By Alan Irving

Last updated 10:52, Thursday, 31 July 2008

THE Whitehaven “golden oldie” half-back partnership which has masterminded the team’s resurgence into the National League’s top four is likely to be broken up for Sunday’s visit to bottom club Dewsbury Rams.

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Tane Manihera

Tane Manihera, the Kiwi who has confounded the critics who had written him off since his halcyon days at Workington Town, is due to be given a well earned rest so he can re-charge his batteries for the crucial televised home game against Sheffield the following Thursday.

Tane hit it off immediately with schoolboy Gregg McNally and with the teenage prodigy now out in Australia, the 33-year-old has been calling the shots in tandem with compatriot Leroy Joe.

Joe, also 33, has made an amazing comeback after injury culminating in a sensational display against Halifax last Sunday, laying on three second half tries.

The evergreen scrum-half will almost certainly be asked to carry on the good work at Sheffield while his partner in magic Manihera is rested.

Faced with a reserve team derby at Barrow tomorrow night, Sunday’s trip to Dewsbury and the big clash with Sheffield only four days later, head coach Ged Stokes admits he will have to do a juggling act when it comes to selection at training tonight (Thursday).

But the astute Kiwi has an ace card to play as far as halfback is concerned: Switching Saia Makisi from loose-forward to cover for Manihera at stand-off.

The towering Tongan international started his Haven career this season in the middle backs, then moved to loose-forward allowing Scott McAvoy to return to centre but will have no qualms about wearing the No 6 jersey.

“Not everybody will have noticed but I’ve actually been playing Saia at stand-off even though he has been wearing No 13, with Leroy switching from one position to another,” laughed Ged.

Chairman Gordon Grace said: “Ged certainly isn’t afraid to experiment, whether it’s with a young player or an experienced hand, he has his own way of working things out to beat the opposition and he’s meticulous in the way he does it.”

Another bad injury to up-and-coming prop David Ford cast a cloud over Sunday’s crushing defeat of second-placed Halifax.

“We won’t know the true state of his leg injury until the swelling goes down but, fearing the worst, I think we have lost him for the rest of the season. A great pity because the lad has been making a big impact and has a big future,” said the coach.

The blow has been softened by the impending and eagerly-awaited return of David Fatialofa, the redoubtable Kiwi prop whose broken arm could not have healed in more timely fashion. Stokes has not fully decided whether Fats will make his comeback at Dewsbury or keep him in reserve for Sheffield.

One comeback certainty for Sunday is Scott Teare. The big former Wath Brow Hornet gets another first team chance after playing well in the reserves and Stokes is looking for him to work well with Marc Jackson coming off the bench.

Jackson, in barnstorming form, is okay for Dewsbury despite being cited by Halifax for allegedly breaking the jaw of one of their players.

Halifax have sent a video to the RFL which, according to them, shows an incident which escaped the attention of the referee, linesman and Haven’s own match video.

If there is a case to answer, it will come up before next week’s disciplinary meeting but fingers are firmly crossed that ‘Jacko’ will be cleared to face Sheffield.

Two youngsters back in first team contention this weekend are second rower Danny Barker and scrum-half Marc Bainbridge, who has recovered from a broken wrist.

While the main focus is on beating Sheffield in front of the Sky TV cameras, hard-pressed Haven will be looking to some fresh legs and a mix of youth and experience to give them a fourth successive win at Dewsbury.

Gregg McNally has made his international debut for Great Britain under-18s – and it was a winning baptism Down Under.

Gregg figured in Britain’s 24-20 victory over Brisbane, playing the whole of the first half and returning to the action later in the game.

The 17-year-old Whitehaven sixth former earned his place in the junior international squad after a sensational breakthrough into the Whitehaven first team. Now the youngster is waiting to see whether he will retain the GB No 7 shirt for this weekend’s first Test against the Junior Kangaroos.

His dad Tony said yesterday: “Gregg felt he did okay against Brisbane, now he is living in hopes of getting a place in the Test, but the team won’t be picked until Friday. Whatever happens, he’s enjoying himself out there and the experience of being in the squad.”