WHITEHAVEN coach James Newton will take the chance to take stock over a blank weekend after a busy start to his coaching career.

The former long-serving club hooker, whose time as a player was ended by a serious neck injury sustained in 2024, has been at the helm since early March.

The 34-year-old, who stepped up from assistant coach, has had 13 matches in charge, winning four and drawing one as he learns on the job.

Having taken the role on an interim basis following the surprise departure of Anthony Murray, who he had been working under and who brings his Swinton side to the Ortus REC on Sunday week, July 12, Newton was in mid-April handed the reins until the end of the season and earlier this month agreed a deal through to 2028.

His right-hand man, Neil ‘Gus’ Frazer, is also on board until then, and the pair are realistic about the challenges ahead as they continue to hone a squad made up of mainly local community-game products.

That’s part of Whitehaven’s drive for sustainability following financial issues which threatened the future of the club.

After three straight wins, over Keighley, Midlands and North Wales, Whitehaven have suffered successive defeats – at Sheffield (50-14), then last Saturday, 50-6 at Newcastle.

However Newton, who is without forward Ellis Nixon for a further four games as he serves a five-match suspension for punching, pointed out: “We’ve played two really good teams.

“The players have shown plenty of effort, that 50-point tally for Sheffield was harsh on us, and we’ll dust ourselves down, keep plugging away and keep working hard.”

Newton is monitoring fullback Jordan Burns (hamstring) and winger Dave Eccleston (knee) after they were injured at Sheffield.