Last updated 16:36, Monday, 14 July 2008

COACHES come and coaches go. Which is why I’m pleased that Ged Stokes is staying at Whitehaven thanks to a new two-year deal.

Ged was hired, at first, until the end of the season and it seemed the craggy Kiwi’s fortunes thereafter hinged on securing a top six play-off place.

But fortune favours the brave. The man much maligned over the circumstances of his Workington Town sacking last season has repaid the faith of Haven’s directors by backing himself to change the team’s fortunes in his own inimitable style.

Mind you, Whitehaven’s new Board had to move swiftly because, as I understand it, there was much interest in the New Zealander from two other clubs – one English, the other French.

I believe he turned down an offer to cross the Channel and, in his own words, put loyalty to Whitehaven first and foremost.

There were some Haven fans who said they’d never go to another game when Ged came in. I know at least one who hasn’t. The answer to that could be that, for the most part, they don’t know what they’ve been missing.

This two-year deal is no more than several of his Haven predecessors have earned and besides providing security of employment brings more stability to the Recreation Ground scene.

But what’s also needed now is some consistency on the field.

Haven haven’t won an away league match so far this season so let’s hope they can break the duck at Sheffield tomorrow (Friday) night.

The Don Valley Stadium can be quite an eerie place, as it was for Whitehaven in more ways than one in 2007. After almost beating Widnes at home last September, Haven were “forced” to play at The Don Valley four days later to accommodate Sky TV. Not only did they lose – fatigue was an obvious factor – but it proved the beginning of the end of the then coach Dave Rotheram.

“How can I forget it,” said Dave. “We’d almost done for Widnes, it was very emotional. Then, on the Monday, we were told we were playing at Sheffield on Thursday, also for TV. We had injuries and, for those who were left for the trip, it was very difficult to pick them up after running The Vikings so close.”

Defeat was a blow to Haven’s top four hopes and the chances of another Grand Final. Leigh came to the Recre a week later, again in the full glare of TV, and it was the final nail in the play-off coffin for team and for the fate of the coach.

His fate was sealed even before his team took the field.

Rotheram, ex-St Helens assistant coach, felt he’d done enough to earn a new contract but the erstwhile directors thought otherwise.

Opinions were mixed, just as they were over Stokes’ arrival to replace the unfortunate Paul Crarey.

“I’m pleased for Ged, he’ll do a good job,” said Dave graciously.

By the same token, I’m sure Ged will wish the same to Dave Rotheram and hope his luck will soon turn in very difficult circumstances at Derwent Park.

Stokes knows that the results of Haven’s next three matches – Sheffield and Celtic Crusaders away before the big home clash with Halifax – will be crucial to top six hopes. Strategy definitely comes into it.

Going into Wales and beating the Crusaders seems unlikely, especially as the club won’t be going to the expense of any overnight stay, so the onus has to be on taking full points from both Sheffield and Halifax. Not easy but necessary.

Haven must also get their “heads on” and overcome a Pelican Garage syndrome which we hoped was a thing of the past.

Sheffield will be Gregg McNally’s last outing in the chocolate blue and gold for a little while because the teenage prodigy jets off Down Under next week with the England under-18 squad to take on the Junior Kangaroos.

We all wish him the very best of luck and that he gets the chance to show his mettle in one of the two Tests.

One person who would definitely want to see him do well is the majestic David Topliss, who died recently at the age of 58.

One of David’s close friends, fellow Great Britain stand-off Gary Schofield, has a column in Rugby League World. In this month’s edition, Schoey writes: “Dave and I used to see each other on a weekly basis and we’d talk about the game a lot on the phone even more. We talked a lot about Danny Maguire, for instance, but one of our last conversations was during the recent Whitehaven v Salford game.

“He rang me with about 20 minutes to go in absolute raptures over Whitehaven’s 17-year-old scrum-half McNally. He told me he was the best young half-back he’d seen for ages.”