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Thunder inflicting
Payne on League One
NEWCASTLE Thunder may have lost
their first game in seven in a late defeat at Hunslet on Sunday - but they are
still providing one of the stories of the 2017 season.
When
the club parted company with Australian coach
Mick Mantelli
in May, they sat 12th in League One after five straight defeats. Fast forward
two months and they are now challenging the top four.
Interim
coach and Thunder stalwart Jason Payne is the man who has helped breathe life
into their 2017 campaign to mount what could be a promotion push.
Payne’s
side is firmly in the race to finish in the top five, which offers a route into
the Championship via the four-team play-off under the division champions.
And
that seemed a world away when Payne took the reins back in late May.
“It’s
always tough to put your finger on why things aren’t working out,” Payne
explained.
“Ultimately
it was down to the players and possibly the coaching the way everything was
going, we’re just glad we’ve managed to turn it around.
“The
biggest thing for me and (assistant) Michael Heap has just been trying to get
some enjoyment back into it for the players.
“We’re
a semi-pro team, as most are in our league, and we all have jobs in the day before
we have to come and train - you have to enjoy it.
“We’re
competitive in everything we’re doing and wanted to improve attitudes around
the place.
“We
spoke to the players and tried to get to the root of why people weren’t
performing, and luckily enough we’ve managed to make some things work.”
It
isn’t just at first team level where Thunder
are being successful at present.
“Everything
is there for the club now,” said Payne, a long-term player with the club during
their Gateshead says.
“Our
under-19s got their first win in the Super League academy the other day against
Wakefield, and there’s some great kids working under Michael Heap who is head
of youth.
“He’s
been doing a brilliant job with the next batch of kids, and we’re at the stage
now where they are comfortable coming into the first team if called upon.
“On
the back of that we have some great links with Northumbria University through
my day job, so there is a genuine pathway there for young players in the area.
“I
saw some dark days at Gateshead.
“There
were some great times as well - winning the comp in 2008 was one of the
highlights, but for all of those there was ten fold the bad times.
“Although
I was a bit sad to leave, when we did come to Newcastle things changed for the
better.
“Now
our ambition can actually be realised if we do perform and get promoted - we’re
in a position where we can push on.”
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