With the players now back for pre-season training, the 2026 season is on the horizon in the new merged Championship division that Widnes must surely look to try and win at some point in the next few years.
Seven new signings have so far been added to Allan Coleman’s squad – including the eye-catching capture of former England international Jordan Abdull, who spent 2025 out of the game after walking away from a three-year deal at Hull FC.
Prop Jay Chapelhow and popular second-rower Sam Wilde have returned to the club from Oldham and North Wales Crusaders respectively, while centre or back-rower Kieran Taylor has also followed Wilde from Colwyn Bay.
Jack Bibby, who featured on loan from Huddersfield last season, has made the move to Widnes permanent and young backs Nathan Connell and Frank Sergent have joined from Super League clubs Salford and Warrington.
The plan this season is for the club’s Under 18s side to train alongside the first team, to give the option for more contested training sessions, which may see a gem or two unearthed in the coming seasons.
There had been speculation of another arrival from Australia, to join Jake Maizen and Morgan McWhirter, though nothing has yet come to fruition.
The dual-registration partnership with Warrington is likely to be discontinued – though that’s largely meaningless now anyway, with a new rule allowing one-week loan deals, which will see players from Super League appear here, there and everywhere whenever anyone deems fit in 2026.
Middle forwards has long been an issue for Widnes, but that feels like a position that could be covered when required by loan moves.
What could the Widnes starting line-up look like in 2026?
Although yet to be announced, the first Championship game of the season is due to take place on the weekend of January 18th. The Vikings are expected to play a pre-season game against Warrington prior to that.
Here’s how a first choice 17 could look:
- Full Back: Jake Maizen
- Winger: Ryan Ince, Mike Butt
- Centres: Jack Owens, Joe Edge
- Half-backs: Jordan Abdull, Tom Gilmore
- Props: Dan Murray, Jay Chapelhow
- Hooker: Jordan Johnstone
- Second row: Sam Wilde, Adam Lawton
- Loose forward: Morgan McWhirter
- Bench: Matty Fozard, Liam Bent, Jack Bibby, Max Roberts
The returning trio of Chapelhow, Wilde and Bibby all make the starting 17, but only Abdull of the other new boys on paper at least look like getting in to the starting team. It will be up to those players to show their worth and impress over pre-season and in the opening months of the season.
There is increased versatility across the squad, which should help counter for injuries, though perhaps not so much in the front-row. We may see back-rowers shifted there, as at times last season.
Widnes 2026 squad depth chart
The list below highlights players that can play in multiple positions and what cover they can provide.
FULL BACK
- Jake Maizen
- Jack Owens
- Joe Edge
- Nathan Connell
- Matt Fleming
WINGERS
- Ryan Ince
- Mike Butt
- Frank Sergent
- Nathan Connell
CENTRES
- Joe Edge
- Matt Fleming
- Jake Maizen
- Jack Owens
- Max Roberts
- Kieran Taylor
HALF-BACKS
- Jordan Abdull
- Tom Gilmore
- Joe Lyons
PROPS
- Liam Bent
- Jack Bibby
- Jay Chapelhow
- Adam Lawton
- Morgan McWhirter
- Dan Murray
HOOKERS
- Matty Fozard
- Jordan Johnstone
BACK-ROWERS
- Danny Langtree
- Adam Lawton
- Max Roberts
- Kieran Taylor
- Sam Wilde
LOOSE FORWARD
- Nick Gregson
- Lewis Hall
- Jordan Johnstone
- Morgan McWhirter
What positions do Widnes need to strengthen? Let us know in the comments below.
