NEWCASTLE THUNDER have appointed Craig Huby as their new coach – and the former Castleford Tigers forward has promised an expansive style of play.
Huby, who also appeared for Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity in a playing career of more than 300 games, is taking on his first head coach role.
The 40-year-old has served a coaching apprenticeship as assistant to Liam Finn at Dewsbury Rams and Halifax Panthers, then Craig Lingard at Sheffield Eagles.
He will be assisted by former Newcastle player Alex Donaghy, who is only 25 and played for Workington Town this year but has degrees in sports coaching, performance and analysis.
After achieving the club’s best ever finish of second place in the Championship, and reaching the play-off semi-finals, Graham Steadman stood down as coach.
Huby wants to carry on that momentum while the club become more independent of partners York, having effectively operated as their reserve team this year.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to take the head coach appointment at a club that’s on the up,” he said.
“We have a nucleus of the squad signed up for 2027, based around people who want to commit to Newcastle and take the club to the next level.
“It will look a little different from 2026 with us being part-time and back in Newcastle, but for me that’s part of the excitement.
“The playing group will be expected to train at a high intensity and there’s a big focus on effort areas.
“I’ve played at the highest level in the UK and I am a coach who likes to move the ball around, so fans can expect an expansive style of rugby on the field.”
Newcastle have also made Tom Scott their strength and conditioning coach and appointed Peter Ryan, another ex-Thunder player, as physio.
