Under 19’s academy star Zak Bennett is awarded his Championship debut as the Vikings take on Sheffield
Thursday evening Widnes Vikings travel to Sheffield having been forced by the RFL to fulfil a rearranged Championship fixture, just four days prior to taking on London Broncos in the 2026 1895 Cup Final.
The cup competition has been shambolically handled by the RFL, who only announced in the middle of June the venue of the final.
Despite the far from ideal set of circumstances Widnes will fulfil their game against Sheffield Thursday evening, naming five loan signings from Castleford Tigers and one loan signing from both Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards.
Widnes have also listed community game players from Wigan St Patricks, Leigh Miners Rangers and Thatto Heath Crusaders in order to keep their starting 17 fit and fresh ready for Monday’s final.
Zak Bennett and Dec Rigby are also listed by Allan Coleman in his matchday squad, as a reward for their eye catching performances for the Widnes Vikings under 19’s development squad, a shining light on the tough situation Widnes find themselves in.
Coleman’s pride of historic moment
Both Zak and Dec’s matchday squad inclusions represent a moment of history for Widnes, becoming the first players to be named in a matchday squad from the under 19’s, since the rebirth of the pathways programme that launched two years ago.
Widnes Head Coach Allan Coleman spoke to Widnesrugby.com on both players selection adding “Zak will be named on the bench, it is a personal thing for me, development pathways was the first thing I wanted to get in place when I arrived at Widnes, it has took some time but here we are in year three of my time at the club, naming one of our pathway players in our team.”
“I didn’t expect it to happen so soon but with the help of people behind the scenes like Danny Durbin and his team working hard alongside community coaches it has, I am so proud.”
“Moving forward I want this to happen year in year out, Dec has been unlucky for this game, however he will be 18th man and you never know what can happen.”
Words of passion from Danny Durbin
Head of development pathways Danny Durbin also spoke to Widnesrugby.com on his pride of Zak being selected to make his first team debut, Danny went onto say “Zak is a fantastic player and even better than that, he is a wonderful kid from a fantastic family.”
“He lives across from the stadium and I have knew him since he was a young boy, it is a real special and emotional moment for all of his family.”
“Zak arrived at Widnes and played in the under 16’s future Vikings programme following his departure from Warrington, where he played in the prospects and scholarship systems.”
“At the time Zak’s community coach Paul Hunt, who has played a huge part in recruiting our players, was coaching with us and brought Zak down to Widnes after he left Warrington.”
“From the first moment he trained with us Ste Tyrer looked at me and we both said this boy has got some talent, he is a special person who is unassuming and works extremely hard.”
“Allan approached myself and Ste Tyrer at the start of pre-season about the prospect of one of our lads joining the first team for pre-season training and Zak was the first person who sprung to our minds, it was a no brainer and he has not looked back since.”
“He is an excellent influence on other players around him and it is a huge achievement for Zak and the future Vikings programme, which has just celebrated its second year.”
“We have had plenty of lads move onto scholarship systems, but Zak will be the first Widnes Vikings future programme player to make his debut for the first team.”
“Zak’s debut inspires other players on what can be achieved on our programme and I just want to wish him the best of luck.”
“He will take it all in his stride, I will be there cheering him on and I will probably get slightly emotional.”
“I would also like to thank Paul Hunt, Zak’s community coach who brought him to Widnes Vikings, making him a part of what we do at the club and Ste Tyrer who took Zak under his wing from the very start and was hugely influential in Zak training with the first team.”
“Finally I would like to thank Allan Coleman for the idea of bringing one of our young talents into the first team training environment and making it possible, the first team love having him around and it is up to Zak to take the opportunity with both hands, which I’m confident he will.”
Insight to an abnormal week of preparation
Allan was questioned on how difficult the week has been preparing the team for both a league fixture and a final at the same time, he went onto say “If I am honest it has been tough.”
“It should of been the most exciting week most players have been involved in, we wanted to focus on team ethos, because being in a final and picking a team can create diversity, we wanted to keep players engaged who won’t be selected in the final.”
“Due to the powers that be, we have had to change training to Monday and Wednesday, which has resulted in splitting the group on Wednesday, which creates division straight away, but we have to follow through with our duties ticking boxes and fulfilling games.”
“Despite the challenges the news of Zak Bennett making his debut outshines the negativity, he was told in front of all the first team players he was playing and it is the biggest cheer I have heard all season from the group.”
“Zak making his debut and us being in our first final during my time here is the positivity we are now focussing on as the week progresses.”
