JASON Payne is excited by the challenge awaiting Newcastle Thunder after they snatched a place in the play-offs on the final weekend of the Kingstone Press League One Super Eights.

Thunder went into last weekend needing to beat York City Knights and hope Doncaster and Keighley Cougars lost to Toronto Wolfpack and Barrow Raiders respectively to stand a chance of sneaking into fifth.

But that is exactly what transpired and head coach Payne, who has overseen a revival in Thunder’s fortunes after taking over from Mick Mantelli in May, cannot wait to tackle the Raiders at Craven Park tomorrow.

“For a split second after, the overwhelming feeling was one of relief that we’d realised our potential in terms of getting into the play-offs, but now it is excitement,” Payne told the club’s official website.

“We have such a talented squad and we can do so much. I’m looking forward to us doing what we can do and putting out best foot forward because although it was a good win over York, it is just the start.

“We’ve potentially got two massively tough games ahead starting away at Barrow on Sunday which all the attention is on. I’m excited; I’ve said all along that I believe on our day we can beat anyone.”

Barrow and Newcastle have already met twice at Kingston Park this year, with the Raiders running out 50-6 victors in the Good Friday regular season meeting after the hosts had Jack Aldous sent off in the first half.

However, the Super Eights encounter proved a much closer affair as the home side clawed their way back from being 30-6 down five minutes into the second half before falling just short 30-28.

Raiders head coach Paul Crarey is not reading too much into Newcastle’s 26-24 win over a much-changed York side last Sunday.

Yet he remains mindful of the danger posed by a team whose squad includes League One young player of the year Lewis Young at full-back.

“Newcastle are flying,” said Crarey. “They are one team who are very unpredictable and they showed that when we went 30 points up at their place and then were hanging on at the end.

“They’ll have the confidence from going to York and winning there, and they’ve had some tricky fixtures they’ve got through and won.

“They’ve got that fifth spot on merit and credit to them. I thought it was Doncaster all the way if we won, but to get a result at York is outstanding so they’ll be ready and we’ve got to be ready for them.”