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Jessie Joe Parker: Set for Haven return: Photo:News&Star Whitehaven are chasing two more Test stars in Papua New Guinea. Jessie Joe Parker: Set for Haven return With hopes high that established Haven star Jessie Joe Parker will return for next season, the club is pulling out all the stops to lure a couple of his fellow countrymen. Whitehaven chief executive Barry Richardson said that, like Jessie Joe Parker, both targets are current PNG Test regulars although he declined to say whether they are backs or forwards. It’s understood Parker himself wants to return and certainly the club would dearly love him back and are working hard between Whitehaven and the Pacific to make it happen. It wasn’t until late last season that Parker really found his feet at The Recre, but the blockbusting centre’s performances, coupled with powerful tackling, played a key role in the side clinching promotion.
Getting him back in the chocolate blue and gold will be a coup itself, but a trio of PNG internationals would be a masterstroke. The good news that Scott McAvoy is back in the fold raises the prospect of him forming a dynamic centre duo with Parker, even rivalling the David Seeds/Mick Nanyn partnership of Haven’s Grand Finals’ fame. McAvoy has long been regarded as ‘another David Seeds’ but, for one reason or another, is yet to realise his full potential. Richardson said: “On his day Scott can be one of the best centres in the Championship. Even though he’s been with us for eight years now, he’s still young and has a long way to go and we’re looking for big things from him.” Big things are also expected of another young player – hooker Chris Smith – who this week signed on the dotted line for another 12 months. Bedeviled by injury, Smith will be all out to recapture the form of two seasons ago when he so brilliantly filled Graeme Mattinson’s boots in the No9 shirt. Richardson added: “Chris is fully fit again, in full training and feeling really confident. He can be one of the Championship’s best in his position.” At Whitehaven though, Smith knows he faces competition for a starting berth from the mercurial Carl Sice and new Geordie capture James Newton, not forgetting Neil Thorman, who is on the brink of move from London Skolars. Haven were yesterday still waiting to officially complete his signing. Newsandstar.co.uk Comments are closed.
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