As predicted, Whitehaven coach Jonty Gorley has only been able to name 18 players for the trip to Halifax Panthers on Sunday.
Gorley was left with just 17 players after the Challenge Cup-tie with St Helens and since then he’s been able to add Huddersfield loanee George Roby.
The catalogue of injuries is headed by Paul Bishop and James Newton, both predicted to be missing for the rest of the season.
Bishop had an operation this morning on his damaged kneecap.
As well as the long term injuries to Bishop and Newton there is concern that Chris Taylor (shoulder) could be out for up to 10 weeks.
Tom Wilkinson (shoulder) and Liam Cooper (neck) face uncertain spells on the sidelines while Guy Graham is starting the first in his two-match suspension.
Tom Walker had a pre-booked family commitment and was always unavailable this weekend.
Gorley is gutted for the injured, particularly Bishop and Newton but insists he will be still looking for a strong performance from his squad at Halifax.
“It is what it is and we just have to get on with it. I’ve still got 18 good players going to Halifax and I expect a performance,” he said.
Before landing Roby from Huddersfield, Gorley had been close to making loan signings from both Wigan and Hull KR but they fell through late-on because those clubs also had injury issues.
“As well as Super League fixtures these clubs also have reserve team commitments now and I know a club has to look after itself first. I fully understand that,” said Gorley.
The Haven 18 are: Aiye, Bradley, Bulman, Dawson, Dixon, Doyle, Evans, Eccleston, Holliday, Hudson, King, Martin, McAvoy, Moore, Olstrom, Phillips, Roby, Williams.
Whitehaven are likely to be up against two of their stars from last season – Lachlan Walmsley and Louis Jouffret who are included in their match day squad of 21.
Walmsley didn’t figure last weekend at Workington Town when Jouffret was one of the stars in the 42-6 win for the Panthers.
Their squad is: Woodburn-Hall, Walmsley, Arundel, Saltonstall, Aston, Keyes, Tangata, Moore, Murray. Kavanagh, Garside, Fairbank, Wood, Morris, Barber, McComb, Gwaze, Tibbs, Jouffret, Hewitt, Larroyer.
