Stokes: We must get psyched up against struggling teams

By Martin Morgan

Last updated 12:33, Wednesday, 02 July 2008

Whitehaven must learn not to save their best efforts for NL1’s leading lights, says boss Ged Stokes, following Sunday’s hard-fought win over bottom club Dewsbury.

Haven's new head coach Ged Stokes. pic MIKE McKENZIE 2nd April 2008

The hosts were made to battle all the way by the Rams, who went down 24-16.

Haven have beaten NL1’s top four at the Recre this season, with Salford, Halifax, Celtic and Leigh all suffering defeats.

But next-to-bottom Batley have done the double over the Cumbrians this term, and promoted Featherstone beat them at Post Office Road.

“We do find it hard to get ourselves mentally right to play teams under us,” Stokes said.

“There are no easy teams now. Every preparation through the week is like we were playing the top team.

“We have to transfer that now through the players’ psyche and make sure they take it in to games.”

Haven needed three points on Sunday to seize a play-off position, and Stokes had labelled it a must-win game.

“We felt the pressure of that before the game, and I felt the pressure as coach,” he added. “We did enough to win it. Sometimes you can’t come out and be the team everyone wants you to be every week.

“If you are that once every five or six weeks and still winning games, you are doing all right.”

Haven have no match this weekend. Salford face NL2 Doncaster in the Northern Rail Cup final at Blackpool on Sunday.