Russel Aitken - he was well out of his depth in the NRL and I'm guessing nobody else in the NRL rated his chances of making it as he wasn't offered a sniff of a contract.

He was poor at the Storm and I never saw any potential in him (obviously somebody did though or he wouldn't have been at the Storm).

He only played in the GF and WCC as Storm didn't have anybody else resembling a hooker (note we lost both games )

I don't think the boys will be troubled by him although he'll probably go alright in the Gateshead side.

From what I've seen of Ben Black he looks a far better player than Aitken.

There are indeed four more Australian born players on the way. If in 10-15 years time Thunder are an established team with a good home grown side then this will be looked back on as a successful way to build something. Perhaps that wont happen but you never know.

For years we have struggled to bring in players from other parts of this country, and have relied on players from Oz, most have had British/European passports and are available to everyone.

Interesting to note that your website shows a squad of 22 of which at least 4 are foreign - almost 20%. Perhaps, Swifty, you could enlighten us North Eastern interlopers into your game, what is the correct percentage of foreigners in a squad so we may adjust accordingly.

I personally have no problem with overseas players being here, all I want to do is support my team playing a sport I love and if it takes a few Aussies to help us along the way then so be it.

Just for the record I was there on Sunday. Fax are the best side we have played this season by a long way and you have a good set of fans, there was some good banter on Sunday - just the way it should be.

Best of luck for the rest of the season...........

He was born here, so surely he's a British Citizen, even if he's spent more of his life in Australia

not how the great RFL works.......

Do they not have be 'federation trained' now to stop players applying for random passports?