Haven coach Stokes fears Wigan backlash

By Martin Morgan

Last updated 12:06, Wednesday, 07 May 2008

Whitehaven could feel a Wigan backlash after the Warriors were humbled by deadly rivals St Helens at the showpiece Millennium Magic weekend in Cardiff, reckons boss Ged Stokes

Ged Stokes

Haven travel to the JJB next Monday night for a Challenge Cup clash, and Stokes believes Wigan will be licking their wounds after Sunday’s 57-16 defeat in Wales, their third Super League defeat in a row.

“The Wigan result was probably a bad one for us, but it shows they have areas we can work on,” the coach said. “Wigan played poorly, but against St Helens, any side looks pretty ordinary. They are struggling a little at the moment, but a struggling Super League side is still a very, very good team.”

Warriors boss Brian Noble admitted to being embarrassed by the first part of Sunday night’s game, shown live on Sky Sports.

Haven will go in to the cup clash without David Fatialofa and Leroy Joe, who both suffered broken arms in Monday’s superb win over Leigh, and Carl Sice, who broke a bone in his hand in the same game.

All three have played major roles for Haven this season and will be invited to travel with the squad to the JJB.

Warriors’ half-back Thomas Leuluai has flown out to play for New Zealand in Friday’s Centenary Test against Australia in Sydney and faces a race against time to get back in time to face Haven.

Wigan initially refused to release him as the Test was so close to the Haven game, but they relented under pressure from the RL International Federation.

Brian Noble’s currently team lie one place outside the play-off zone with 14 points from 13 matches.