Newcastle

[STEVE P]

I know I don't follow the general rugby league news like I should  but can anybody tell me what has happened at Newcastle?

Last year, any team who didn't put 60 points up them seemed to have failed. They were just brave kids up against proper semi pros.

Last week they beat Hurricanes and today only just lost at Hunslet. Have they had an injection of capital?

[graham fisher]

5 minutes ago, STEVE P said:

I know I don't follow the general rugby league news like I should  but can anybody tell me what has happened at Newcastle?

Last year, any team who didn't put 60 points up them seemed to have failed. They were just brave kids up against proper semi pros.

Last week they beat Hurricanes and today only just lost at Hunslet. Have they had an injection of capital?

Don’t want to come across as being pedantic,but they only just lost to a strong Doncaster side. The Newcastle team of this year is made up of at least half of the the York team of last year.

[Transpennine Ram]

9 minutes ago, graham fisher said:

Don’t want to come across as being pedantic,but they only just lost to a strong Doncaster side. The Newcastle team of this year is made up of at least half of the the York team of last year.

There's quite a lot about it in the 'general' section of the forum. Title is 'reserve clubs'.

[STEVE P]

9 minutes ago, graham fisher said:

Don’t want to come across as being pedantic,but they only just lost to a strong Doncaster side. The Newcastle team of this year is made up of at least half of the the York team of last year.

Not pedantic at all. I read Doncaster and my brain registered Hunslet.

[STEVE P]

7 minutes ago, Transpennine Ram said:

There's quite a lot about it in the 'general' section of the forum. Title is 'reserve clubs'.

Thanks for the heads up on that. Just had a read of it and I can't say I find the idea altogether palatable, but then I'm just an old stick in the mud, and there's no doubt something has to happen to secure a future for the lower echelons of the game. 

[Wakefield Ram]

"Newcastle" have effectively been taken over by York and are operating as York Reserves in the Championship.

Newcastle only have 15 registered players so will be reliant every game on "loan" players from York to field a side.

They are full-time and will train as one squad in York. So just York Reserves in Newcastle shirts. 

Leeds tried the same with Bramley back in 1990s which ended with Bramley folding. 

But "Newcastle" should do very well, top 6 easily. 

Edited January 25 by Wakefield Ram

[Blind side johnny]

17 hours ago, STEVE P said:

Thanks for the heads up on that. Just had a read of it and I can't say I find the idea altogether palatable, but then I'm just an old stick in the mud, and there's no doubt something has to happen to secure a future for the lower echelons of the game. 

It's nice that you feel this is all about securing Newcastle's future rather than York finding a different way to interpret salary cap regulations.

[STEVE P]

10 minutes ago, Blind side johnny said:

It's nice that you feel this is all about securing Newcastle's future rather than York finding a different way to interpret salary cap regulations.

Yep, I get your drift.

I was trying not to sound cynical for once. Think I should go back to.my default setting.

[Heckler]

They wanted to become Newcastle Knights, but apparently that name has already been taken! 

[Wakefield Ram]

2 hours ago, STEVE P said:

Yep, I get your drift.

I was trying not to sound cynical for once. Think I should go back to.my default setting.

But whatever you do, don't post any critical comments about the "partnership" on the main forum as York fans are very sensitive to any criticism of "New York" not being a proper side. 

[STEVE P]

4 hours ago, Wakefield Ram said:

But whatever you do, don't post any critical comments about the "partnership" on the main forum as York fans are very sensitive to any criticism of "New York" not being a proper side. 

That's the thing about these North Americans. The RL let the Canadians in a few years ago, now New York are getting in on the act.

Give them an inch and they take a yard.

 

[graham fisher]

Surprised Coolie’s not been on York forum ruffling a few feathers on the subject

[Wakefield Ram]

4 hours ago, graham fisher said:

Surprised Coolie’s not been on York forum ruffling a few feathers on the subject

To be fair, I've done that on the main forum "Reserve" thread....

[Blind side johnny]

23 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

To be fair, I've done that on the main forum "Reserve" thread....

What you have failed to understand WR is that this is being done entirely to the benefit of the Newcastle club, and the rest of RL should be grateful to York for their magnanimity.

