By Martin Morgan

Last updated 13:29, Tuesday, 22 July 2008

Ged Stokes has welcomed news that Whitehaven will return to Sky Sports next month – after proving stars of the small screen this season.

Haven's new head coach Ged Stokes. pic MIKE McKENZIE 2nd April 2008

Their home game against Sheffield Eagles scheduled for Sunday, August 10 has been brought forward by three days to be shown as Sky’s Thursday night National League match.

Haven produced a battling performance in defeat at Salford in their first TV appearance of the campaign.

And they went on to stun the title favourites at the Recre in May, when 17-year-old Gregg McNally marked his debut with a stunning hat-trick.

They won again on the box on Saturday, with fans able to view the 26-22 upset against top-three Celtic Crusaders via satellite TV on S4C.

The Eagles will travel to the Recre five days after a gruelling trip to Wales to face Celtic, while Haven will be following up on a trip to Dewsbury.

“It’s going to be a tough ask for us and Sheffield,” said coach Stokes. “But we’ll have the advantage of being home and they must travel on a week night. They’ll get a feel of what it’s like for clubs who have to go down to Sheffield to play them on a Friday night. We have played well on television this year. Even in defeat at Salford we did reasonably well, and the home win over them was pleasing for everybody.”