Last updated 11:39, Friday, 06 June 2008

WHITEHAVEN go in to Sunday’s home clash with Featherstone on the crest of a wave following last week’s thrilling win over title favourites Salford City Reds.CAN’T wait to see Workington Town’s new Aussie recruit Bryce Poisel in action. Apparently his highlights DVD was something to behold, and he has backed it up in training with Town this week.

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Superb: Greg McNally is mobbed by his Haven team-mates after another wonder try. The Haven scrum-half has been outstanding yet he has not even been shortlisted for the RFL award in the young player category

And the club should now build on the sudden feelgood factor swirling around the Recre by offering coach Ged Stokes a contract for next season.

I suspect the board will wait until the team pull further clear of the NL1 drop zone before making any move in that direction.

Stokes, who replaced an ill Paul Crarey early in the campaign, has shown enough already, however, to merit a fresh 12-month deal. He deserves the chance of a pre-season, to really put his own stamp on the squad.

The coach laid his cards on the table from day one, making it clear when appointed until the end of the campaign, that he hoped to earn a longer-term deal. He’s surely well on the way to that.

Haven were without five players, due to injury and suspension, I reckon would have featured against Salford if available.

With so many first-choice players missing, I admit to fearing Haven might emerge with a bonus point at best from the Salford clash. After many years reporting from the Recre, I should have known better.

There was nothing but praise for Stokes and his squad after the thrilling win over Shaun McRae’s full-timers.

It was made even more special by being broadcast live on Sky Sports, so the wider RL world could see for itself what a tough proposition Haven still were at home.

It had been so different in the previous outing at Batley, when the coach suffered fierce criticism from some travelling fans after the dismal defeat.

Given the severely-weakened team he was forced to field at Mount Pleasant, I thought the brickbats were well over the top, though fans should always be free to vent their views, as long as it’s not done in an offensive manner.

Some were unhappy that he had fielded new faces, rather than give young, home-bred players a break.

That situation was addressed against Salford, with Gregg McNally, at 17, repaying his coach’s faith with a match-winning hat-trick.

Though one of Stokes’ new players, McNally’s half-back partner Tane Manihera, also made a massive contribution.

After a shaky start to the season, the squad is stepping up to the mark. And so is their coach.

Unlike team-mate Chris Young when he arrived at Derwent Park from Down Under, without the benefit of a pre-season, Poisel is fighting fit and ready to shine for Workington.

The importance of a good scrum-half cannot be overestimated, and hopefully his arrival will spark a turn-around in Town’s fortunes.

Workington have lost a string of matches by narrow margins this term, hence boss Dave Rotheram labelling them the bonus point kings.

Poisel could make a huge difference in turning one point in to three.

MARTIN MORGAN