Newcastle Thunder head coach and proud Geordie Chris Thorman admits he cannot wait to see England open their World Cup campaign at his beloved St James’ Park tomorrow. Shaun Wane’s side face Samoa aiming for a victory that would lay the platform for them to top Group A – and avoid a potential quarter-final with Tonga.
Former Huddersfield Giants star Thorman, who was last month appointed as head coach of Thunder, hails from Wallsend and grew up as an ardent Newcastle United supporter.
A crowd of over 40,000 will be at St James’ Park and a proud Thorman cannot wait to see his home city given the world spotlight: “I’ll be there and wouldn’t miss it for the world.
“It’s England’s Rugby League World Cup opener and is at the sporting cathedral that is St James’ Park. It’s an event that should be supported by the locals and is looking like it will be. As a young lad growing up in Wallsend, my brothers and I followed Newcastle United and would get the train to Durham to go and watch them train.
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“We were keen fans, obviously, and there was such a buzz about the place during the Kevin Keegan era in the 1990s. When you’re born in Wallsend, you have to support Newcastle and – as a rugby league fan before I was a player and coach – and a Geordie it’s exciting for England to be playing here this weekend.
“It’s such an iconic ground because I’ve been to St James’ Park as a player and a coach, but to go there as a fan will be special. It makes me very proud that St James’ Park was chosen to host this opening game.
“To have the best sport being played in the best stadium in the country in a World Cup opener is fantastic. The atmosphere will be unbelievable and I hope England put on a show for us.”
A number of Thorman’s peers went on to play professional football, with ex-West Ham, Tottenham, Manchester United and England midfielder Michael Carrick a product of the famous Wallsend Boys Club.
“I was mates with Michael growing up and he’s obviously gone on to have a fantastic career,” added Thorman. “I’ve kind of followed his progress from afar and we’ve got a lot of mutual friends.
“I’ve also got a lot of friends in Newcastle who have either played, coached or worked at Newcastle Thunder. Yet until I recently became head coach, I had not had any previous involvement with the club.
“For kids in the north-east, they have got a pathway into rugby league now and I’m going to tap into that and make sure there is a real community feel about the club. I think that’s something that has been lacking in recent times but I’m working on it.”
Thorman also had his say on England’s team selection for tomorrow’s opener, saying he would pick Marc Sneyd to partner George Williams and put Jack Welsby ahead of Sam Tomkins at full-back.
“Shaun Wane has made Tomkins captain so, reading between the lines, he’s going to play Tomkins,” said former Huddersfield Giants playmaker Thorman.
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“Personally I’d play Welsby on the back of the season he’s had and I’d play Williams alongside Sneyd. I’d put round holes in round pegs and I know Welsby has played a lot in the halves this season for St Helens, but for me his best position is full-back.
“It’s going to be a physical tournament and, while I think Sam Tomkins is a fantastic player in his own right, I’m not sure physically he’s the right man for the job to get our sets going out of yardage. Personally I’d rather have Jack Welsby there because he’s a bigger body and has not had the battering of a lifetime that Sam’s had.
“I think Sam’s tough as anything – and I’m pretty sure he will play full-back – but I’d go with Welsby there and Sneyd and Williams in the halves. But I think England have a real chance of going far in this tournament.
“Our pack is as good as anything and, while I would have had a different nine in there, this is a very capable squad. There is quality in every team and I can’t wait. I’ll be backing England all the way.”
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