Whitehaven coach Carl Forster has been trying to bring in recruits to his depleted squad ahead of tomorrow’s game with Gloucestershire All Golds.

That has rather fuelled the debate on whether the club’s winter signings from the amateur ranks have been too impatient in their decisions to leave the club.

Forster had only three men on the bench for last week’s excellent 48-12 win at Oxford and knows there will be more absentees tomorrow.

General manager Amanda Hewer said: “I know that Carl was talking to a second rower/centre from the St Helens area and has been looking extensively to bring in new faces.

“It rather makes you think that the players we bought in during the winter have been hasty in leaving the club.

"They would have had their chance now, and as Carl has said, it’s all down to being patient when you join a club for the first time from the amateur ranks.”

Tyrone Dalton is getting married this weekend while Lewis Brown had the date pencilled in from early in the season when he would not be available for selection.

Dave Allen and Kurt Maudling remain Whitehaven’s long-term injury doubts.

Although Maudling could be back in action before the end of the month, there is even a suggestion that Allen might have to write-off the season due to an ankle problem which requires surgery.

Stephen Fox has hardly been seen this season but remains on Whitehaven’s books, even though he has opted for a year out of the game.

Forster said: “It’s unfortunate at the moment that we don’t have the opportunity to rest anybody.

"We are fully aware that Gloucestershire came-up to Workington and turned them over in the League One Cup, so we certainly won’t be taking their challenge lightly.

“When we put together a squad of 25/26 players during the winter, we didn’t envisage a situation like this but we can only control things that are controllable.

“We are trying to add to the squad because we have some important games coming up to compete the season ahead of the eights.”