[Simon Hall]

23 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

What you have failed to understand WR is that this is being done entirely to the benefit of the Newcastle club, and the rest of RL should be grateful to York for their magnanimity.

https://www.thunderrugby.co.uk/article/889/newcastle-lightning-launches-to-strengthen-north-east-rugby-league-pathway?fbclid=IwY2xjawPoQzZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBXMDJ4eEVBbm9UVzF0MEp4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhC7QQzN_jIGqNo-2W5RbJC6iNQ7P8_NHsqJcITwerX_vVSrMlLAFBcfa_f1_aem_vrcFzN8y2HsfTF3XoTjeSw

So, who's this for the benefit of?

[Blind side johnny]

2 hours ago, Simon Hall said:

https://www.thunderrugby.co.uk/article/889/newcastle-lightning-launches-to-strengthen-north-east-rugby-league-pathway?fbclid=IwY2xjawPoQzZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBXMDJ4eEVBbm9UVzF0MEp4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhC7QQzN_jIGqNo-2W5RbJC6iNQ7P8_NHsqJcITwerX_vVSrMlLAFBcfa_f1_aem_vrcFzN8y2HsfTF3XoTjeSw

So, who's this for the benefit of?

So what's this got to do with York subsidising Newcastle?

[Wakefield Ram]

2 hours ago, Simon Hall said:

https://www.thunderrugby.co.uk/article/889/newcastle-lightning-launches-to-strengthen-north-east-rugby-league-pathway?fbclid=IwY2xjawPoQzZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBXMDJ4eEVBbm9UVzF0MEp4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhC7QQzN_jIGqNo-2W5RbJC6iNQ7P8_NHsqJcITwerX_vVSrMlLAFBcfa_f1_aem_vrcFzN8y2HsfTF3XoTjeSw

So, who's this for the benefit of?

So why are York using Newcastle as a reserve side?

The scheme above could run perfectly well without York players playing for Newcastle in the Championship and Newcastle players potentially covering injuries in the York side.

How long are York contractually committed to maintaining this arrangement? 

Where is the plan to make Newcastle an independent club?

What's the notice period York will have to give Newcastle when they want to end the partnership?

The latter is an entirely reasonable question given this sort of "partnership" has never successfully worked before and if the next TV deal doesn't produce an increase, SL could reduce to 12 again and see York back in the Championship.

The "takeover" of Newcastle by York is great for York. They get to play their Reserves in the Championship. But "Newcastle" continue to exist as a team, only for as long as it serves York's purposes. 

[Simon Hall]

14 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

The scheme above could run perfectly well without York players playing for Newcastle in the Championship and Newcastle players potentially covering injuries in the York side.

Where are Newcastle getting a competitive Championship squad from if all their best local players are playing Yorkshire Men's League then?

[Wakefield Ram]

15 hours ago, Simon Hall said:

Where are Newcastle getting a competitive Championship squad from if all their best local players are playing Yorkshire Men's League then?

Certainly not from the Player Pathway. Let's hope the Pathway leads to Newcastle not folding when York pull out. 

Feel free to answer any of the other questions. 

[coolie]

On 28/01/2026 at 09:13, graham fisher said:

Surprised Coolie’s not been on York forum ruffling a few feathers on the subject

Just waiting for the right calibre ammunition to arrive so I can share it with Simon Hall

There is people that 50 cal

Is simply not big enough lol

I'm waiting for the season to start to see how successful Yorks season is with having a extended salary cap

Word this morning was they've screwed up their mathematical working outs for the season

This is what happens when Diane Abbott is your accountant

York have become the team all non super league fans dislike the most

And that is some achievement with Bradford in the same league

We will wait and see

Metaphor is in this post to make it clear, no threats involved just banter

Edited January 30 by coolie

[STEVE P]

On 29/01/2026 at 17:09, Blind side johnny said:

So what's this got to do with York subsidising Newcastle?

More to the point wtf is the North East Rugby League Pathway?

Is it like the M62 Corridor, only more in vogue?

[Gav Wilson]

30 minutes ago, STEVE P said:

More to the point wtf is the North East Rugby League Pathway?

Is it like the M62 Corridor, only more in vogue?

[coolie]

27 minutes ago, Gav Wilson said:

Gav you can polish a t.u.rd as much as you like

But people will see it as a pile of

Edited January 30 by coolie

[Gav Wilson]

Green doesn't suit you Coolie old boy...

[Wakefield Ram]

1 hour ago, Gav Wilson said:

Great graphic, still doesn't explain why York Reserves are playing in Newcastle shirts. Is it a way to work round the salary cap?

Edited January 30 by Wakefield Ram