At 32, Brenden Santi is relishing his return to Newcastle Thunder and insists he still has unfinished business in the game.

SOMETIMES life comes full circle.

For Brenden Santi, he is back at Newcastle Thunder – the club he first joined when he came to the UK back in 2020.

That year sticks in the mind of people all over the world, given the fact that the globe went into lockdown following the outbreak of Covid-19.

For native Brits, it was scary enough, but for someone that had upended his life by moving from the south of France – Toulouse – to the north-east of England, it took a lot of getting used to.

Santi, however, has mixed feelings about his first year in the UK.

“That was my first year in England in 2020 and it was the best and worst time of my life,” Santi told Rugby League World.

“I flew from France and landed in Newcastle, but I only got to know the lads for about a month or two and then Covid hit.

“I couldn’t get back home in time and Newcastle wanted me to stay, but I somehow kept my head about me.

“I just ran every day and got to the beach when I could and when I was allowed. It ended up being one of the best years of my life.

“I met some of my best friends during Covid and living in Newcastle wasn’t exactly a bad place to be in.”

Now back at Thunder, Santi has reflected on what it has been like to return.

“It’s been great to be back here, I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far.

“We’ve got a young team so being one of the older heads, their energy rubs off on you.

“To see the club doing well again is great as well because there are a lot of fans, locals and volunteers that are proud.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air.”

Since Santi left and rejoined Thunder, the club has undergone a dramatic change, almost pulling out of the Championship season altogether in 2024 before a ball had even been kicked.

After being relegated from the old Championship in 2023, rugby union club Newcastle Falcons withdrew their funding, with then-chairman Keith Christie helping to steer the club with a strictly limited budget.

A young and inexperienced squad was put together, but Thunder went through both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns failing to win a game in the third tier as well as the Challenge and 1895 Cups.

And Santi has acknowledged the difference in the club in the six years he has been away.

“I think the club is a lot more independent now. Newcastle Thunder have their own brand instead of being close to the Newcastle Falcons.

“It’s a lot different. We are all focused on a rebuild again and I think it is a lot better run.

“Everyone has a purpose to make the North East great again and that’s the focus from top to bottom.”

Santi left Newcastle the first time around to link up with Keighley Cougars in 2021 and then York Knights ahead of the 2023 Championship season.

The 32-year-old has reflected on his time spent at both clubs.

“I don’t have a bad word to say about a club over here so far. Keighley was great.

“It was proper Yorkshire, salt-of-the-earth kind of place. Unfortunately, that ended for reasons I won’t go into but I enjoyed every part of it.

“It’s a small town but it doesn’t get the rap it deserves because I think it’s surrounded by places like Skipton and Harrogate and all these beautiful places.

“I signed for them and was thinking, ‘Where am I going with my career?’ but they ended up getting the best out of me and then I signed for York.

“York is one of the most beautiful cities in the country so that wasn’t too bad. Within the last ten years of my career, I think I played some of my best rugby there.”

Santi signed for Newcastle ahead of the 2026 Championship campaign, but why did he return?

“The offer was there and the club spoke about rebuilding. I always kept that in my thoughts when signing for a team.

“I signed at Newcastle originally because they had visions of the Championship and they ended up achieving that.

“When I joined Keighley, they had the same vision and they achieved that, whilst York wanted Super League and now they’ve got that too.

“Seeing Newcastle in the Championship is still a gateway to Super League. I’m not done, there is still life in the old dog yet!

“There was an opportunity presented by Newcastle; it’s a youthful team that wants to challenge.

“Newcastle are the most northern team in the competition so there is a great catchment there for future prospects.

“It’s all about rebuilding at the moment and taking it one season at a time.”

At the age of 32, Santi himself has not even thought about retirement.

“I have no plans for finishing anytime soon. I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me and the body is holding up well.

“Once you retire, you retire forever and I don’t think I’m done yet.

“I feel I’ve been playing some great rugby in the last couple of years and I want to get a game in Super League.”

When Santi does hang up his boots, the idea of making a difference in men’s mental health is something that he is passionate about.

The rigours of being a professional sportsman are not lost on the 32-year-old and he believes that would be a good route to go down.

“There are a few options there that I could go down when I finish but I don’t know whether I will go back to Australia or not as I think Europe is home for me now.

“I am massive into men’s health and wellness so I think it will be something along those lines.

“I’ve played rugby league for 16 or 17 years professionally and I have had my own ups and downs.

“I have been away from my family for eight years so it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows. I would love to help future kids or just men in general.

“I just want to help make better men. In today’s world, it is quite daunting to be a man.”

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 522 (July 2026)