WHITEHAVEN chief executive Lee Butterworth believes the coaching, leadership and player-management skills, work ethic and feel for the club and community of James Newton and Neil Frazer make them the ideal pair to take the team forward.

Having stepped up on an interim basis when Anthony Murray stood down as coach in early March, Newton, 34 and pictured, and right-hand man Frazer, 50, both former Whitehaven players, were in mid-April handed the reins for the rest of the season and have now agreed deals through to 2028.

The development came as they guided a squad full of local products – a conscious direction taken by the Cumbrian club after severe financial difficulties in 2024 – to three successive wins, over Keighley Cougars, Midlands Hurricanes and North Wales Crusaders.

Former long-serving hooker and skipper Newton, who was in the Hull FC development system and also played briefly for Workington Town, joined the backroom team after a serious neck injury sustained in September 2024 ended his playing days.

Frazer, known as Gus, had a long association with Workington, both as a player and member of the backroom staff, and also coached community club Seaton Rangers, before following Murray from Town to Haven ahead of the 2025 season.

“James and Gus stepped up at a moment’s notice and have done a fantastic job so far,” explained Butterworth.

“The amount of time, work and effort they put in is unreal, and with clubs already building squads for next season, we wanted to clarify the coaching situation and create stability.

“James is a local lad who understands the club and the constraints and also the community, and he has always been a leader, even before he became captain in his playing days.

“We’ve seen what he and Gus are all about and how they are excited about trying to move the club forward, and we have had feedback from the players, who enjoy training and playing under them. We want to create something good.”

Newton said: “I’m a young coach, and maybe there’s a bit of uncertainty about me externally.

“But I’ve had an opportunity to step up and see what the job is about, I’ve enjoyed the challenge, and the players have had a chance to get used to myself and Gus and our ideas. I’m proud to coach this club.”