danielspencer2 said:
Jesbass said:
RS_Dragon said:
WHITEHAVEN have unveiled two new signings as they attempt to shore-up an injury-ravaged side. A Samoan, who has represented New Zealand, was paraded at the Recreation Ground this afternoon while a young forward from St. Helens will join tonight’s training session.
Motu Tony, 28, (pictured) is a New Zealand international full-back who can also play centre, wing or stand-off and who most recently has been playing rugby union in England for Hull RUFC.
He is greeted in MAL WALKER'S exclusive picture by Haven coach Ged Stokes watched by finance director Michael Woods and director Tim Knowles. Mal snapped new boy Paul Johnson (pictured below).
He previously played 109 games for Hull FC in Super League and was capped 18 times by New Zealand between 2001 and 2006.
He was part of the New Zealand side that won the Gillette Tri-Nations in 2005, beating Australia in the final 24 -0.
Tony has previously played for the New Zealand Warriors,where he played in the NRL Grand Final in 2002, as well as for Brisbane Broncos and Casteford Tigers in 2004.
The second arrival is 22-year-old second row forward or centre Paul Johnson, who was promoted to the St. Helens first team squad from the reserve grasde last season. He is a former Blackbrook amateur who was capped by BARLA Great Britain.
Defeat against bottom side Keighley on Sunday, and speculation over the club’s financial plight, had occupied most of the supporters’ thoughts this week.
However news that the 7th Cavalry has arrived, in the form of two new recruits, has only been bettered by a statement from chairman Dick Raaz that Whitehaven is not heading towards administration.
Raaz says emphatically that the board will take whatever steps are needed to make sure the club remains solvent.
He has revealed that Whitehaven’s cash flow forecast for the year has been amended, and £100,000 in savings are needed.
“The club needs to bring in about £750,000 to pay all our costs, including players, and the income is falling short of that, so we have to cut expenses or get income up. And we are working on both.
“We went through the same situation last year. We’ve got some more sponsorship in this year, but it barely compensates for the reduced crowd,” he said.
There has already been a change behind the scenes following the departure of general manager Nigel Beaty to cut costs. Keith Nelson, who held a similar role from 1998 to 2001, is back with a new title of operations manager.
Fans will recall that Nelson had a key part to play in bringing Paul Cullen to the club and one of his last acts before retiring was to complete the deal which saw Rob Purdham move south to Harlequins, which netted the club £47,000 (including VAT).
Nelson was also instrumental in bringing in vital sponsorship from Sellafield as well as cost saving equipment, through his various connections.
He will carry-out the role until the end of the season when it will be assessed by both parties.
18 Mar
Compiled from 16 ratings
