KARL Long, who has switched back to rugby league after six years in the15-a-side code, is set for his Whitehaven debut tomorrow at home to Gateshead.

Long, 28 (pictured left), and four years younger than his brother, Great Britain and St. Helens star Sean Long, previously resurrected his RL career at Workington Town.

He played only four games for Town but scored four tries including a hat-trick in a remarkable 43-38 defeat against Hunslet.

He had previously played league with Widnes, St. Helens and London Broncos before linking-up with Town.

Since then he’s played for Sale Sharks, Fylde and more recently Preston Grasshoppers where he last appeared in a game at Waterloo on February 24.

Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes has been pleased with Long’s performances in training over the last fortnight and is prepared to give him his chance against Thunder.

“He looks useful and picks things up very quickly. I’ve liked the way he has gone in training and there’s little point in having him with us if we don’t look at him in a match situation,” said Stokes.

Stokes has a couple of concerns up-front as props Ryan McDonald (ankle) and Matt Tunstall (knee) are struggling. Long, although he has played most of his rugby at centre, could get his first Haven start in the second-row.

Haven three away a good lead late-on at Gateshead last week and went out of the Challenge Cup 42-38 so are keen to gain some form of revenge in the opening Championship game at the Recreation Ground.

Whitehaven held a special fan’s forum and launch night on Thursday night when a question and answer session with the directors produced some interesting responses.

We’ll have a full report on events later but our man at the forum MAL WALKER has provided us with a sample of the atmosphere with his pictures.

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