NEIL Thorman was a ball-boy the last time St Helens visited the International Stadium but he will occupy centre stage when Gateshead Thunder take on the Carnegie Challenge Cup holders this evening.

Thorman, who turns 25 next Thursday, will lead the Co-operative Championship club in their glamourous quarter-final, almost ten years to the day since they beat St Helens 32-20 in a Super League match in front of a 6,220 crowd.

That was arguably the high point for Gateshead, whose inaugural season of Super League turned out to be their last as the owners pulled the plug at the end of it and forced them into a merger with Hull.

Thunder re-emerged in the lower leagues and endured some desperate times before winning the National League One title last September.

Thorman, the youngest of three rugby-playing brothers, says the club are determined to enjoy their day in the sun.

“It’s massive,’’ he said.

“You’re playing against one of the best teams in the world.

“Every player is itching to get that spot to play against one of his idols. Being in the quarter-finals of such a prestigious competition is every player’s dream. We couldn’t be happier with where we are just now.

“There have been plenty of ups and downs – our club is a bit like a soap opera – and it is nice to reap the rewards because we’ve put in the long hours on the training paddock.

“It will be the highlight of my career. It’s a dream come true when you think where the club’s been. It doesn’t get much better.’’ Today will enable the longserving Thunder skipper to emerge from the shadow of older brother Chris, 28, the former Sheffield, Huddersfield, London Broncos, Parramatta and England half-back, who is now with Hull.

“Coming from a rugby league family, you are always competitive and trying to get one up on your brothers,’’ he said.

“Chris has earned his spot in the Super League but I guess it is nice to be recognised as an individual, not just the brother of...’’ Chris will be among the supporters today, along with his parents and the rest of the Thorman family, who have become synonymous with rugby league in the North-East.

Neil, one of 15 full-time players, is confident the team can perform with credit and does not rule out the possibility of a giant-killing act.

“We’ve just played Widnes, who are supposedly the top side in our league, and we were 24-0 up after 25 minutes, which shows that, on our day, we can compete,’’ he said.

“I am sure a lot of teams have underestimated us. We have been playing a lot better and we’re hoping to keep bettering ourselves.’’ Saints are the odds-on favourites to make it four successive cup triumphs and victory today would enable them to set a record of nine successive semi-final appearances.

But coach Mick Potter is determined not to underestimate the threat posed by Thunder.

“I have watched them on the video and been to see them and they have plenty of footy in them, that’s for sure,’’ he said.

“If you give their half-backs Neil Thorman and Luke Branighan space they are very good and possess a good passing and kicking game.’’ Thunder coach Steve Mc- Cormack knows his side must produce a big defensive effort after they conceded eight tries in last weekend’s 46-30 Championship defeat at Widnes.

‘‘It does not really get much bigger than a Challenge Cup last-eight clash against a side like St Helens and the training ground has been a good place to be this week,’’ he said.

‘‘It was disappointing to lose again at the weekend but we continue scoring points and that always makes us dangerous.

‘‘We have to raise our defensive game again, otherwise we will struggle against a side with such quality.

‘‘We will just throw everything at this and see what happens. But no one is under any illusions – this will be about as tough a challenge as we can come up against.’’ Gateshead will be without former Castleford hooker Andrew Henderson, who has flown back to Australia following the death of his father, and new signing Russ Aitken, the ex-Melbourne Storm halfback, whose contract does not begin until Monday.

Saints are without regular wingers Ade Gardner and Francis Meli and draft in youngsters Chris Dean and Jonny Lomax as cover.