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Haven announce Squad to play Hunslet

Whitehaven’s full 21‑man squad to play Hunslet is confirmed, and here’s the complete lineup drawn from the latest published squad announcement (25 July 2026).

🟦 Whitehaven 21‑man squad

  • Bickerdike — outside back
  • Brennan — forward
  • Brown — forward
  • Burns — fullback/half
  • Callander — wing
  • Eccleston — wing/centre
  • Drachenberg — versatile back (new signing from Wigan)
  • Holgate — hooker
  • Holliday — second row
  • Kellett — loose forward
  • McQuistan — forward
  • Newbegin — halfback
  • B. Pearce — forward
  • J. Pearce — forward
  • Shackley — prop
  • Smith — bench forward
  • Todd — centre
  • C. Walker — stand‑off
  • W. Walker — young forward returning from Castleford
  • Jay Weatherill — wing
  • Liam Williamson — hooker/bench

  • Woody Walker returns from Castleford after reserve‑grade duty.
  • Jaiden Drachenberg joins from Wigan to bolster the backs.
  • Squad depth is improved after weeks of limited availability.
  • Coach James Newton and Neil Frazer looking to build on the win over Goole Vikings.

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Improving Haven Romp to Victory over Goole

Whitehaven 46–16 Goole Vikings Betfred Championship – 19 July 2026

Whitehaven completed a Championship double over Goole Vikings with an emphatic 46-16 victory at the Ortus REC, recording their fourth consecutive home win.

The hosts led 14-10 at half-time after tries from Rio McQuistan and Jay Weatherill, with Cieran Walker adding two conversions and a penalty. Goole stayed in touch through tries from Callum Shaw and Josh Guzdek, with one conversion from Miller.

Whitehaven took control immediately after the interval. Early second-half tries from Liam Williamson (41st minute) and Ellison Holgate (44th minute) stretched the lead, although Jeylan Hodgson responded for the Vikings shortly afterwards.

As the game progressed, Whitehaven’s superiority became increasingly evident. Further tries from Jay Weatherill, Ethan Bickerdike, and Ben Pearce sealed a convincing win, while Walker finished with an impressive individual points tally thanks to six conversions and three penalty goals.

Great team peformance from an improving Haven team Special mention to veteran prop Brad Brennan who played almost 70 minutes , Something that doesn’t happen very iften in the modern game

Key Points

  • Final Score: Whitehaven 46–16 Goole Vikings.
  • Half-time: Whitehaven 14–10 Goole Vikings.
  • Whitehaven scored seven tries in total.
  • The win moved Whitehaven into 10th place in the Championship table with six matches remaining.
  • Whitehaven scorers: Rio McQuistan, Jay Weatherill (2), Liam Williamson, Ellison Holgate, Ethan Bickerdike, Ben Pearce.

Goole Vikings scorers: Callum Shaw, Josh Guzdek and Jeylan Hodgson.

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Haven Lose at Cougar Park after Bright First Half

🏉Looking for their first win since May Whitehaven travelled to Cougar park to take on Keighley Cougars who they defeated at the Recreation ground earlier in the campaign After an encouraging first half They faded in the second period as the hosts clinched a26–14 win over Whitehaven today:

🔥 First-Half Honours Even

  • Junior Nuu opened the scoring on 12 minutes after a lucky deflection
  • Junior Sa’u followed up with a second try just five minutes later.
  • Whitehaven bounced back with two late tries from Jay Weatherill, tying it 10–10 at halftime.

💪 Second-Half Surge by Cougars leaves Haven adrift

  • Keighley repeatedly attacked Whitehaven’s right edge, where defensive lapses allowed them to break through multiple times.
  • Brad Holroyd restored Keighley’s lead with a well-worked try on 53 minutes.
  • Then came the game-changer: Brad England powered through for two tries in quick succession, turning a tight game into a comfortable lead.
  • Whitehaven managed a late consolation try from Max Anderson-Moore, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
  • Final Score Keighley 26 Whitehaven 10
  • Abram
  • Weatherill
  • Todd
  • Hartley
  • Anderson-Moore
  • Bickerdike
  • Lowe
  • Thomson
  • Holgate
  • Pearce
  • Holliday
  • McQuistan
  • Kellett
  • Interchanges:  Garner, Blinkhorn, Brennan & Turnbull
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Haven lead at half time at Dewsbury but lose their way in the second half

Haven returned to action following a 28 day break looking to get a win but ultimately went down to a second-half comeback from the Rams as the hosts ran out 28–14 victors in today’s League clash at FLAIR Stadium

The Haven had not played since May 25th when they lost to Midland Hurricane’s !They welcomed back forwards Aaron Turnbull and Thompson but were without unfkuential backs Camero Brown , Chris Taylor and Jay Wetherill .The talking point before the clash focused on how that break might affect Havens as they started the game

For Whitehaven it could not have started any better thanks to tries from Jack Kellett and Kieran Tyrer, who also added a penalty and two conversions. At the break it was going well for Haven who led 14–4 at halftime

But the Rams roared back after the break, sparked by a try from Jacob Hookem, who also kicked four goals on the day.

