Kingstone Press Championship preview: Whitehaven v London Broncos

James Coyle’s Whitehaven team are still seeking their first win but there were good signs in their defeat at Dewsbury.

“I think we were a bit better than what we have been and are showing some signs that things are going to start sticking but I think we dropped off a bit in our intensity,” he said.

“As long as we keep getting a little bit better and improve what we did wrong last week, that’s our target for this weekend. Obviously they’re full time but it’s a long trip for them to come up to Whitehaven so we’ll be going into the game positively.”

Andrew Henderson, London’s caretaker coach, was pleased to get off to a winning start.

“It was obviously a pretty tough week for the club and I thought the boys responded well,” he said.

“It wasn’t a complete performance from us but I was very pleased with the way we finished the game.

“We did cough up a lot of possession in the first half and weren’t as clinical as we needed to be but we improved in the last 20 minutes, got back to the plan and completed a lot better and were able to get the win.

“Whitehaven’s league position doesn’t suggest they’re in good form but I’m under no false illusions they they’re going to be a tough proposition.

“They played very well against Dewsbury last week and pushed them all the way. We know they are a capable side that can hurt us so we have to show them respect.

“Going to their place is a totally different environment which can be quite hostile and we’ve just got to be ready for that.”

Richard Mathers, who suffered an ankle injury in the win over Workington, is a doubt for the trip to Cumbria.