Last updated at 13:18, Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Skipper Leroy Joe is still capable at 35 of punching his weight in the Championship next term, reckons Whitehaven boss Ged Stokes.

Leroy Joe

The coach has no concerns that the Kiwi veteran will struggle to last the pace next season after ending 2009 by winning virtually every major honour at the club’s presentation night.

“It’s no secret that Leroy’s the heart of the team,” said Stokes, who appointed Joe captain last year.

“We are not keeping him just because he’s Leroy Joe.

“He creates so much and you can expect the same from him day in, day out.

“He’s still very capable of going down this track, and he grew as a captain last year.

“Leroy was always the first name mentioned by opposition teams.”

Joe has pledged to re-sign after securing a commitment from Stokes that he would again lead Haven next year.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the age spectrum, the coach is also confident that the club are mopping up the cream of local junior talent.

BARLA Great Britain prop Richard Farrer, from Egremont Rangers, and Distington’s GB Community Lions Under-18 scrum-half Scott George are among their recruits for next year.

“I feel we are signing the best local amateur players. We haven’t missed too many,” Stokes added.

“Some may not yet have made a name for themselves, but they will go through our systems and will be household names in two or three years.

“It’s exciting times.”

He added: “If we can run with 95 per cent of our players from Whitehaven and the local area, it will give us a march on clubs who have to bring in players from outside the county.”

First published at 11:37, Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk