Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 13 February 2008

GOD, and maybe the weather, work in mysterious ways. Just as well that Barrow couldn’t raise a team for last weekend’s planned friendly against Whitehaven. The weather was so foul you wouldn’t have turned out the dog, but the happy sting in the tail is that Haven fans will have the chance to see their new prop forward blockbuster, Karl Edmondson, make his debut sooner than expected.

No sooner had the big, Carlisle-born, Kiwi arrived at Hensingham, than he was told that another friendly had been arranged (with Swinton) for this Sunday. So would he be interested in a run out? Too true. Edmondson has been keeping himself fit in the land of the Long White Cloud and is keen to wear the chocolate blue and gold.

Haven fans will be wanting to see Swinton run off their feet, especially as Paul Crarey’s side should be even stronger with ace-in-the-pack, Richard Fletcher, and scrum-half playmaker, John Duffy, both set to return, plus the debut, at No.6, of Liam Finch. Joining Edmondson soon from Down Under will be Saia Makesi, the so-called Tongan Kiwi!

While policeman Karl should add considerably to the go forward, this giant Tongan centre is said to be “unstoppable from 20 yards out.” Makesi has the seal of approval of ex-Kangaroo Test forward Ron Reddy – Paul Carey’s big mate at Parramatta Eels, where the Tongan has been warming up for a couple of weeks. Both of the new imports were signed by Whitehaven on the personal recommendation of former coach Stan Martin in New Zealand.

Stan’s the man who not only proved himself to be one of Haven’s best ever coaches but also gave young fellow Kiwis, Leroy Joe, Aaron Lester, David Fatialofa, Gus Maleota-Brown and Siose Muliumu the chance to make a name for themselves. Four of the five did ( Maleota-Brown the possible exception) so much so that Joe, Lester and Fatialofa will enjoy a richly-earned testimonial match at The Recre tomorrow week after 10 years’ distinguished service.

Whitehaven’s current team will play a 1997/98 select from the era of the charismatic Stan Martin.

You won’t be able to stop “Fats” and Joe taking the field for the Select but will Aaron Lester join them? Hopefully he’ll turn out, too, giving fans one last chance to pay homage to a hero.

Haven are justly proud of their Kiwi heritage, which stretches back further to the brilliant Test half-backs, Dave Watson and Clayton Friend, not to mention coaches Kurt Sorenson and Kevin Tamati (won’t dwell too much on Kelly Shelford!) so this should be memorable, atmospheric night. One of the notable locals who provided such a good blend with the Kiwis was David Seeds. It will be good to see David and other old favourites taking another bow in the benefit game. There was some talk that “Soss” Muliumu and Maleota-Brown might fly back, but I think the prospect can be discounted.

What’s interesting is that “Sos” and “Fats” were two of Stan Martin’s Junior Kiwis and that in 1996, the first season of summer rugby, they grabbed the chance to follow their mentor to Whitehaven; Lester & Co following on a little later.

“Fats” will go down in the folklore of good Whitehaven props but, at first, Big “Sos” was taking all the limelight and looked the most dynamic Haven forward for many a year before deciding to go to Australia instead and the grass there didn’t prove any greener.

Haven football director Kenny Shepherd recalls: “Sos hit and hurt. One day I saw him hit an opposing forward so hard that for a long time the man didn’t move, we were thinking the worst but fortunately he finally came round.”

Here’s hoping the new big bruisers from Down Under can have the same impact.

Incidentally new domestic, Adi Adebise, the ex-Featherstone flyer was spotted on the touchline at Greengarth, last Saturday watching the local side play Egremont at rugby union, in the company of John Lebbon (ex-Egremont) who just happens to be a big rival for one of the wing positions – friendly rivalry indeed...and by the way, when Stan Martin left Haven to return home to NZ his parting words were that he had taken the players as far as he could and “as Haven stand at the moment we would struggle in Super League. A Cumbrian team would be the answer.” Nothing’s changed.