Caelum Jordan was the standout, crossing twice in the final quarter, while Matt Garside sealed the win with a late try. It was a much-needed home victory for Dewsbury, who had struggled at FLAIR Stadium this season.

Coach Anthony Murray was disappointed with the overall performance putting the poor second half showing to individual errors which meant the team could not follow the game plan which had served them so well in the first 40 Mins

WHITEHAVEN
4 Ethan Bickerdike
2 Mitchell Todd
23 Tom Farren
15 Mason Lewthwaite
22 Max Anderson-Moore
7 Jack Newbiggin
6 Kieran Tyrer
18 Aaron Turnbull
9 Ellison Holgate
10 Jordan Thomson
11 Connor Holliday
19 Rio McQuistan
13 Jack Kellett
Subs (all used)
14 Luke Collins
21 Ellis Nixon
32 Daniel Spencer-Tonks
16 Brad Brennan

Tries: Kellett (5), Tyrer (38)
Goals: Tyrer 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-8, 4-14; 10-14, 16-14, 22-14, 28-14

Whitehaven Man of he match : Ellison Holgate

Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 4-14
Referee: Denton Arnold

Dewsbury V Haven

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Haven lose to the Hurricanes after a bright start

The Haven travelled to the Midlands for their second game with the Hurricanes in 2025 After losing in the 1895 cup there in February ,Havens upturn in recent weeks  results suggested the outcome this time just might be different

Indeed the first 10 minutes of the game  Haven dominated possession ,taking the game to Hurricanes and it was no more than they deserved when Skipper Kellett went over for a try converted by Jay Wetherill as Haven led 6 nil .

The home side came more inro the game after that to score two converted trys but with half time beckoning Jay Wetherill slotted a goal to make the half time score  12pts to 8 to the  Hurricanes  . However the Haven were very much in the game ,  and had everything to play for after the break

The second half however was a different matter , On Havens first possession on the half they gave the ball away which allowed the home team to  attack the Haven line and score through Willis . This set the pattern for the rest of the clash as the home team took advantage of a series of Haven mistakes to score four more try  plus two goals as the Hurricanes delivered a dominant second half display  Whitehaven, securing a 38-8 victory.

Coach Murray was disappointed with the Second half display highlighting goal line defence as an area needing improvement . He said “No complaints Midlands were better than us …..Second half we did nothing  ……. Credit to them “

SO after todays results Haven stand 6th in League 1  with 9 points having completed the first half of rounds .better than expected at the start of the campaign and showing promise for the second half of the campaign

WHITEHAVEN
5 Jay Weatherill
2 Mitchell Todd
23 Tom Farren
4 Ethan Bickerdike
22 Max Anderson-Moore
28 Cameron Brown
7 Jack Newbegin
8 Jake Pearce
9 Ellison Holgate
32 Daniel Spencer-Tonks
11 Connor Holliday
19 Rio McQuistan
13 Jack Kellett
Subs (all used)
14 Luke Collins
21 Ellis Nixon
12 Clarke Chambers
16 Brad Brennan

Tries: Kellett (9)
Goals: Weatherill 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 12-8; 16-8, 20-8, 26-8, 32-8, 38-8

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hurricanes: Sully Medforth; Whitehaven: Tom Farren

Penalty count: 8-5
Half-time: 12-8
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte
Attendance: 250

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Haven well beaten by Table Topping Crusaders

The Crusaders secured a dominant 42-12 victory over Whitehaven R.L.F.C. in their League One clash on Saturday, 26 April 2025. The Crusaders led 26-0 at halftime and continued their strong performance in the second half.

Match Highlights

Crusaders’ Tries: Oliver Davies, Patrick Ah Van, Sam Wilde (x2), Lloyd Roby, Cole Oakley, Oliver Brookes.

Whitehaven’s Tries: Ellis Nixon, Cameron Brown.

Conversions: Crusaders’ Jamie Dallimore (7), Whitehaven’s Kieran Tyrer (2).

Here’s a breakdown of the key moments and standout performances in the Crusaders’ dominant victory over Whitehaven:

Early Pressure: Crusaders started aggressively, pinning Whitehaven deep in their own half with strong attacking sets. Opening Try: Oliver Davies powered over the line in the 8th minute, setting the tone for the match.Sam Wilde crossed twice within a 10-minute span, both from quick offloads near the try line.  Whitehaven struggled to make ground, with Crusaders’ pack dominating possession.

