By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 10:21, Thursday, 16 October 2008

WHITEHAVEN’S long-serving Kiwi trio have brought down the curtain on their testimonial year – with each banking £5,500 for their dedicated service to the club.

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Former skipper Aaron Lester, Leroy Joe and David Fatialofa raised an impressive £16,500 in total, after tax, from their benefit year, despite opting to hold only a handful of fund-raisers.

Fatialofa said: “It was always the same faces who turned out, and I’d like to thank those who have supported us throughout our time here, during the good and bad times.”

The prop forward added that his personal highlights from the testimonial were the official souvenir brochure, HaveNZ Three, detailing their service, and the pre-season fund-raiser in which the current first-team faced a Haven side from yesteryear.

“One of the main things I wanted to get out of the testimonial was the brochure,” he added. “It’s a keepsake that we can look back on in 10 or 20 years and we’ll always have good memories.

“I also enjoyed the testimonial match very much. Just to get back some of the retired players, such as George Suafoa, Colin Armstrong and Gary Charlton. As soon as they got back, it was like they had never been away.”

Fatialofa, thought by many to be Haven’s leading prop of the modern generation, has been plagued by an arm injury over recent seasons, and he hung up his boots after the team’s play-off defeat at Salford last month.

He has no plans for a comeback but will not turn his back on the club.

He said. “I think I made the right decision to retire and I’ll now enjoy the game as a spectator. I’ll take the family down there and it will be a good day out.”

Fatialofa thanked testimonial sponsors High Grange, B & H Motors and URS Washington Division for their help, plus committee members Billy Rudd, Bob Sewell, Neil Fennell, Peter Boyle and Paul Goodwin.

“Those guys have been fantastic for us over our testimonial year,” he added. “They have done a good job for us.”

Sewell, committee secretary, also thanked all Haven supporters and local businesses for their generous financial support over the year.

Fatialofa was shocked to learn of the sudden death during a weights session on Monday of old adversary Adam Watene, at 31.

The Cook Islands international, latterly with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, had some fantastic on-field battles with his Haven counterpart in 2005, when with major rivals Castleford.

“It was a big shock,” Fatialofa said. “I didn’t know him that well, just to say hello to and have a little crack after the game.

“I enjoyed our clashes. He was a big presence, and strong. He had everything, which is why he went on to do well in Super League.”

Meanwhile, coach Ged Stokes is targeting 20-year-old Serbian forward Soni Radovanovic for a trial.

The prop/second-row was man-of-the-match in Serbia’s recent narrow defeat against Lebanon in Beirut.

Stokes coached the Serbs in the Euro-Med clash and would like to look at the forward at close quarters.

“He’s got all the attributes,” said the Haven boss, who was impressed with the quality shown by the Serbs.

“A lot of their players have a great desire to come to the UK and progress their rugby league. There’s some good raw material to work with.

“They have a really dedicated bunch of administrators and players, with a great thirst for knowledge of the game.

“The standard is good, but their enthusiasm is probably greater than the experience factor.

“They are very big people and it’s not uncommon to see 6ft women in the street. Basketball is the national sport.”

Stokes had initially travelled to Serbia on a voluntary basis as a coaching advisor, but after just one training session he was asked to take the national job.

He intends to continue to coach the national side, as long as it does not interfere with his Haven commitments.

“Belgrade is a very nice city, and the Serbs are lovely people, once you get to know them, very hospitable,” Stokes said. “There’s a lot of interest in the game.”

Last week’s Pride of Five £100 winners were: Mr Kitchin, Burnmoor Avenue, Mirehouse, with ticket number 2,876; Kevin Davidson, Windermere Road, Woodhouse, 3,125; RH Crawford, Jubilee Road, 2,680; Sylvia Bound, Brayton Road, Bransty, 3,221; James Shields, Esk Avenue, 3,275.

First published at 16:41, Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk