Albury will be boosted by a Welsh international for the upcoming Group Nine season.
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While there will be no rugby league on the Border until at least May 1 due to the coronavirus threat, the Thunder have already locked in James Olds for the 2020 season.
Olds is no stranger to playing football in Albury, after two stints in the Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) competition with the Steamers.
But this time around Olds returns as an international player with three caps to his name.
Thunder captain-coach Adrian Purtell is thrilled to have him on board.
"Like any year it is good to have fresh faces around who bring in a fresh energy and mentality," Purtell said.
"We're looking forward to what he can produce."
Olds was part of the Welsh national side who played in the World Cup nines last year and also helped qualify the side for the 2021 World Cup
He was also a key competent in two premierships with Albury in Southern Inland, including leading the competition's pointscoring in 2015, before really making a name for himself in rugby league.
"To play at that level is a credit to himself and hopefully he can produce some good footy for us," Purtell said.
Olds didn't take part in Albury's first trial of the season, where they scored a comfortable win over Group 20 club Leeton, but has impressed at training.
However Purtell is unsure where the outside back will best fit into the side.
Albury also have English half Joe Sanderson to come into the side, who finished fourth last season after falling to eventual premiers Tumut in the second week of finals.
After coming through the academy program with Super League outfit Leeds Rhinos, the young half impressed in the club's only hit out for the time being.
"He had some positive involvements and is quite a professional young kid so I am looking forward to seeing what he can produce," Purtell said.
The Thunder also secured Shan Bradbrook from Group 20 club Yanco-Wamoon but it's not just in the halves that Purtell is looking for improvement, it is also in their forward pack after losing best and fairest winner Jon Huggett and Luke Ingram.
"Our forwards probably need to lift again this year," he said.
"We have lost a few forwards from last year and some experienced forwards and there are some shoes to fill there.
"That is a good exciting challenge for those guys and potentially some young Albury guys who will get a bit more game time.
"It is a great opportunity to step up and fill the void left by the likes of Huggett and Ingram."
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