Another week where we, and no doubt Widnes coach Allan Coleman, wait with baited breath to see what players dual-registration partners Warrington might afford the Vikings with this weekend.
With no Warrington reserves match scheduled, there may be at least one or two Wolves fringe players that could provide some much needed volume to the Widnes squad for a tricky trip to Hunslet, who were only narrowly beaten on the same pitch earlier in the season in the 1895 Cup.
In some ways, it was surprising that Widnes opted to retain the dual-registration partnership with Warrington in 2025, because this time last year they were experiencing similar frustrations about the co-operation.
As the season progressed, it appeared to temper somewhat, with Zac Bardsley-Rowe and Lucas Green being almost constants in the Vikings squad in the final third of the season, though maybe that was more to do with the registration deadline than anything else.
But the jury is out once again on how the dual-registration system is benefiting Widnes.
Warrington players used by Widnes this season so far
In the 11 games so far (not including the Warrington Challenge Cup match for obvious reasons), Widnes have been afforded eight players in total – on three occasions that has been Max Wood, who is actually the only Warrington player to feature more than once for the Vikings so far in 2025.
The breakdown of the Warrington players used per game is below:
- Rochdale – 0
- North Wales – 0
- Toulouse – 1 – Alfie Johnson
- Sheffield – 1 – Max Wood
- Hunslet – 1 – Max Wood
- Batley – 1 – Max Wood
- Doncaster – 1 – Cai Taylor-Wray
- York – 0
- Barrow – 0
- Oldham – 3 – Oli Leyland, Ben Hartill, Luke Thomas
- York – 0
Wood has actually made five appearances for Warrington this season, including four since he last turned out for Widnes (which also featured a try-scoring appearance against the Vikings in the Challenge Cup), so he is very much in the first team consideration of Sam Burgess, and is perhaps a good example of a successful dual-registration move.
Alfie Johnson suffered a concussion on his Widnes bow, actually his professional rugby league debut, away at Toulouse and the embarrassment of his gaffe in the cup clash, and Widnes’ abundance of wingers, seem it unlikely for his return.
Oli Leyland showed promise playing at full-back, but Warrington’s increasing woes in the halves with injuries to both George Williams and Marc Sneyd make it seem unlikely he will be offered to Widnes again any time soon.
That has also been affected by the injury to lively full-back Cai Taylor-Wray, without whom Widnes may well have lost the tight league match at Doncaster.
Taylor-Wray didn’t feature the following week against York, but then picked up a bad hamstring injury playing for Warrington’s reserves, which has him sidelined. Even if he was fit, he would almost certainly be playing in the Warrington first-team at full-back, which would have enabled them to shift Matt Dufty to stand off, something that they were planning to do pre-season.
That leaves Ben Hartill, who had a solid enough game as the interchange hooker against Oldham, and Luke Thomas, who suffered a dislocated elbow in the same game, and was seen at the Wolves match against Leigh the following day with his arm in a sling.
With Matty Fozard facing some time on the sidelines with a broken hand, Widnes are in desperate need of a hooker option for the weekend, so that too much pressure isn’t placed on Jordan Johnstone’s expected return for the first time this season.
Hartill featured for Warrington’s reserves against St Helens last week, as did Lucas Green and Nolan Tupaea – who was 18th man for Widnes for the Oldham game due to question marks of Jack Owens’ fitness for that game.
Those three players appear the most likely to be made available for Widnes, Green having already previously made eight appearances for the Vikings. Tupaea, son of Shane who featured for Keighley in the 90s, is a back-rower.
Warrington players featuring elsewhere
Another source of frustration over the dual-registration partnership may be highlighted by the Warrington players featuring elsewhere in Championship and League One.
Tom Whitehead, who spent last pre-season training with Widnes and featured in two early season matches, is currently on loan at Championship pace-setters Halifax, having also turned out for London Broncos and Keighley this term.
Keighley have a partnership with the Wolves too, which has seen Green, Charlie Mckler and Zack Gardner turn out for them, while Hartill and winger Frank Sergent have featured for Swinton.
Prop Joe Bajer and back-rower Sam Marshall have been on loan at Sheffield this month, and winger Jake Thewlis spent time at Oldham before linking up with Super League side Salford on loan.
Before his impressive outing for Widnes against Oldham that unfortunately ended in injury, Thomas had played for Batley against York at the end of March.
Bardsley-Rowe, who made 10 appearances for Widnes as a regular in the centres at the back end of last season, joined London loan ahead of this campaign, though he has made only one appearance, back in February against Bradford.
What do you think of dual-registration, and should Widnes be going elsewhere in 2026?
