All Aboard: Thunder welcome Hadley and Carnival Cruise Line

Blacktown-born Hadley started his cricket journey with Rooty Hill RSL and made his first-class debut for NSW in March 2023.  

The 26-year-old is eager to make an impact in lime green after earning his first full BBL contract, following replacement stints with both Thunder and the Sydney Sixers. 

“I’m very excited. It’s one of my favourite times of the year and I can’t wait to get amongst it with a great group of boys,” said Hadley. 

“I grew up in Western Sydney and supporting the Thunder. I remember going to games with my brother so I’m really excited.” 

Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland welcomed Hadley and Carnival Cruise Line to the club.  

“Ryan joins us off the back of six to eight months of really exciting progress in his career. It’s a great opportunity for him to come in and challenge the guys who have been here for a long time,” said Copeland. 

“He’s developed a lot in recent times, particularly the consistency of the pace that he bowls and his changeups. This guy is ready, so we’re excited to give him a chance and hopefully he comes into our Thunder environment and grabs it with both hands. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Carnival Cruise Line as our Official Cruise Partner for the upcoming season. 

 “The addition of Carnival Cruise Line to our partner family is a reflection of our shared values – celebrating fun, family, and unforgettable moments. We’re excited about the possibilities this partnership will bring for our club, our fans, and our community.”    

Carnival Cruise Line, with its long-standing history of delivering fun-filled holiday experiences, is thrilled to bring its spirit of fun and excitement to the Thunder Nation.  

“Joining Sydney Thunder as their Official Cruise Partner is a perfect match for us,” said Anton Loeb, Carnival Cruise Line Senior Director of Sales & Marketing. 

“We are committed to creating meaningful connections with Australians, whether they’re cheering in the stands or enjoying a holiday at sea. We can’t wait to bring even more energy and fun to the BBL|14 season.”   

Thunder kick off their season in Canberra on December 17 against the Adelaide Strikers, before returning to ENGIE Stadium for the Sydney Smash on December 21. Grab your tickets HERE.  

Sydney Thunder BBL|14 Squad  

Head Coach: Trevor Bayliss  

Playing Squad: Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (INT), Oliver Davies, Lockie Ferguson (INT), Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford (INT), William Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner 

About Carnival Cruise Line 

Across the globe, more guests have sailed Carnival Cruise Line than any other, and in 2023, Carnival was the first cruise line to welcome its 100 millionth guest. 

As the World’s Most Popular Cruise Line, Carnival is expanding its Australian presence to four ships in 2025.  

Currently, Carnival Splendor sails year-round from Sydney, and Carnival Luminosa sails seasonally from Brisbane. In March 2025, two additional ships, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, will join the fleet, solidifying Carnival Cruise Line as Australia’s largest cruise line and growing Carnival’s global fleet to 29 ships. 

Designed with fun in mind, Carnival offers a wide variety of accommodations, dining, entertainment and recreational activities for guests of all ages.    

To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line or make a booking, call 13 31 94, see your travel agent or visit  http://carnival.com.au.