Whitehaven coach Jonty Gorley took extra time on his video session with the players this week ahead of the opening Championship game at Leigh on Sunday.
Gorley was pointing out the errors which occurred during Sunday’s 28-22 loss at Swinton, their final warm-up game ahead of the new season.
They had lost their first work-out 18-14 for the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy at Workington Town.
“Both games served their purpose. We’ve been in a good position in both games and then through our own doing we’ve come unstuck – errors, penalties and inviting the other side in.
“If we go set to set with teams we will do all right but we can’t afford to cough ball up like we have been doing. It inevitably invites pressure and teams eventually score tries.
“I did a longer video session with the players than I normally do, to emphasise this is what happens when we can’t control the ball and invite teams in.
“However I got out of the two friendlies what I needed to, looking at the middles and at our new half-back pairing,” he said.
Gorley won’t have Connor Holliday available, as he serves a one match suspension following an incident during the Whitehaven game.
Centres Karl Dixon and Chris Taylor also have niggling injuries.
“It doesn’t get any tougher than Leigh away in the first game of the season and I’m not looking to play anyone who isn’t 100 per cent fit.
“I think Leigh and Featherstone are clearly the top two sides in the competition, on the money they have spent and I think both could compete in Super League.
“For us the first aim is survival in the competition and winning as many home matches as we possibly can. We will be targeting certain games in particular because it would be stupid to think you are going to win every game.
“I want the players to give 100 per cent and compete, and I’m sure that’s what I will get from this group of players,” he said.
