By Alan Irving

Last updated 12:02, Tuesday, 29 July 2008

One of Whitehaven’s living legends, Geoff Robinson, is singing the praises of his old team after the weekend’s stunning victory over top four rivals Halifax.

Impressed: Legend Geoff Robinson

Robbo who is rated by many as the most dynamic loose forward in the club’s history was in the great Whitehaven side which defeated Australia at the Recreation Ground in 1956 and came within a whisker of reaching Wembley the following season.

Geoff, who now lives in retirement near Kendal, returned to his Recre stomping ground on Sunday and enthused over Haven’s blistering 28-12 sunshine win.

And the man who along with his legendary back row partner Dick (“Tiger”) Huddart rampaged through the best of defences is tipping the present Haven pack to steamroller the team to success.

“There are some big units among them, and they’re not just steam pigs,” said Geoff who left Haven in 1959 for a record transfer fee of £9,500.

“I liked their power but also the way they played with pace and distribution. Good forward play is the bedrock of the game for me and there’s no doubt from what I saw on Sunday that these Whitehaven forwards are very strong hombres. All of them, like the whole team, played with tremendous commitment, time and again they got over the gain line and stood their ground in defence, they just refused to be broken down. Impressive stuff.

“Over the years Whitehaven have been renowned for having a good pack and I had the honour of playing in one that proved too good for the Australians at the Recreation Ground. Big Norman Provan was one of their Test forwards playing that day but we had the likes of Bill McAlone, Ray Donaldson, Killen and Dick Huddart.

“None of the glamour clubs wanted to come up to Whitehaven in those days, they dreaded the strength of our pack.

“Even after I was transferred to Oldham, then later on Warrington, I used to hate the prospect because I knew we were in for a torrid time.”

“Robbo”, as he was always known, was particularly impressed by “battering rams” Karl Edmondson, Ryan McDonald and Marc Jackson, not just the power but their skill in offloading the ball.“They took on Halifax up front in no uncertain terms, didn’t take a backward step and had the beating of them.”

The towering Saia Makesi, switched from centre to loose forward, also caught Geoff’s eye along with man of the match maestro Leroy Joe.

“I think the “Tiger” and me wouldn’t mind playing in that pack, if they keep this up they could go a long way,” said Robbo.

No one impressed him more than skipper Gary Broadbent. “This fullback is a tremendous little player, I love the way he defends and bvreaks out of tackles sideways, his commitment is something else.

“This team has a good foundation, they are well coached by Ged Stokes, and if they continue with this kind of enthusiasm and commitment there is no reason why they can’t go places and make this season’s play-offs.

“It was a wonderful match on Sunday, a marvellous performance and I was absolutely thrilled.”