Former Super League man takes up new role in Championship after NRL partnership launch

Former Super League man Chris Thorman has taken up a new coaching role in the Championship, following his stint in League 1.

Thorman has been at Newcastle Thunder for the past two and a half years, but will now join York Knights as an assistant coach to Mark Applegarth, the club where he finished his playing career back in 2012.

He has coaching experience from Huddersfield Giants and Workington Town, and a move to York could fuel his ambitions to become a Super League head coach once again.

In his place, former Great Britain player Graham Steadman will take his spot as interim head coach.

In the long term, he will oversee the entire Newcastle rugby department, and brings a wealth of experience from both rugby league and rugby union.

His previous work with Scotland’s rugby union side and Newcastle Falcons means he will be working on a coaches’ pathway for those in the North East.

Partnership announced between Championship, League 1 and NRL sides to build rugby league success in the North East

This news comes as a new partnership is formed between York and Newcastle, alongside NRL side Penrith Panthers.

The existing partnership between the Knights and Penrith will now expand to include Newcastle, with senior staff from the NRL club visiting the area in the coming weeks.

They will assist in the logistics of setting up the pathways for young players and coaches, with the League 1 side gaining access to knowledge from both the Championship set-ups and the NRL.

The trio of clubs will work together on growing rugby league in the North East, focusing on the development of players, coaches and community programmes.

York will provide Thunder with coaching and player support, including dual registration between the clubs and loan deals, as well as setting up pathways for young players and a women’s team.