Monday, 9 March 2020

T'Other Side: Hunslet








FIRST TEAM SQUAD


2020 Matches



LAST TIME OUT (2015)


Head Coach: Gary Thornton

Gary Thornton took over as head coach at Hunslet in May 2017 succeeding James Coyle. His first head coach position was at Batley (2004 - April 2009). He then became academy coach at Castleford (2009 - 2012) which was followed by two years as head coach at York City Knights (2013 - 2014) and then Doncaster (2015 - May 2017). He has also been U21s coach at Wakefield Trinity.

He won the coach of the year award in National League One with Batley in 2006 and the Championship One award with York in 2014.

His playing career was primarily as a winger. He began with Wakefield in 1986 and played for Batley on loan during the 1988/89 season. The following year he was signed by Batley going on to make 215 appearances for them and scoring 79 tries.


Captain: Duane Straugheir

Duane Straugheir has been the Hunslet captain since the beginning of the 2018 season. He made his professional début with Fev (on loan from Bradford Bulls) in 2010. In 2011 he joined York City Knights and then moved on to Sheffield Eagles in 2012. After 6 years at Sheffield he moved to Hunslet in 2018.



New Signings

It would probably be quicker to list the players Who have remained at the club since last year because they have made no less than 16 signings this year! But, here goes!

Jack Aldous, prop or loose forward, spent the last three years at Newcastle Thunder. He started with Hull FC in 2011 making just one substitute appearance before going out on loan to York. He made further loan appearances for York in 2012 and then signed for York in 2013 where he stayed until moving to Newcastle in 2017.

Jordan Andrade, prop, is strictly speaking not a new player for 2020 as he actually transferred to Hunslet from Dewsbury at the back end of last season and making 4 appearances. His professional career began in 2015 with Oxford. In 2016 he was signed by Salford but never played in their first team going out on loan and dual reg to North Wales Crusaders. In 2017 he joined Gloucestershire All Golds and in 2018 Bradford Bulls but only made one substitute appearance for them. He is a Jamaican international.

Dominic Brambani, scrumhalf, has signed from Batley. He started with Castleford in 2004 and in 2005 had a loan spell with Fev. He spent 20-06 at Halifax and actually announced his ‘retirement’ at the end of July. However 2007 saw him return to action with Sheffield Eagles. After two seasons there he spent 2009 playing for Hinterland Storm in Australia during which time he was voted Gold Coast best player of the year. He returned to England in 2010 with Dewsbury and then in 2012 moved back to Sheffield, joining Batley in 2016. Back in 2003 Brambani captained the Great Britain Students’ team on tour in Australia. With Simon Brown alongside Hunslet have the most experienced halfback pairing in League One with 596 career appearances between them.

Matty Chrimes, wing, has been signed from Doncaster where he made his professional début last year.

Nathan Conroy, hooker or halfback, has joined from Coventry Bears. His career began with Bradford Bulls in 2013 and in 2015 he played on dual reg for Oxford and then played 16 games on loan at Dewsbury joining them in 2016. He spent 2017 and 2018 at Keighley. In 2013 he played for the England Academy team.



Liam Copland, wing, has been signed from York Acorn ARL.


Harvey Hallas, prop, finished last season at Keighley. He had been at Dewsbury and played for Coventry on dual reg and went to Keighley on loan before transferring to them in July. He had been at Keighley in 2018.

Kiedan Hartley, fullback or wing, was in the Fev reserves squad last year but never played in the first team. Earlier this month he scored a hat-trick against West Wales Raiders.

Zach Johnson, prop, spent the last two seasons playing for Thornhill Trojans ARL. He made his professional début with Swinton Lions in 2014 and in 2016 he joined Dewsbury (but never played for them) and had loan spells with Hunslet and Swinton. He began 2017 with Coventry and then moved back to Dewsbury in June.

Harry Kidd, prop, played for Gloucestershire All Golds in 2016 and 2017. Last year he was at Halifax but also played 2 games for Hunslet on dual reg.

Ben Markland, wing, has been signed from Leeds Rhinos Academy. The 19 year old made his professional début at the beginning of this month.

Lochlan McGill, hooker, has moved to Hunslet from Bradford Bulls. He is yet to make his professional début.

Jack Ray, second row, was a Dewsbury Rams player last year and also played on dual reg for Coventry Bears.

Alex Rowe, prop, is an experienced prop who Hunslet have signed from Newcastle Thunder. He made his début with Castleford in 2005 and that year also played for Gateshead Thunder on loan. In 2006 he signed for Gateshead. He was at Doncaster in 2007 and then moved to Sheffield Eagles in 2008. He had 5 seasons at Sheffield which included a loan spell back at Doncaster in 2012. In 2013 he joined Batley and was there until he signed for Newcastle in 2019.

Danny Rowse, halfback, has been signed from Hunslet Club Parkside ARL. He has not yet made his professional début.



Dual Registration and Loans

Hunslet do not, currently, have any players on loan. They have signed a dual reg agreement with Huddersfield Giants (as have Halifax) but no Huddersfield Giants players have yet played for Hunslet. We understand that the main purpose of the dual registration agreement is for Huddersfield, Halifax and Hunslet to pool resources for Huddersfield’s reserve team.


The Fev Connection

There are four members of the Hunslet squad who have played for Fev. Dominic Brambani played 7 games for Fev, on loan from Castleford in 2005. Kiedan Hartley was in the Fev reserves last season but did not play in the 1st team. Jack Lee began his career with Fev and played 43 games from 2008 to 2010. Hunslet captain, Duane Straugheir, made his professional début with Fev in 2010 playing 2 matches whilst on loan from Leeds Rhinos.


Luke Briscoe, who has played for Fev on dual reg this year, played 7 games for Hunslet on loan from Leeds in 2014.




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