Stokes faces selection headache

Last updated 10:44, Saturday, 28 June 2008

Whitehaven prop Karl Edmondson admits he does not envy Ged Stokes ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Dewsbury Rams – as the spoiled-for-choice coach faces a major selection headache.

Northern Rail Cup - Haven v Halifax. pic MIKE McKENZIE 16th Mar 2008

Stokes will select from a position of strength, with stand-off Tane Manihera returning to action after missing last week’s defeat at Halifax with a calf strain.

Edmondson said: “Everyone’s fighting for positions, and I wouldn’t like to be the coach picking the team. It’s a hard choice, though it’s healthy for the club.

“Ged’s been in the game for a long time and is a top coach, so I’m sure he will make the right decision.

“From what I’ve seen of Dewsbury, they put everything in for 80 minutes, so we have to concentrate on defence and controlling their big fellas.”

Carl Rudd will switch to loose-forward tomorrow (3pm), to reunite Manihera and Gregg McNally in the halves.

“It’s probably not Carl’s first-choice position, but playing at loose-forward does add a little different dimension to his game,” Stokes said.

“He runs a bit more with the ball playing there, and he’s a good player to link both sides of the field.

“Andy Gorski had probably his best game at Halifax, and the make-up of the bench is a difficult choice. There will be some disappointed players.

“It will be a war of attrition, probably one of the most physical games we have played all year, and we need people who can play long minutes at a high level of performance.

“Dewsbury are travelling up today, which is a very good indication of how they’ll feel about this game.

“They will have looked at the games they think they can win and targeted us.”