Last updated 16:00, Wednesday, 21 May 2008

IT’S backs to the wall as injury-dogged Whitehaven try to buy some luck – and time – before any real rot sets in.

This time last season, the team was heading towards the top of the league and a cup final, but right now, it’s raining blows near the bottom.

Circumstances couldn’t be more different. Having just won a battle for the club’s survival but having to pay the price of selling two of their best players, Haven are now stuck in the bottom two and wondering where the next win’s coming from and when their rotten luck is going to change.

Who would have thought it? Who’d have thought the spine would have been ripped from the side so early with the loss of so many key players? That within the space of a few weeks, all the talk would suddenly switch from Haven being potential top four contenders to whether they might even face a relegation dog fight. Surely not, but the tide must turn soon.

Sky TV spotlight switches back on to them for the next game which is next Thursday’s visit of title favourites Salford to The Recreation Ground. Some say Haven won’t have a prayer, but you never know.

The real crunch comes with the following week’s home clash with Featherstone Rovers. One club official already likened it to a cup final as Fev are also locked into the bottom four. Whitehaven’s new directors, having pulled off a rescue act, don’t want to preside over failure but are asking frustrated fans to show patience in trying times.

After all the good times of the last five years, it’s reality time and, for now, a backs-to-the-wall fight in adversity.

When stars John Duffy and Richard Fletcher had to go, the stated aim was not only “to finish as high as possible in NL1” but to make absolutely certain they stay there.

The immediate fight is to overcome a crippling injury list and restore the confidence which Ged Stokes saw “seeping” from his side at Mount Pleasant.

Unthinkable, it seems, that there may be a fight to stay in NL1 so decimated by injuries as they are, with Carl Rudd’s being the latest bodyblow. Haven must show true grit to get themselves out of a jam. Circumstances are difficult, if not a tad desperate.

Supporters, especially the travelling army who vented their feelings in what was already a hostile crowd atmosphere at Batley, have still to come to terms with losing class players and doubts over the quality of replacements.

Haven are currently targeting an Aussie stand-off. For now, with Marc Bainbridge adding to the injury woes, new signings Tane Manihera and Martin Gambles may well form the half-back partnership against Salford, a tough call but a challenge for a pair who have to win their own battle to convince sceptical fans.

Gary Broadbent continues to be a rock at the back, an exemplary skipper, but who will be leading from the front?

The promised backlash to the 106-8 record drubbing by Wigan never materialised at Batley where the absence of Rudd and in-form winger Ade Adebisi added to the agony.

So what now? There’s no Rudd for the next few weeks and, without doubt, he has taken over the Duffy reins as No 1 playmaker.

Haven put up a pretty good performance before the Sky cameras against Salford at The Willows where speed and a hat-trick from 17-year-old scrum-half prodigy Richard Myler put the skids under them.

So what of Haven’s own highly promising 17-year-old, Gregg McNally?

Much of Radio Cumbria’s post-match discussion on Sunday centred on whether the No 7 star of Whitehaven School’s Euro Championship winning side should be drafted in on the basis that if he’s good enough, he’s old enough.

There seems little doubt among regular Academy watchers that he’s got the ability to step up but I tend to agree with John Cox that it’s also about physical strength and rugby maturity at such a tender age.

And it’s one things for the Murphys and Millwards of yesteryear, the Mylers and Sam Tomkins of today to be thrust into successful sides as teenage whizzkids but quite another asking a teenager to come straight into a struggling side on a rescue mission.

And to do so against Salford would certainly be a mighty big ask under the pressure of the live TV spotlight as well.

As a confident youngster, Gregg might well fancy his chances if opportunity knocks, and he’s going to Leeds for a month in July anyway.

What matters most is the boy’s best interests and, in any case, don’t we need to find out first if Gambles really is up to it?