Workington Town were indebted to Super League outfit Wigan Warriors for helping them out of a hole on Sunday.
Last Thursday Town only had 15 fit players for the tough-looking trip to North Wales Crusaders, and a phone call to Wigan ended in two recruits joining the squad.
Town coach Anthony Murray said: “I know John Duffy, Head of Youth at Wigan, really well so when things were looking bleak I rang and asked if he could help us out.
“He was able to supply us with two young lads who came in and did really well for us. Winger Reagan Sumner had played in Challenge Cup quarter final with York where he had been on loan but centre Ethan Fitzgerald has never been out on loan anywhere and was making his senior debut.
“We haven’t discussed anything further but will look at the situation during the week ahead of our trip to Cornwall.”
Town fielded their 17 players with JJ Key going as 18th man, although he was not 100 per cent fit from his injury sustained last month.
“We had a long injury list and players unavailable which made a hole in our squad of 26.
“But having that size squad has meant players getting games and picking-up valuable experience.
“The way they dug in at North Wales, who have a big pack and some useful backs, was very pleasing. They have been playing well at home recently so to go there and win well with players missing was very good,” said Murray.
But unfortunately Town picked up more injuries. Hanley Dawson was knocked-out so will face the mandatory concussion protocol while two-try Matty Henson suffered a broken nose and a broken cheekbone.
They will miss the long trek to Cornwall at the weekend. The Workington party will travel all the way on Saturday, stay overnight and travel home after the game.
“It is what it is and you just have to get on with it,” said Murray, whose side are fifth in the table and virtually qualified for the play-offs.
