By Martin Morgan

Last updated 21:43, Monday, 17 March 2008

KIWI star David Fatialofa is set to miss the launch of NL1 action at Featherstone Rovers on Good Friday due to the knee injury that kept him out of Sunday’s derby win over Workington Town.

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The long-serving prop-forward will see a knee specialist in Manchester on Friday to determine the extent of the damage, though he does not believe it to be too serious.

He has felt twinges in the knee in recent matches, and even in the warm-ups, and the problem worsened after the heavy defeat at Halifax almost two weeks ago, ruling him out of training sessions.

“It was too stiff, and the knee was locking on me every now and again,” Fatialofa said.

“Our physio Laura said they were pretty much the same complaints as Spencer Miller had with his knee earlier this year.

“Hopefully that will mean it needs a clean-out and I’m only on the sidelines for two or three matches.

“I don’t think it’s too major because I’m still able to walk.”

Paul Crarey’s team have plenty of cover up front this season. Props Marc Jackson and Ryan McDonald were two of Haven’s better players against Town in an uninspired team performance, along with Leroy Joe.

Haven trailed 10-0 at the break though produced a much stronger second-half showing to win the game, sponsored by The Whitehaven News, 26-10. See page 47 for a full match report.

“The lads are still trying to adapt to Paul’s game plan, and it’s taking more time than we hoped,” said Fatialofa, who was at the Recre for the derby clash.

“We don’t usually have two bad games on the trot, but the lads haven’t played to their potential.

“But we will get it right. We don’t tend to peak early anyway.

“The new lads are starting to gel, though we need to play tighter around the rucks.

“Too many times on Sunday we were trying to get the ball wide as soon as we could. You win games by going forward.

“When Leroy came on he took better control of the ruck area than we’d had before.

“He can put in the long passes but is just as effective with the shorter ones.”

Haven travel to Cougar Park to face Keighley in their penultimate Northern Rail Cup group game on Sunday.

The club’s latest financial accounts are still being scrutinised, in the wake of a new-look board emerging at the Recre.

There is speculation that big losses are on the cards, though no news has yet emerged.

Ex-Leeds Rhinos star Barrie McDermott will be a special guest at a celebration dinner to mark Haven’s diamond jubilee this year.

It will be held on Friday, April, 25 at Summergrove Hotel, Hensingham.

The evening will include a three-course meal and entertainment from comedian Bill Wooland.

Tickets are priced at £25 and strictly limited. They are on sale now at the Recreation Ground office and require a non-refundable £10 deposit.

Last week’s Pride of Five £100 winners were: W Burns, Lakeland Avenue, Woodhouse, with ticket number 3,066; K Borrowdale, Queen’s Crescent, Frizington, 1,963; E Youdall, Ross View, Parton, 2,097; Mrs Curwen, Criffel Road, Parton, 2,185; J Smitham, The Highlands, 308.