Saturday’s performance in Canada has convinced Whitehaven coach Carl Forster that his side can go all the way and land promotion.

For the second time this season, Haven gave an excellent account of themselves against Toronto Wolfpack.

Having given the league leaders one of their toughest tests in Britain, Forster’s men gave them their hardest game in Toronto.

Forster said: “I thought, at one point, that we could have had them when the scores were so close.

“We had played really well for 60 to 70 minutes but what beat us was the full-time, professional status of the Wolfpack.

“Because of that they are fitter, stronger and faster.

“But for us to stay close to them over there for so long, speaks volumes about the quality we have as a team.

“It just shows we can stay with the best and that should give us great confidence for the matches to come.

“I hope we can continue in the form we showed in Toronto and go on to gain promotion to the Championship.”

There are two hard games left in the Super Eights – at home to York City Knights on Sunday, in what is a likely dress rehearsal for the play-off semi-final, followed by a Cumbrian derby at Workington Town’s Derwent Park.

Sunday’ opponents York have just announced that former Championship Man of Steel Andy Ellis is staying with the club next year – no matter what division they are in.

Ellis, who won the Man of Steel award while a Barrow player, had led them to the 2009 title and the National Rail Cup final. He scored 53 tries in 94 games during three seasons with the Raiders.

Now 32, Ellis had retired but was coaxed back to playing by York coach James Ford in March this year.

Ford is convinced that, with a full pre-season next time round, he will become an even bigger influence on the team.