Whitehaven coach Jonty Gorley is expecting a reaction from Sunday’s opponents Bradford Bulls at the LEL Arena.
The Bulls parted company with coach John Kear during the week and the club has asked assistant coach Mark Dunning to take over as interim head coach, while the club runs a thorough recruitment process to identify the next man in charge.
“I’m sure there will be a response and Bradford have the big forwards who can cause problems down the middle. It’s something we are aware of.
“As I keep saying, we just have to do better in completing sets. When we go set for set with an opponent we look a good team and that’s what we are aiming to do,” said Gorley.
Injuries – as usual this season – have affected Gorley’s team selection with Jake Moore (shoulder) and Will Evans (hamstring) the latest likely absentees after last week’s game at York, although both have been named in the 21-strong squad.
Connor Holliday and Liam McAvoy, who have been struggling with injuries, both trained during the week and are expected to be in the match-day 17.
There will also be a debut for teenage winger Harvey Barron, the latest to join on loan from Hull FC although both Davy Litten and Jacob Hookem have returned to the Super League club.
Haven squad: Aiye, Barron, Bradley, Bulman, Cooper, Dawson, Eccleston, Evans, Graham, Holliday, Hudson, King, Martin, McAvoy, Moore, Phillips, M. Walker, T. Walker, Wilkinson, Williams.
Dunning’s first 21 strong Bradford squad for the game is: Baldwinson, Burton, Camden, Crossley, Dawson-Jones, Doyle, England, Evans, Foggin-Johnston, Gill, Green, Hall, HallasKear, Kibula, Lilley, Patton, Scurr, Walker, Wallace, Walters.
