Last updated 16:00, Wednesday, 07 May 2008

WITH the latest rumours circulating about a possible return of the iconic Aaron Lester, there’s never a dull moment at The Recre.

From the revelation at last Wednesday night’s annual shareholders meeting that the club had been a cat’s whisker from falling into the hands of administrators, to the capture of Tane Manihera (one of RL’s “forgotten” men) on the eve of an exhilarating win over Leigh.

Only for the sparkle to be overshadowed somewhat by news of a crippling triple injury blow to three key players, then yesterday’s disappointment of Barry Richardson standing down from the new Board after all his good deeds.

An on-the-field bodyblow has been those broken limbs –but will it be shattered dreams?

Up until five o’clock on Monday afternoon, I’d have fancied a small wager on Whitehaven defying all the odds and challenging strongly for a NL1 top four spot.

Well coached and well drilled, Haven have been on form under the new regime, three wins out of four, but the rolling over of the Leigh Centurions made it fairly easy to dismiss scepticism over the side’s prospects without their “best” players Richard Fletcher and John Duffy.

But what’s less easy to dismiss is that success more often than not depends on the strength of a squad which, at Whitehaven, has now been stripped to the bone (no pun intended) through those savage injury blows.

So what now? What chance for starters of a Lester comeback? It’s true his form had suffered before last season’s National Rail Cup final, but some of us felt “Captain Marvel” had hung up his boots too soon and that he could have fought back into the team.

If he does make the comeback trail, it would certainly be to popular acclaim. More so than the shock signing of one of his fellow countrymen, Tane Manihera, it would be safe to say.

I mean that with due respect to a Kiwi who was a very good player indeed in his Workington Town heyday but his arrival at the age of 33 (or so) has raised eyebrows to say the very least.

In some eyes, it raised another question of credibility. But then the appointment of Ged Stokes was greeted with the same level of disbelief, and Ged can hardly put a foot wrong at the moment, so again let’s judge as we find.

The “new” Board backed their judgement in taking on Mr Stokes and, by the same token, they felt they had to back the head coach in bringing in one of his old Town favourites from the proverbial cold.

Is the veteran past it or will he prove otherwise and emerge as a veritable godsend now that Leroy Joe is crocked?

I half expected Tane to be in the first team squad after the head coach so eloquently sang his praises after a five-star debut for the Academy side in Saturday’s drubbing of Widnes Reserves at The Recre.

Manihera laid on try after try with so much aplomb that Ged said: “He had the ball on a string.” Stokes also praised the newcomer’s leadership qualities and said there was still a place in the game for “dedicated half-backs” such as Manihera.

If Tane was signed up as cover then all of a sudden he becomes more valuable and may well be asked to take the No 6 shirt worn so admirably by Leroy Joe against Leigh.

I and many others were pleased that Marc Bainbridge was chosen to partner Joe. And young Bamber repaid the confidence and the congratulations he received from his team-mates after the peach of a pass that put Craig Calvert in for his 101st Haven try were well-earned.

Will Marc hold on to the No 7 shirt as a very promising work-in-progress or will the club press ahead with trying to sign a more experienced scrum-half?

One thing’s for sure, whether it’s a stand-off or scrum-half, Whitehaven need someone with enough pace (as well as brains) to make a difference to the midfield attack.

Oh, for a Dennis Moran! Haven’s stand-off scourge for Widnes at last season’s Northern Rail Cup final was posing the biggest bank holiday threat for his new club, Leigh, this time wearing the No 1 shirt.

At half-time, I would have said if they stopped Moran, the win was on the cards – regardless of what referee Jamie Leahy did next. It’s a long time since I’ve heard such a tirade directed at any ref at The Recre, but, there again, it’s a long time since I’ve seen such a blatant knock-on rewarded with what might have been a crucial try.

More than anything, it was a magnificent defence that overcame all adversity – repeat doses will be needed in the Challenge Cup at Wigan on Monday. If Haven continue to play with the same sparkle, courage and intensity then there’s no reason why they can’t leave the JJB with heads held high.

On a lighter note, we have to report, sadly or otherwise, that dogs are no longer welcome at Haven matches, guide dogs being a worthy exception, on health and safety grounds.

It brings my mind back to the good old days when many a mutt roamed free on The Recre during games. Just to prove the case, our archive picture from the late 1950s, shows a dog haring over the try-line hot on the heels of all-time Haven and Cumberland great Syd Lowdon.

Syd had one of the best body swerves in the game, but quite clearly it wasn’t just the opposition he was beating.