Last updated 15:40, Wednesday, 06 February 2008

THE big Tongan has hit town – how hard will Saia Makisi hit Workington Town if the 26-year-old powerhouse centre turns out as Haven’s Northern Rail Cup secret weapon at Derwent Park on Sunday?

Slowly but surely Paul Crarey’s side begins to take on an increasingly powerful look.

But I’m sure Crarey will agree with me that smart power will be as important as the so-called expansive rugby the new coach promises to serve up and which has already started to rattle up the points in impressive glimpses.

What’s also evident so far is that Crarey appears to have found real power to match the pace and attacking sparkle which he expects to see pay dividends this season.

But the old adage still holds good: you can have the best backs in the business but they won’t do much damage behind a beaten pack.

However, if attacking style proves a breath of Recre fresh air, then from the evidence so far I can’t see Whitehaven being found wanting up front.

Haven’s pack may prove to be the biggest – and meanest – for a few years.

Carlisle-born Kiwi Karl Edmondson and West Cumbrian Ryan McDonald have what it takes to make this Whitehaven pack much more formidable. Both look as though they want to run through the proverbial barn door; the pair looked pretty awesome coming off the bench against Keighley but it’s fair to say their coach is banking on a lot more than biff and barge to batter down the opposition.

Applying all this brute force smartly, intelligently and with discipline is key but the early signs are good. Both of these extremely powerful prop forwards can certainly punch holes and deliver a smart enough off load to create the gaps for the backs to go through, something we haven’t seen enough of in recent seasons.

Bolt on the skilful power of Fats (David Fatialofa), the barnstorming impact of Marc Jackson, whose own skills have been under-used in favour of making the hard yards, along with the dynamic second row running of Richard Fletcher and Haven have the cornerstone of a forward pack which makes the difference when the crunch comes. Not to mention the versatility of Hill and McAvoy, the try-snatching opportunism of Sice plus the drive and ability of Graeme Mattinson who may well fulfil all his rich promise in 2008.

For all the bludgeon, there is a midfield rapier – Carl Rudd.

The ex-Wath Brow Hornet really has started the season “in the zone,” playing with verve, speed and flair to make and score tries.

Rudd has always looked a thoroughbred but not always delivered the goods, so ‘what’s the secret of the new dimension?’ I asked Paul Crarey. Anything to do with playing loose forward instead of stand off?

“No, it doesn’t matter about the number on his back,” said Paul. “The difference is that I’ve given Carl a free rein, he’s free to make his own decisions, and play a lot more of the football everybody knows he’s capable of. It’s just great to see the way he runs and passes the ball.”

Currently aspiring to reach the Rudd standard is Liam Finch, who was so keen follow Crarey up the coast from Barrow and realise his undoubted potential.

I like Finch’s pace, acceleration to exploit a gap and his ability to deliver a good pass, while the coach has no doubts about his young protege’s defensive qualities.

“What Liam must do is settle down, he’s a bit excitable but once the lad starts to find his feet in a new team and show more composure then we will see the best of him. I want him to learn as he goes along from the likes of Leroy Joe, John Duffy and Carl Rudd.”

Crarey is understandably a big admirer of Smokin’ Joe. Not many players can turn out in three different positions in one game, loose forward, second row and hooker as the popular Kiwi did against Keighley.

We won’t see the best of Whitehaven until the dry grounds arrive.

“By the same token, what we’ve seen so far is sufficient to whet the appetite but the head coach definitely doesn’t want his new charges to become too hot too soon.

“If too many players (hopefully Rudd excepted!) start hitting their straps too soon then I will get worried. Everybody is building up slowly but surely, there’s an old saying ‘flog them early and end up with nothing.”

Hopes are that Town will give Haven a better game this Sunday, but the result shouldn’t be in doubt and the Makisi impact is keenly awaited.

“I’ve been told this man is practically unstoppable from 20 yards out – an athletic Mick Nanyn,” Crarey added, but not loud enough to be heard Oldham way!

Last word this week on a musical note: Status Quo’s Recreation Ground gig on Saturday, August 2 is timely because it also marks Haven’s own 60th anniversary birthday.