Albury Thunder

The Albury Thunder are a rugby league team based in Albury, New South Wales. Founded in 2011, the Thunder play in the Group 9 Rugby League competition.[1]

Albury Thunder
Club information
Full nameAlbury Thunder Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Thunder
Colours  Black
  Green
Founded2011 (2011)
Current details
Ground(s)
  • Greenfield Park (3,000)
ChairmanHerb Stratton
CoachJustin Carney
CaptainJustin Carney
CompetitionGroup 9 Rugby League
Records
Premierships3 (2012, 2013, 2014)
Runners-up0 (Nil)
Minor premierships3 (2012, 2013, 2014)
Wooden spoons0 (Nil)

History

The Albury Thunder were originally founded as the Albury Blues in 1934, playing in the Group 13 Rugby League competition, in which they won 8 titles. Then in 1991, Group 13 folded, and they moved to Group 9. They then changed their name to the Albury Southern Rams, and Lavington Panthers, the latter name change occurring because of the Penrith Panthers NRL team buying the Rams (and the Lavington Blues AFL Club) and renaming them the 'Lavington Panthers RLFC'. The club then rebranded to the 'Albury Thunder' name, to be more inclusive to the whole city of Albury, not just the suburb of Lavington.

Albury Thunder era

After the renaming in 2011, the Thunder have been one of the most consistent sides in Group 9 in the modern era, enjoying immediate success, winning 3 premierships (2012, 2013 and 2014) in their first four years, and being a consistent top 5 side in their first decade in the competition.[1]

The club won its first premiership in just their second season under the name, beating South City Bulls 36-26 at McDonald's Park in Wagga Wagga.[2][3] In 2013, they again breezed through the season, with highlights including a 78-0 win over the Tumut Blues. This time, they faced the Gundagai Tigers in the Grand Final, and won 30-20, to secure back to back titles.[4][5][6] The next season they again finished Minor Premiers, and again defeated South City in the Grand Final, winning 45-4 in front of over 4,000 people at McDonald's Park.[7] This completed a threepeat, and the Thunder's only premiership titles to date. The club also made a finals appearance in 2016, where they made the second week before being eliminated.

From 2018 until 2020, the club was captain-coached by local junior and former NRL star Adrian Purtell.[8][9] He was joined by fellow former NRL stars Etu Uaisele and Joel Monaghan.[10] In 2022, he left to coach the Eden Tigers in the Group 16 Rugby League competition.[11]

In 2023, the club is captain-coached by Purtell's former Canberra Raiders teammate and ex-Sydney Roosters winger Justin Carney.[12][13]

Honours

Group 13 Rugby League

Premierships: 1958, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1988 & 1989

Group 9 Rugby League

Premierships: 2012, 2013, 2014

Notable Juniors/Players

See also

References
  1. "THUNDER: A PERFECT STORM FOR IMMORTALITY". The Border Mail. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  2. "Group Nine Thunder struck". The Daily Advertiser. 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  3. "Thunder! Albury's finest hour". The Border Mail. 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  4. "Albury Thunder simply two good | PICTURES, VIDEO". The Border Mail. 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  5. "Thunder's premiership win a family affair for Seaton boys". The Border Mail. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  6. "College crew help Thunder roll on". Forbes Advocate. 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  7. "Group 9 | Best game of the season, Jeffery says". The Border Mail. 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  8. "Forever Green: Where are they now? - Adrian Purtell". Canberra Raiders. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  9. Moir, Andrew (2020-09-24). "Adrian's back and Rick's off - Albury Thunder starts new era off-field". The Border Mail. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  10. "Group Nine teams – round 12". The Daily Advertiser. 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  11. McMaster, Jacob (2021-12-05). "Purtell named as coach for Eden Tigers". Bega District News. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  12. Rees, Courtney (2023-04-11). "Carney no certainty to roll with the Thunder". Daily Liberal. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  13. Moir, Andrew (2023-06-07). "Albury Thunder coach Justin Carney signs up for two more years". The Border Mail. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
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