Widnes coach Allan Coleman has explained the situation regarding centre Keanan Brand, who missed the game against Bradford just 48 hours after his loan deal was extended until the end of the season.

Brand, who came through the Widnes academy set-up, has made four appearances for the Vikings this season after joining on loan from Leigh on a short-term deal.

His deal was extended until the end of the season, announced on Friday, but then on Saturday, he turned out for Leigh’s reserve side creating speculation over his future.

But Coleman revealed post-match that Leigh had requested Brand was present at a team-building event, not a Grand Slam tournament, but attending the UFC 304 in Manchester in support of Tom Aspinall which meant he would be out 12pm-6am, and therefore not an appropriate preparation for the Bulls games.

He said: “It always going to be like that. We agree a season loan, but then they come back to us and say they’re having a big team function and nobody’s missing. It was the UFC, so it was from 12 to six in the morning, so I spoke to Derek and he went ‘listen, you’ll have him back next week.’

“It wasn’t ideal, it wasn’t great. But it was agreed beforehand, and we couldn’t change that. You’ve got to respect club’s wishes, they’ve been really good with us to allow us to do that with Keanan.

“We found out pretty late, really. We couldn’t really change much. So that’s why things went out and then it was decided. It is what it is, and we’ve just got to get on with it. We can’t focus on that.

“I thought Jack Owens did really well to be honest, and that’s the good thing about this group. Any adversity, we just take it, regroup, and go again.”

How did Widnes get on without Brand

In Brand’s absence, Widnes put in a fine display in beating Bradford 25-6.

Brand had turned out for the Bulls earlier this season, but without him in either side, Jack Owens slotted in at centre for Widnes and Lloyd Roby played at full-back.

Owens played a part in a number of the Vikings’ tries, as his winger Ryan Ince claimed a hat-trick to help turn a 6-0 deficit to a 12-6 lead.

Widnes then kicked on in the final quarter, adding further tries through Mike Butt and Max Roberts, to move level on points with the Bulls in the Championship table.

It was a third straight win for the Vikings, who travel to Whitehaven next weekend, and now have a five-point cushion in the play-off places with nine games to go.

Another Leopard joins on loan

After losing Louis Brogan recently, the forward recalled by Leigh just weeks after he had agreed a deal to stay at Widnes for the rest of the season, Widnes have managed to add another Leopard on a loan deal.

Forward Nathan Wilde, who has recently played five games in the Championship for Doncaster, will link up with the Vikings to provide depth to the pack.

Widnes have recently lost Nick Gregson and Danny Langtree to injury for the rest of the season, while they have now been joined on the sidelines by Callum Field.

Martyn Reilly, signed in the off-season from Batley, is still to make his debut for the club due to injury, though there are hopes he may see at least some part of the end of the season.

Vikings fans will hope that neither Wilde or Brand are recalled.