Widnes have been busy announce new signings and retentions over the past few months and look close to a finalised squad for 2022.
A total of 11 new signings have been announced.
Within that are two props – Levy Nzoungou and Tyler Dupree – with some still questioning whether the Vikings have enough depth in the front row.
Back-rowers Sam Wilde, Liam Bent, Oliver Davies and Aaron Brown have all been added, together with hookers Matty Fozard and Dec Gregory.
Wingers Ryan Ince and Brad Holroyd fill the voids left by Deon Cross (Salford) and Jayden Hatton (Leigh), with Matty Fleming providing some utility value across the back line.
A total of 16 players from the 2021 squad remain at the club, although that does include Logan Tomkins, whose future remains a mystery.
There have been 11 departures, with only one or two real surprises – Hatton’s exit to Leigh and the exit of Lewis Else perhaps the only two that have raised eyebrows.
Here’s a depth chart with the 2022 squad in their primary position.
FULL BACK
Jack Owens
Lloyd Roby
WINGER
Ryan Ince
CENTRE
Jake Spedding
Matty Fleming
CENTRE
Steve Tyrer
Joe Edge
WINGER
Brad Holroyd
Oliver Brookes
STAND OFF
Danny Craven
SCRUM HALF
Matty Smith
Joe Lyons
LOOSE FORWARD
Kenny Baker
Aaron Brown
SECOND ROW
Adam Lawton
Liam Bent
SECOND ROW
Sam Wilde
Shane Grady
Oliver Davies
PROP
Owen Farnworth
Will Tilleke
HOOKER
Matty Fozard
Logan Tomkins
Lewis Hulme
Dec Gregory
PROP
Tyler Dupree
Levy Nzoungou
Players are shown only once in the above.
Looking at the current squad, Kenny Baker and Shane Grady are likely to get some game time at prop.
Matty Smith played a large part of last season at 13.
Last season, the squad was very back heavy and it would look like there is enough cover across the back line now in all areas.
What other signings would you like to see? Leave a comment below.
Certainly more experience in pretty well all areas. We call read of ‘big’ props but even Clough was listed as 16.5 stones which is pretty well matched by many tbh.
Experience is invaluable and whilst our props are young they are hopefully very fit and energetic. The experience that we have gained in the acting half role is a massive plus in that they are often the ‘readers’ of the game and the opposition.
If our young props and second rows feed off that vision we should trouble defences by skill rather than shear strength. Our backs still look fast enough to make us dangerous from within our own half, and that is important. A look at the tries scored up the centre of the field last year shows that. We just have to hope that our backs are as ready as Cross to feed off Lawton etc.