Last updated at 13:03, Saturday, 11 August 2012

Speedy loan star Lewis Palfrey is tipped to shine when Whitehaven bid to complete their promotion dream against visitors Gateshead Thunder tomorrow (3pm).

Lewis Palfrey

Palfrey spent last season at Haven as a stand-off before earning a deal with Championship outfit Batley Bulldogs.

But he returned to the Recre on loan last month and has impressed at full-back, touching down in his first outing at Rochdale and following up with another strong effort in last week’s win over Doncaster. And coach Don Gailer believes he could be an asset in the second tier next term.

“He’s been excellent and has been able to inject himself in to the game at full pace,” Gailer declared. “I said when he came back to the club he could be a shot in the arm at a time when we needed to drive on.

“He has had a few games now to settle in, and he could be set to make a few big breaks tomorrow.

“He has stated he really likes Whitehaven and that’s a good step forward in deciding to stay at a club. If we can finish the season on a huge high, I think the club would love him to stay.”

Bradd Crellin steps in for the injured Stephen Fox (ankle) in the only change from last week.

“It’s about keeping our focus and discipline and not getting lost in the occasion,” Gailer said. “You can’t let peripheral issues affect you at this time of the year. We still have two games after this and the semi-finals, so there’s still a lot of footy to play.”

Tomorrow’s game will double as a fund-raiser for servicemen’s charity Help for Heroes, a cause Aussie Gailer is fully behind.

He added: “Throughout the wars over time, Great Britain and Australian service people have fought together.

“It’s a great cause, not just a local one, and certainly one I identify with.”

n Hooker Carl Sice will miss Haven’s final two games of the league campaign after taking an early guilty plea over an incident in last Sunday’s win against Doncaster.

He admitted making dangerous contact while charging down a kick.

The incident had been placed on report. He will miss the televised trip to London Skolars on Friday, August 24 and the visit of North Wales Crusaders nine days later.

Haven: Palfrey, Calvert, Wiper, Parker, Hamzat, Rooney, Rudd, Houghton, Hemingway, Cullnean, Varkulis, Wilson, Doran. Subs: Sice, Crellin, Beattie, Haggerty.

First published at 10:53, Saturday, 11 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk