A YEAR which had started so promisingly for Whitehaven ended up in relegation from the Championship in 2024 by a single point amid a financial crisis which threatened the future of the club.
Now back on an even keel, the Marras have undergone substantial change during the off-season and Connor Holliday, who enters his 10th season at the Ortus Rec, is the only player remaining in the squad from last year. Although Jack Kellett did feature in the final game of last year when called out of the amateur game to help the injury-hit side out.
Head coach Anthony Murray has made the switch from Workington Town to lead the rebuild and has tapped into the strength of the community game in the area to bring in a strong backbone of Cumbrian talent. Also making the switch from just up the road at Workington is utility back Jordan Burns, who has been named as team captain by Murray, with James Newton taking an off-field role as team captain as he continues his long recovery from a neck injury which required surgery.
Above anything though, finding a level of stability will be the big focus for the club this year.
Watch out for… Josh Blinkhorn. The 18-year-old hooker is one of those who has made the step up from the community game to the professional ranks with Whitehaven, having ended 2024 as Millom’s top try-scorer in National Conference League Division Two. Blinkhorn has been involved in youth development programmes at Cumbrian rivals Barrow Raiders and Super League outfit Salford Red Devils too, not to mention being capped by the England U19 Community Lions, so is definitely a player to keep an eye on as he transitions to League One.
Squad: 1 Jordan Burns, 2 Henry Hadfield, 3 Chris Taylor, 4 Ethan Bickerdike, 5 Jay Weatherill, 6 Kieran Tyrer, 7 Jack Newbegin, 8 Jake Pearce, 9 Ellison Holgate, 10 Jordan Thomson, 11 Connor Holliday, 12 Clarke Chambers, 13 Jack Kellett, 14 Luke Collins, 15 Mason Lewthwaite, 16 Brad Brennan, 17 Karl Garner, 18 Aaron Turnbull, 19 Rio McQuistan, 20 Connor Saunders, 21 Ellis Nixon, 22 Max Anderson-Moore, 23 Tom Farren, 24 Kian McPherson, 25 Josh Blinkhorn, – Aaron Burns, – Mitchell Todd.
Rugby League World predicts: 7th
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 505 (February 2025)
