Last updated at 11:42, Thursday, 17 May 2012

Don Gailer is urging his centres to seize their big break after Whitehaven’s star man Scott McAvoy decided to take a break from the game.

Max Wiper

The coach believed he had probably Championship One’s top two centres in his ranks in McAvoy and Jessie Joe Parker, but the co-captain’s departure has left a vacancy in the outside backs.

Stephen Fox filled a berth earlier this term before suffering a nasty neck injury, Max Wiper has been an ever-present, featuring at centre, wing and stand-off and Martyn Wilson has also caught Gailer’s eye.

“Work commitments have probably cost Martyn more than anything but he will play a big part in the 9s competition that’s coming up, so he can run himself in to a bit of form,” said Gailer.

“Stephen Fox won’t let anyone down and Max always gives it a go. They will miss Scott McAvoy as much as anyone else, but at the same time I expect them to pick up their game, really go for it and think this is their big chance. Good luck to them.”

Gailer rates the departure of McAvoy, who is soon to wed, as a massive loss for Haven, but fully supports his decision.

He said: “If he’s lost that desire, the worst thing he can do is stay out there. He’s probably made the right decision for him.

“He’s 26 and maybe the break will do him good. If he comes back it will be of his own volition, and he’s still got plenty of time for that.

“If he finds other things in his life with his daughter and wife, good luck to him because he’s a really nice bloke. I’m not underplaying it, Scotty will leave a huge hole. We had probably the best centre in the league, with the exception of Jessie Joe Parker, and now we don’t.

“Two or three players will now be saying that perhaps there’s an opportunity to make a mark on the team. As one door closes, another opens. We have won our last two games without Scott, so it’s not that we can’t win without him.”

First published at 11:30, Thursday, 17 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk