Dave Woods is sacked, Steve McCormack appointed as Head Coach with Chris Hood returning as Assistant Head Coach and Gateshead Thunder were the last non-Super League team competing in the 2009 Challenge Cup and secured championship status. Thunder Rugby Ltd formed in November 2009 as Gateshead’s new parent company and the club became a community club. 

Gateshead Thunder’s plans for the 2009 season were disrupted when it was announced that Dave Woods had been sacked. Assistant Coach Chris Hood temporarily took over the coaching duties and was later appointed permanently. With only a handful of players signed at the point of Woods’ departure, Hood was forced to put together a squad at the eleventh hour.

Several high-profile signings were made including former NRL players Nick Youngquest, Kris Kahler, Paul Franze and Russ Aitken, but were unable to join the club until the finale of the French Elite season in May 2009. Super League players such as Hull KR’s Liam Watts and Castleford Tigers’ Nathan Massey, Jamie Cording and Anthony England were also taken on loan, with a view to boosting the squad. However after a struggling start to the season, Thunder appointed Steve McCormack as Head Coach with Chris Hood returning to his role as Assistant Head Coach in April 2009.

Through the efforts of Hood (victories against Whitehaven & Doncaster) and McCormack (victory against Oldham in his first game in charge), Gatehead Thunder were guided to being the last non-Super League team competing in the 2009 Challenge Cup. They reached the quarter-finals, playing against St Helens but lost 66 - 6. League victories against Halifax, Widnes, Leigh and Toulouse gave Thunder a chance of completing the ‘great escape’. Gateshead Thunder secured their Championship status at the expense of Leigh with an away win against Doncaster 0-56 in the final match of the regular season.

Gateshead Thunder’s chairman Steve Garside wound up Gateshead and Newcastle Rugby Ltd which ran the club in October 2009. Thunder Rugby Ltd were formed in November 2009 as Gateshead’s new parent company and the club became a community club.

Following this breach of the insolvency rules in 2009 under the previous company, the new parent company decided that Thunder would be best placed in Championship One and elected for a voluntary demotion. However, the RFL also upheld a six-point deduction for the 2010 season.

2015 - current

Gateshead Thunder were taken over by the owners of rugby union side Newcastle Falcons in 2015. The club was rebranded as Newcastle Thunder and applied for permission to use Kingston Park in Newcastle as their home ground.

Since the formation of Thunder Rugby Ltd, the club has continued to strengthen both on and off the field. Major sponsors have been sought and maintained their relationship with Thunder after seeing the club as one which is building for the future in the right manner. The club, along with community clubs from across the North East, is now producing local high-quality players and coaches. 

Northern Rugby League Summer Conference 2000
• 2000: Bridlington Bulls, Gateshead Panthers, Teesside Steelers, West Craven Warriors and Wetherby Bulldogs
• Winners: 2000 Teesside Steelers

Rugby League Conference North East Division 2001 - 2011
• 2001: Bridlington Bulls, Durham Phoenix (replacing Gateshead Panthers), Newcastle Knights, Sunderland City, Teesside Steelers
• 2002: Bridlington Bulls, Durham Tigers, Newcastle Knights, Sunderland City, Teesside Steelers
• 2003: Bridlington Bulls, Durham Tigers, Gateshead Storm, Leeds Akademiks, Newcastle Knights, Sunderland City, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Yorkshire Coast Tigers
• 2004: Durham Tigers, Jarrow Vikings, Newcastle Knights, Peterlee Pumas, Sunderland City, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Yorkshire Coast Tigers
• 2005: Catterick Panthers, Durham Tigers, Newcastle Knights, Scarborough Pirates, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Winlaton Vulcans
• 2006: Catterick Panthers, Durham Tigers, Newcastle Knights, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Winlaton Vulcans
• 2009: Hartlepool (failed to complete season), Jarrow Vikings, Newcastle Knights, Northallerton Stallions, Peterlee Pumas, Sunderland City, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Winlaton Warriors
• 2010: Cramlington Rockets, Durham Demons, Jarrow Vikings, Newcastle Storm, Northallerton Stallions, Peterlee Pumas, Sunderland City, Wallsend Eagles, Whitley Bay Barbarians, Winlaton Warriors
• 2011: Cramlington Rockets, Durham Demons, East Cumbria Crusaders, Hartlepool, North Yorkshire Stallions, Peterlee Pumas A, Warriors RL, Whitley Bay Barbarians,

North East Rugby League Regional Division 2012 - 2015
• 2012: Consett Steelers, Cramlington Rockets, Durham Demons, Durham Tigers, Hartlepool, Miners, Peterlee Pumas A, Teesside Bulls, Warriors RL, Whitley Bay Barbarians
• 2013: Consett Steelers, Darlington, Durham Demons, Durham Tigers, East Cumbria Crusaders, Peterlee Pumas A, Warriors RL, Whitley Bay Barbarians
• 2015: Cramlington Rockets A, Durham Tigers, Gateshead Storm A, North Yorkshire Wildcats, Wallsend Eagles A, Warriors RL, Whitley Bay Barbarians

Winners of North East Rugby League Regional Division 2001 - 2015
• 2001 Teesside Steelers
• 2002 Teesside Steelers
• 2003 Leeds Akademiks (now Leeds Akkies)
• 2004 Newcastle Knights (now Gateshead Storm)
• 2005 Durham Tigers
• 2009 Jarrow Vikings
• 2010 Jarrow Vikings
• 2011 North Yorkshire Stallions
• 2012 Cramlington Rockets
• 2013 East Cumbria Crusaders
• 2014 Whitley Bay Barbarians
• 2015 Whitley Bay Barbarians

Merit Division
• 2013: Cramlington Rockets A, Gateshead Storm A, Hartlepool West View Warriors, Miners (after dropping out of premier division), North Yorkshire Wildcats, Peterlee Pumas B