Simon Finnigan gets new deal at Newcastle

Promotion-chasing Newcastle Thunder have given a new contract to head coach Simon Finnigan for 2020.

Finnigan, 37, is in his first head coach role after cutting his teeth as assistant at Leigh and Toronto.

He has led Thunder to 11 wins from his 13 games in charge, and they currently sit three points behind League 1 leaders Whitehaven with a game in hand.

The former Ireland international said: “Extending was mentioned a few weeks ago and obviously I’m pleased to do that, I didn’t want to come just for a year.

“Thunder is a really well run club from top to bottom so it was a very easy decision. The initial excitement from when I first came in has grown and grown and I’m still as excited, if not more and it is a really good place to be at.”

Finnigan made more than 230 career appearances for Widnes, Salford, Bradford, Huddersfield and Leigh.

He played for Ireland at the 2008 and 2013 World Cups.