By Martin Morgan

Last updated 12:42, Monday, 21 July 2008

Ged Stokes praised his team of grafters after Whitehaven edged past Super League hopefuls Celtic Crusaders to pull off a second stunning away win in eight days.

Haven’s trip south on Friday had taken over nine hours, and they made their late decision to stay overnight in Wales, ahead of Saturday’s game against the full-timers, pay off with a hard-fought 26-22 success.

“We talked about not having all the Super League players, but we have something that other teams haven’t got and that’s a team that works well for each other,” Stokes said.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to come away with a win, that’s for sure, and get the double over them. I couldn’t ask for any more.

“We might not be the prettiest team out there at times, but we can play some attractive football when we need to. And we can also play it hard and tough up the middle.

“To be able to beat a team of Celtic Crusaders’ quality is a tribute to the quality of our guys.”

Haven, who last week won at Sheffield, will now go in to Sunday’s visit of fancied Halifax brimming with confidence.

Celtic coach John Dixon, who hopes tomorrow to discover that his club have been handed a three-year Super League licence, said: “We weren’t just quite strong enough or good enough in the key areas of ball control and tackle. I give credit to Whitehaven, they did a good job.”

n Paul Cooke will today begin his bid to save his Hull KR career after coach Justin Morgan refused to rule out the possibility that he may never play for the club again.

The 27-year-old stand-off was omitted from the Rovers side that lost 44-18 to Hull FC yesterday, adding weight to speculation that his 15-month stay at Craven Park is set to be ended due to off-the-field behaviour.

Morgan said Cooke “wasn’t fit for selection during the week” despite the club naming him in their 19-man squad for the game and Morgan saying on Thursday he was “in his plans to play”.

The club then refused both before and after the game to confirm whether or not the player was injured.

Cooke watched his side’s eight-try defeat from the stands and Morgan said the club would “cross that bridge when we come to it”, as to whether or not Cooke would play for his boyhood side again.

Morgan added he could not “confirm or deny” that the player had been sent home from training last week.