Widnes Vikings coach Allan Coleman heaped praise on Cai Taylor-Wray and club captain Jack Owens following the tactical switch at Doncaster.
Skipper Owens made the switch to centre to accommodate the pacey Warrington full-back, brought into add some much needed speed and attacking threat from deep.
The decision looked to be a master stroke as Taylor-Wray bagged a length of the field try courtesy of an Owens pass off the ground which released the young fullback.
Taylor-Wray also turned provider with a cut out pass to send Ryan Ince over in the corner on the stroke of half time. It was a try that came at a crucial period of the game sending the Vikings in 12-10 leaving them within striking distance.
It has been a point of criticism in recent past, the ability to score points from distance, but with Taylor Wray in the team it opens up a whole new set of opportunities tactically ball in hand for Coleman and his players to explore.
Speaking post-match Coleman said: “We are desperate for pace, everyone has got someone like that, I am chuffed for him and hopefully we can keep him on board for when we play York in the cup and other teams like Oldham who have got plenty of pace because we need to match it.”
“A special mention today to Jack Owens who we moved position, he knows it’s best for the team for certain games, I thought he was against one of the best players on the park today in Reece Lyne, how he defended and man marked him you would just think he was doing ok where in most games he is a threat all the time so credit to our captain for that.”
“He was guidance on young Cai talking to him all game and helping him and I think he really showed his leadership qualities.”
Owens switch to Centre
It has been quite the career for Owens mostly playing at full back and earlier in his career on the wing but now it appears he is set to play a period of games in the centres.
There is no doubt about his ability close to the line recognising overlaps and opportunities on the short side to exploit. His rugby league knowledge is up there with anyone in the division and his on field leadership is crucial but in his later stages of his career he perhaps has lost a yard or two of pace.
With that said centre could prove to be the ideal positional switch for him moving forward, certainly in selected games. His defence one on one is usually strong, he is a back with a fair bit of size and is incredibly intelligent close to the line ball in hand, which are all traits of a quality centre.
On top of this there is opportunity for him to slot out of position on set plays and swap roles with who is playing full back whether that be Taylor Wray or another player again adding strings to the bow of the Vikings attack.
It is a potential recipe for exciting attacking play and make the Vikings an incredibly difficult team to analyse and preview by opposition coaches. It is an attacking weapon to watch out for.
The Widnes Rugby Chat podcast discussed Owens display in the centre and James Gordon added more praise for the Widnes captain.
He said: “Ultimately it will be Taylor Wray who gets the headlines for the 75 metre try but it was Jack Owens awareness to one get onto the loose ball and to diffuse the potential try scoring situation for Doncaster, but two it was being alert on the floor to where Taylor-Wray was and releasing the pass at the right time to set him away.”
The first competitive experiment of the season of this combination proved a success and will be one that excites Vikings supporters moving forward. There will be hope similar can be repeated in the 1895 cup quarter final against York Knights providing Taylor-Wray is available for selection.
