There will be at least an Adam Lawton shaped hole in the Widnes Vikings team as they look to follow up the impressive win against Toulouse on the road at Oldham.
Lawton registered the fourth hat-trick of his Vikings career in the 24-4 victory over the French side, but he won’t be allowed to feature against his parent club, who he joined from Widnes ahead of the 2024 campaign.
It is thought that Leigh forward Andy Badrock has also been recalled from his loan deal by the Super League club, meaning there’ll need to be more re-shuffling in Allan Coleman’s pack.
Coleman used 23 different players across the most recent two games, including a plethora of a back-rowers, which saw Badrock and Rhodri Lloyd, another recognised second-row, starting at centre.
Big Ben goes straight in to the team
The arrival of Australian Ben Condon, usually a back-rower, isn’t likely to add to those options, with Coleman keen to play him in the middle.
Coleman said: “We get big Ben in this week, that will lift the camp. We might have to higher the doors in the changing room! He’s so experienced, he’s going to bring a figure on to the field that people respect and look up to and that opposition will fear. He’s something we’ve missed, and I think he’ll be good.”
Standing up to most teams in the middle at present is Liam Bent, who was this week named Widnes’ player of the month for June. He recorded 60 tackles in the game against Toulouse, having registered 59 the previous week against York, as he continues to prove that Widnes are a much more solid team with him in the side.
The much-needed win over Toulouse, following the harsh loss to York and the draw at Halifax, has breathed some life in to Widnes’ play-off hopes, and they will gain further momentum if they can pull off a win away at Oldham, in a game being played at Sedgley Park RUFC due to the delayed pitch maintenance work at Boundary Park.
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Half-back problems
Many of the problems facing Widnes in recent weeks and months has been player availability. Key trio Jack Owens, Tom Gilmore and Jordan Johnstone all went down in the defeat to York, though Johnstone should be free to play against Oldham subject to having a positive assessment this week after sustaining another concussion.
The news isn’t so positive for Gilmore, who saw a run of 66 consecutive games end at the weekend, with his groin injury set to keep him sidelined for the rest of the year.
Gilmore’s temporary replacement at half-back, St Helens youngster Will Roberts, was forced from the field against Toulouse with an ankle injury that puts him as more than a doubt for the second week of his loan spell.
Coleman added: “We’ll be lucky if we see Tom this year. Dec (Patton) is running now.
“Will’s (injury) was a challenge in the corner, his body went under him. You’re thinking ‘why’s this happening to us’. I’m gutted for the lad. Fingers crossed it’s not too bad. It just typifies our luck at the moment. He was a real breath of fresh air, how he kicks the ball, how he strikes the ball, how he goes at the line. He commits defenders, he goes so direct, and they can’t afford to push off the line and that allows so much space for those around him.
“If Will Roberts is available, I’m playing him, end of. I don’t care who else is available. I just think he’s a real talent. Something we need. Him and Joey (Lyons) looked good together, something we’ve not had.”
There will be the usual wait to Friday to see whether any of the Warrington dual-registration players will be made available. Both hooker Ben Hartill and forward Max Wood featured for the Vikings against Toulouse.
Coleman hinted that he hoped to add a further body ahead of the Oldham game, aside from the arrival of Condon.
Full-back Jake Maizen should also return to the side, after missing the Toulouse game through sickness. It was revealed this week that he had served a three-month suspension handed down to him by the UK Anti-Doping agency for a failed drugs test while playing for Whitehaven last season, which ultimately delayed his move to Widnes.
