Last updated 16:12, Wednesday, 20 August 2008

THE so-called stars return to the Recreation Ground on Sunday for what has become Haven’s biggest game of the season.

John Duffy and Richard Fletcher pose a Widnes threat to Whitehaven’s hopes of securing a prime home play off position.

Duffy and Fletch were seen to be the “stars” when hard-pressed Whitehaven released the pair to The Vikings.

Questions were asked of Haven’s new directors: Why are you letting our best players go? Answer: “To help us survive.”

Some feared Haven might go from bad to worse. But not only have Whitehaven saved loads of money by releasing their two highest earners but they’ve actually got better on the field – thanks to a combination of factors which have seen Whitehaven rise admirably from conceivable relegation battlers to strong play-off contenders.

Plus the emergence of a talented young man to fill the big boots of John Duffy behind the scrum, allied to the sensational form up front of forwards like Howard Hill and the blossoming of Scott McAvoy.

And as head coach Ged Stokes rightly says: “We are at our best playing as a team, we don’t have any superstars or rely as much on gamebreakers that some of our rivals do.”

The leadership of Gary Broadbent, the guile of veterans Leroy Joe and Tane Manihera and the commitment of unsung heroes such as Spencer Miller are also key ingredients in a resurgence which has been able to cope with the loss of outstanding playmaker Carl Rudd. He won’t play again this season.

Talent and commitment will be stretched to the limit on Sunday when The Vikings come to town.

A fortnight ago I’d have put my hard-earned money on Haven to start favourites and secure at least fourth place in the NL1 race.

But a week’s a long time in sport and there was no legislating for what happened in the cauldron of Leigh’s Hilton Park last Sunday as the Centurions rolled on brutally at times.

Ged Stokes lambasted his players for taking wrong options, poor body language and low energy levels, but he wasn’t anticipating what he called such a vicious, explosive encounter which saw Leigh, in particular, take no prisoners.

Whitehaven lost Graeme Mattinson and Scott Teare to the red card but clearly they seemed more sinned against than sinners.

Leigh left a ruthless, damaging mark in bringing down the curtain on Hilton Park. Skipper Broadbent and schoolboy Gregg McNally were victims. They used to call it “taking out the enemy’s biggest sting.” In winning at all costs have the Centurions taken the sting out of Haven’s play-off challenge?

Fortunately, Teare and Mattinson can still play this weekend but without Marc Jackson serving the last of his two match ban along with Ryan McDonald (minor operation!) will Haven have both the firepower and the confidence to successfully defend The Recre fortress?

It will take a superhuman effort. Not only is this the biggest game in light of what’s at stake but it will demand the biggest performance in some adversity.

There’s another X-factor: Steve McCormack!

The man who guided Whitehaven to two Grand Finals desperately wants another which wouldn’t be a bad achievement for a Widnes club stripped of nine points through administration and re-building the team. But money talks.

One of the game’s best centre prospects Sean Tyrer plus another quality St Helens back (Matty Smith) bolster the Vikings bid – how many of their rivals could splash out the cash to have players of this quality on loan?

Widnes are strong all round but if Haven can win the battle up front, Karl Edmondson and Hill leading the charge,then sheer force of West Cumbrian will, plus some skill, can stop this particular Viking invasion. Steve Mac will have a little bit of fear at the back of his mind – Haven are a wounded but dangerous animal.

The Recre should be as “hot” as Hilton Park but hopefully in the right sporting spirit as the Kells-End roars Haven home.