Second Half: Whitehaven Fight Back But Crusaders Finish Strong

 Ellis Nixon scored early in the second half, giving Whitehaven hope at 26-6.: Lloyd Roby and Oliver Brookes added two more tries in the final 15 minutes, sealing the emphatic victory.

Man of the Match: Jamie Dallimore played a crucial role, converting 7 tries with pinpoint accuracy.

Crusaders’ relentless attacking play overwhelmed Whitehaven, who fought hard but couldn’t contain the hosts’ momentum.

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Haven have to settle for 24 all Draw in an intense and ILL Tempered Clash

This clash was another yardstick for the young Haven Teams progress . After two defeats and with injuries list growing This game was going to be a test of the Depth in the squad  While the visitors  with an identical playing record to Haven may have seen this as a winnable game

Dewsbury started strong, scoring the first two tries, with Louis Collinson and Paul Sykes crossing the line. Whitehaven responded while Dewsbury was down to 12 players, with Cameron Brown and Mitchell Todd levelling the scores before halftime.

The second half saw Whitehaven take the lead through Connor Holliday, but Dewsbury quickly equalized with Will Shaw scoring from dummy-half. Dewsbury edged ahead again with Jamie Field scoring after good work by Dec Tomlinson, but Whitehaven struck back late, with Brown grabbing his second try of the afternoon.

The game had a dramatic finish, with Jack McShane sin-binned for a high tackle and Weatherill missing a penalty attempt that could have won it for Whitehaven. From the restart Haven took possession and drove to  the visitors line where Browns Field goal was deflected by a Rams player. Have once gain regained the ball and this time Tyrers one point attempt went wide as the hooter sounded for full time  Finals Score Haven 24 Dewsbury Rams 24 intense and ill-tempered game, featuring 24 penalties and three yellow cards.

A thrilling contest— Certainly in the second half as  both teams had chances to win, but a draw was probably a fair result. What did you think of the game?

WHITEHAVEN

5 Jay Weatherill

32 Mitchell Todd

3 Chris Taylor

4 Ethan Bickerdike

22 Max Anderson-Moore

6 Kieran Tyrer

20 Cameron Brown

18 Aaron Turnbull

9 Ellison Holgate

10 Jordan Thomson

11 Connor Holliday

21 Ellis Nixon

13 Jack Kellett

Subs

16 Brad Brennan

14 Luke Collins

17 Karl Garner

12 Clarke Chambers

Tries: Brown (35, 67), Todd (39), Holliday (45)

Goals: Weatherill 4/6

Sin bin: Bickerdike (50) – dangerous tackle

RAMS

30 Craig McShane

27 Tom Delaney

3 Caelum Jordan

4 George Senior

22 Liam Copland

26 Paul Sykes

7 Jacob Hookem

18 Jamie Field

31 Jack McShane

13 Dec Tomlinson

15 Keenen Tomlinson

12 Matt Garside

16 Louis Collinson

Subs

23 Will Shaw

10 Toby Everett

8 Jackson Walker

35 Jamie Gill

Tries: Collinson (12), Sykes (22), Shaw (51), Field (62)

Goals: Hookem 4/4

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Haven Run Riot in the Duchy of Cornwall

On their first ever trip to the Duchy  Whitehaven RL carried on their impressive form of late . Almost from the start it was one way traffic from Haven scoring 14 trys and kicking 11 goals

Early Dominance: Whitehaven took control early in the game, scoring multiple tries within the first 20 minutes, setting the tone for their dominant performance .

Defensive Strength: Whitehaven’s tackling  was particularly strong, preventing Cornwall from making significant progress and limiting their scoring opportunities

Second Half Surge: Whitehaven continued their aggressive play in the second half, adding several more tries to their tally and widening the gap further

Cornwall’s Lone Try: Cornwall managed to score a single try, showing some resilience despite the overwhelming pressure from Whitehaven

Haven played well as a team but standout included

Jordan Burns: The Whitehaven captain and fullback scored four tries and successfully converted three goals

Mason Lewthwaite: A second-row player who also scored four tries, showcasing his strength and agility .

Jay Weatherill: Contributed significantly with his playmaking skills and scored a try .

