Morgan ready for tough Whitehaven test as Eagles begin Championship Campaign
Sheffield Eagles half-back Kai Morgan is confident his side can make a positive start to the new Betfred Championship season this weekend, while acknowledging the challenge that awaits them against Whitehaven in their opening fixture of the 2026 campaign.
The South Yorkshire outfit head to Cumbria looking to begin the season with a victory, but the former Salford Red Devils player is well aware it will be a stern test against a Whitehaven side competing in the Championship following their merger with League 1. The Cumbrian side finished eighth in League One last season, and Morgan expects them to be highly motivated as they aim to claim their first two points of the year against the Eagles.
Sharing his early thoughts ahead of Sunday’s clash, Morgan said, “It’s going to be a tough one, but I’m excited to get the games going now.
“It’s been a bit of a different pre-season, it’s been a bit short, but it’ll be tough going up to Whitehaven.
“It’s always a hard place to go up to, and with the weather conditions as well too, so we’ll have to adapt our game and hopefully come out with the two points.”
Since returning for pre-season in early November, the Eagles have been preparing for the new campaign under head coach Craig Lingard. An opposed training session with Bradford Bulls and a pre-Christmas friendly with Keighley Cougars helped shape their preparations, while last weekend’s planned friendly away at Batley Bulldogs was called off due to poor weather.
Reflecting on pre-season and the cancelled Batley fixture, Morgan believes the period has still been productive, despite its challenges.
“It’s a bit of a tough one, it would have been a good game to play in last week and Batley are a good side. They’ve a different kind of pitch and stadium up there, but we got that game in at Keighley before Christmas which is one we needed.
“It was a good run-out (at Keighley), it’s always tough in those first few run outs, and I know the weather obviously wasn’t the best, but I think we really needed it.
“We’ve also had the opposed sessions, so I think we’re in good nick.
“I think it will take a few games for us to click; I think it will be the same for everybody, but hopefully we can build and get better every week.”
After a lengthy two-month pre-season, the Betfred Championship returns this weekend, beginning on Friday night when Salford R.L.F.C host Oldham R.L.F.C. The Eagles will take to the field two days later in Whitehaven, and Morgan knows his side must perform at their best if they are to return home with maximum points.
He added, “Getting the two points this weekend is obviously the aim. At the end of the day, we go up there and no matter the result or what happens, we just aim to get the two points.
“They’re (Whitehaven) obviously a good team, and we are playing away at probably one of the worst places to play at, conditions-wise.
“They play the conditions right every week, so we need to go up there and be on our A-game.”