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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]
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Albury Thunder Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Thunder |
| Colours | Black Green |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
|
| Chairman | Herb Stratton |
| Coach | Justin Carney |
| Captain | Justin Carney |
| Competition | Group 9 Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 3 (2012, 2013, 2014) |
| Runners-up | 0 (Nil) |
| Minor premierships | 3 (2012, 2013, 2014) |
| Wooden spoons | 0 (Nil) |
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.
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]
Group 13 Rugby League
Premierships: 1958, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1988 & 1989
Group 9 Rugby League
Premierships: 2012, 2013, 2014
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