Ethan Bickerdike: Scored two tries, adding to Whitehaven’s dominant performance

Jordan Burns , Jay Wetherill Mitchell Todd Ethan Bickerdike , , Harry Hadfield , Cam Brown , Jack Newbegin , Jordan Thompson , Lewis Collins Jake Pearce ,Connor Holliday , Mason Lewthwaite  , Jack Kellett , Subs Aaron Turnbull , Ellison Holgate , Brad Brennan Ellis Nixon  Josh Blinkhorn

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Haven edge win against table topping Hornets

The new look Haven squad have made big strides in the early part of the season However this game was to be their most searching  test of the season against table topping Rochdale hornets So it proved to be as this clash was filled with exciting moments and ultimately an unexpected . Here are some of the key highlights:

Early Dominance by Whitehaven: Whitehaven took control early in the game, scoring three tries within the first half-hour. Jake Pearce, Cameron Brown, and Connor Holliday each crossed the line to give Whitehaven a deserved 18-0 lead with half time beckoning .

Rochdale’s Comeback: Despite Whitehaven’s early dominance, Rochdale fought back with two tries before halftime. Duane Straugheir and Myles Harrop scored to reduce the deficit to 18-8 at the half time break :;making it a competitive game1.

Second Half See-Saw: The second half saw both teams having periods of dominance. Whitehaven extended their lead with a penalty goal, but Rochdale responded with a try from Max Flanagan and Greg McNally , bringing the score closer1.

Crucial Try by Ellison Holgate: In the final moments, Ellison Holgate scored a vital try for Whitehaven, which proved to be decisive. Despite Rochdale’s efforts to snatch a draw, Whitehaven held on to secure the win  that their play deserved

Dramatic Finish: The game ended in dramatic fashion with Rochdale’s Dan Nixon knocking on after the hooter, ending their hopes of a comeback and confirming a narrow but deserved win for Haven 20-14

A thrilling match and a great advert for League 1  with both teams showing great skill and determination

Jordan Burns , Mitchell Todd Ethan Bickerdike , Chris Taylor , Jay Weatherill  , Cam Brown , Jack Newbegin , Jordan Thompson , Lewis Collins Jake Pearce ,Connor Holliday , Rio Mc Quiston , Jack Kellett , Subs Aaron Turnbull , Ellison Holgate , Brad Brennan Tom McKinney  Mason Lewthwaite

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Haven lose out at Swinton but show promise in Defeat

Haven travelled to South Manchester buoyed by their performance agains Warrington Wolves and including three new faces in loanee Tom McKinney NEW signing Cameron Brown and ex Barrow winger Max Anderson-Moore

The home side started well and on 6 minutes they broke down the left and fed the ball inside to the supporting Jordan Paga who touched down by the posts conversion was good . Haven came into it more after the opener and the strong wind was causing problems with the defenders as they tried to control the ball. Haven came into the game after that first 15 minutes and they opened their account when Ethan Bickerdike crossed on the right, but Kieran Tyrer was unable to add the conversion. Both sides then had chances at the line but handing let them down in the difficult conditions. The Lions went back in the lead twelve minutes from the break when a superb, angled run by Harry Higham saw the centre cut inside to race in under the posts and Abram added the conversion. . The half finished with both sides again having good chances but this time defences were on top The score at the hooter Swinton 12 Haven 4
It was Haven who made the good start in the second half and went close in the opening minutes but a knock on stopped them scoring but they did capitalise in the end when Aaron Turnbull took a couple of defenders with him to score by the posts and Tyrer converted this one. After that Haven dominated matters and created two clear cut scoring opportunities .

On 59 minutes Jack Newbigin made a good break on the right and with the line begging he held onto the ball rather than passing to supporting players . They then bombed a try on the left when Jordan Burns lost control of the ball going for the corner. The game could have gone either way and the defences were being tested but holding out well. One high kick by Haven caused major problems for the Lions defence as it was swirling and bouncing all over the place but in the end, Abram got it under control and cleared his line. The match winner for the Lions came with just under two minutes left when Abram put a high ball towards the line, and it was fumbled by a Haven defender and Higham was first to react to collect the ball and dive over on the right, but Abram was unable to convert, and the defences held out for the dying seconds.

Final Score Swinton Lions 16 Haven 10

Great effort and commitment from the Haven , their squad is coming together nicely , Was this our best squad ? I think so, with Keighley next up at the Recre there is definitely more to come

WHITEHAVEN

1 Jordan Burns 2 Mitchell Todd 3 Chris Taylor 4 Ethan Bickerdike 22 Max Anderson-Moore 6 Kieran Tyrer 26 Jack Newbegin
8 Jake Pearce 9 Ellison Holgate 10 Jordan Thomson 11 Connor Holliday 19 Rio McQuistan 13 Jack Kellett

Subs (all used) 14 Cameron Brown 17 Thomas McKinney 18 Aaron Turnbull 16 Brad Brennan Tries: Bickerdike (15), Turnbull 48) Goals: Tyrer 1/2