for places in the squad at the moment and featuring for Hunslet and Rochdale will allow them to further their case for selection and allow us to see them in competitive action.”

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