Stokes hoping all will be forgiven.

Former Canterbury Bulls coach Gerard Stokes is confident he will be back at the helm of Workington Town despite being suspended by the English rugby league club. The Cumbrian club has stood head coach Stokes down while it investigates an alleged incident with a Barrow fan at a match in Workington on February 18.

Workington won the Northern Rail Cup match but the Workington Times and Star newspaper reported that "an altercation is said to have taken place between Stokes and the Barrow Raiders supporter after the match". It also claimed the Rugby Football League was investigating the incident. A statement from the Workington club said an internal inquiry would be held and Stokes would be suspended until a "thorough investigation" is completed.