Whitehaven have been able to name a squad of 21 ahead of the Sunday League Championship game for the first time in a few weeks.
The acquisition of two young players from Super League clubs has boosted the generally local squad for the trip to Hunslet at the East Leeds Stadium.
Woody Walker returns from Castleford after making his debut for Haven in the 34-24 victory over Swinton earlier this month when he made a good impression from the bench.
At the time Haven coach James Newton indicated that Walker might be available for the rest of the season, but the young forward returned to his parent club to feature in the reserves competition.
He’s now free to return to Whitehaven and complete the season with Newton’s squad.
Jaiden Drachenberg is a new name to Haven fans who is coming in from Wigan Warriors to complete the Championship campaign with the west Cumbrians.
A former Wigan St Judes junior he is comfortable playing anywhere in the backs having first signed for the Warriors scholarship scheme back in 2021.
It’s a timely boost for the Haven coaching team of Newton and Neil Frazer as they look to back up Sunday’s convincing win over Goole Vikings.
Not for the first time Hunslet have only been able to name 19 players and they are boosted by the arrival of Brad Hey has joined on a week’s loan from Doncaster.
Liam Carr returns from injury, and Sam Grice is available again while Elijah and Darcy Simpson as well as Dom Tydeman will be getting game time with Castleford reserves this weekend.
Club captain Billy Jowitt and Jayden Hatton are still unavailable, and Keelan Foster remains out for the season.
- Whitehaven: Bickerdike, Brennan, Brown, Burns, Callander, Eccleston, Drachenberg, Holgate, Holliday, Kellett, McQuistan, Newbegin, B. Pearce, J. Pearce, Shackley, Smith, Todd, C. Walker, W. Walker, Weatherill, Williamson.
- Hunslet: Harrop, Agoro, Gaskell, Abram, Hallas, Gilmore, Battye, Berry, Larroyer, Watson, Carr, Turner, O’Hanlon, Graham, Walker, Grice, Doolan, Baldwinson, Hey.
