December 1st marked the start of Widnes releasing the club’s 2025 playing squad numbers.
It came as no surprise club captain Jack Owens holding onto his 2024 squad number one. Home grown talent and top try scorer Ryan Ince claimed the number two, while new found fans favourite Mike Butt scooped up number five, switching from the 20 he wore last season which came as little surprise following the mid-season departure of Kieran Dixon.
However, supporters had mixed opinions of where the six jersey would be allocated and it was academy product Joe Lyons who was rewarded by head coach Allan Coleman, fighting off fierce competition from former Queensland Cup starlet Cameron Brown and high profile signing Dec Patton.
Lyons 27, racked up seven tries in 31 appearances, in arguably his most consistent season to date having had the backing from head coach Allan Coleman to be his starting number six in 2024. Coleman’s faith was rewarded with his stand off playing a vital role in steering the Vikings to a play off finish for the first time since relegation from Super League back in 2018.
Having previously struggled to hold down a starting position consistently, his regular game time under Coleman has proved to be the missing key for Lyons who grew with stature and confidence as the season progressed providing the ideal half back partner to the ever experienced Tom Gilmore.
During his time at the Vikings, Lyons has had his critics but the 2024 season was the season he answered them, with many wanting him to be rewarded with a starting jersey over new recruits. The running game has always been there and he has always been well known for defending above his weight, but the consistency seemed to be lacking.
This is a lesson to us all that sometimes great man management can bring great confidence and security to a player and with that leads to performance levels rising.
READ MORE: Widnes Vikings squad 2025: Ins, outs, retentions and rumours
The arrival of Dec Patton
The arrival of former Warrington, Bradford man Dec Patton raised eyebrows as to whether Lyons would keep his jersey for 2025.
Patton, 29, arrives at the DCBL with a wealth of Super League experience with Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils including a 2016 Grand Final appearance.
He made the switch from Super League into the Championship with Bradford back in 2022 where he struggled to make an impression at first team level and faced a wealth of challenges including a seven match suspension for eye gouging.
His fortunes turned departing the Bulls, landing a deal with Swinton Lions at the start of 2024 where he thrived and re-found his Super League form of old, leading the Lions around the field with his troubling kicking game causing a few upsets along the way including victories over big-spending Oldham and Widnes.
Mid-season hit and play off hunting Featherstone Rovers snapped up his services for the rest of the 2024 season. The move sparked more controversy as not long after his arrival, Patton picked up another lengthy suspension keeping the half back out for six matches for Striking. Despite this, Patton returned and played a vital role in helping the Flat Cappers secure the last play off place setting up an away tie against his former club Bradford.
It is without doubt Patton has a great Rugby League brain and has exceptional talent with the ability to mix it up with the very best in the division, the real question will be can Coleman bring the best out of him on a regular basis only time will tell.
One thing is for sure he will provide the Vikings with a much more varied kicking game something that the Vikings struggled with in 2024 especially when being trapped deep in the opponent’s end of the pitch.
At 29 the move to the DCBL provides Patton a last chance opportunity to impress on a consistent level at a well established Championship club something that he will no doubt be relishing and just maybe the driving force for Patton to rediscover his Super League form of old.
What to expect from Cameron Brown
Meanwhile, another healthy option for Coleman in the half back area is illusive, broken field runner Cameron Brown. The Australian arrives from Cornwall having spent two seasons with the League One outfit, boasting a healthy try scoring record of 27 in 37 appearances an impressive ratio given Cornwall’s on field struggles in the last two campaigns.
Vikings fans will be impressed to see the danger Brown possesses deep down the field with his off the mark blistering speed and agility that has the potential to unlock any defence. The threat from deep is again an area they struggled with last season with a vast proportion of tries scored in the opponents 30 metre area off the back off hard earned yards from the forward pack.
With Brown’s ability to break from deep it additionally makes him a real strong candidate to offer healthy competition for the full back spot and offer an opportunity to see captain Jack Owens operate at centre where he showed moments of magic in 2024, none more so than no look flick pass which was one of the moments of the season against Sheffield Eagles.
The signing of Brown certainly adds an element of unpredictability but it will remain to be seen if he can successfully make the transition from League One into the most competitive Championship we have likely ever seen.
The half back options in 2025 for Widnes are no doubt more deeper and will provide head coach Allan Coleman a selection headache come the start of the 2025 campaign.
It will be an interesting time ahead for supporters watching Coleman solve the conundrum, which will no doubt start in the Vikings pre season friendlies, the first kicking off at the DCBL 7.30pm against North Wales Crusaders under the lights on Friday 10th January.
READ NEXT: What can Widnes Vikings achieve in 2025
