STEVE Whitehead believes Kendal's bonus point win over Morley on Saturday means the club can now start to look ahead to next season.

Kendal scored four tries at Mintbridge, including two from Kris Bratton, to win 22-0 and earn a bonus point in the process.

"It was a strategically important game," he said. "It was certainly tough with Morley looking to fight off relegation and us looking to put some distance between ourselves and the chasing pack.

"Realistically we can now feel comfortable and we can get on with developing next year's game plan. It gives us a good confidence boost.

"I think if we hadn't won we may have had to stay with a more conservative plan, more akin with consolidating our position rather than developing."

Whitehead added the 2017/18 season had been hampered by injuries, but credited those who have stayed fit with getting them in a position to look ahead for next year with six games still to play.

"We are in this position despite what has been a pretty catastrophic year with injuries," he said. "Full credit goes to the lads who have fought to get us through it. Saturday was really a reward for everyone who has chipped in."

Kendal will have another weekend off before they travel to Billingham on March 3.

Last time we had a week off we rested primarily because of how depleted the squad was and it was putting a lot of pressure on some individuals," said Whitehead. "I think now it's a different story. We're looking to develop a different brand of rugby and we will use this week to do that."