By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 12:17, Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Skipper Leroy Joe has pledged to return to Whitehaven next season – after securing Ged Stokes’ assurance that he would again be in charge.

Leroy Joe

The news will delight fans who feared the long-serving Kiwi, widely regarded as Haven’s top performer last term, would hang up his boots at 34.

“We haven’t got down to the nitty gritty yet but I told Ged I would sign on condition that he was coach,” said Joe. “He told me he would be, so I’m going to sign.

“Ask anyone in the team and they all rate him highly. There was talk of him going to Barrow, and a lot of the lads were unhappy with that. I’m glad it was just rumour.

“He knows his stuff on the rugby field, and the background and culture of the club, having been a player in Cumbria himself.

“He also knows the value of hard work. All the lads have to put the effort in to training, and if they don’t they won’t be there the next week.”

Joe, who turns 35 next month, scooped an astonishing eight accolades at Haven’s presentation night, including the News & Star Readers’ award. But he modestly played down his contribution to the campaign.

“I don’t think I did anything spectacular,” he said. “We all played well collectively.

“The end of season didn’t happen as planned, but that’s the way it goes. Hopefully we’ll learn from that and kick on.”

Joe was a No 6 in his younger days but last term also saw action at scrum-half, hooker, loose-forward and even at prop. And he admitted to occasionally feeling the bumps.

“If teams have a rough set of forwards, I’m usually sore on the Monday. But if we score 40 or 50 points and our forwards aren’t exposed, it doesn’t seem as bad,” he quipped, noting that he was especially sore after the league game at Barrow and Toulouse’s visit to the Recre.

“We fell behind in those games and had to claw our way back. We were in desperate mode and every play was like it was our last.

“The games I played at half-back I quite enjoyed When things weren’t going right I’d feel like jumping out to the halves, and when Ged put me at hooker I didn’t mind that either.

“I always enjoy training and the banter with the lads. It gets you through the cold, winter flogging sessions. All the young guys coming through have good attitudes at training.

“Reece Fox played really well in our last game against Widnes and I’m quietly confident about him, and a couple of our new signings might exceed expectations, as they normally do when they come here. Hopefully they’ll make their presence felt.”

First published at 11:35, Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk