Coach James Coyle expressed his frustration with a Whitehaven side who had been able to turn over their hosts Featherstone Rovers just a fortnight ago on their last visit to The Big Fellas Stadium.

Coyle, right, was left feeling disappointed with the first-half performance of a Haven side that showed what they were capable of in the second period, but nonetheless started their journey in the Super8s with a defeat.

The 12-point loss leaves them still hovering just a single place above the relegation zone, with only six games remaining in the season to decide their fate.

“First off, I questioned their effort. The intensity wasn’t good enough,” said Coyle after the 42-30 defeat.

“We need to work to a high intensity but we weren’t willing to work hard for each other,” added Coyle, explaining what he told his players in the dressing room before their dramatic turnaround.

“Off the back of that, Featherstone found a lot of space and were able to control the ruck. They wanted it more in the first half. They ran the ball harder. They tackled harder.”

“I said in the dressing room afterwards, that’s the first time I’ve questioned their attitude since we played Halifax at home. The games we’ve played badly in this year have not been down to attitude, it’s maybe been down to skill or understanding.

“Today is the first time since that I’ve had to question their attitude, and made it clear I’ll never have to question their attitude again, or there will be changes made.”

Coyle was pleased with his side’s response and, regarding his talented duo in the halves, said: “Those two can probably hold their heads up high, Dion especially in the second half.

“We questioned him after the first and in the second he had more to offer. We’ve just got to look at doing that for eighty minutes and bring that into next week.”

Whitehaven are, therefore, set perfectly for their home clash with the London Broncos, as if Coyle has resolved his team’s issues with attitude and intensity, they showed in the final quarter that they are capable of matching any of their scheduled opponents.