are delighted to confirm the signing of prop forward Kyle Amor for the 2023 season.
Kyle’s presence in the squad will provide benefits to the rest of the players in particular the forwards at Widnes, as an experienced head who the younger players will be able to learn from both on and off the field.
Kyle has won four Super League Grand Finals with St Helens, as well as winning the Challenge Cup with them last year.
He has also represented Ireland on five occasions, playing for his country at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Kyle started his career with Whitehaven, where he was born, playing 25 times in his debut year for Haven after making his debut in 2009. He won the Championship Young Player of the Year award that year in a strong season which earned him a contract with Leeds Rhinos for the 2010 season.
After a loan spell back at Whitehaven and another with Wakefield Trinity, Kyle signed for Wakefield for the 2012 season where he remained for two years, making 79 appearances and scoring 11 tries under a certain John Kear.
Kyle’s performances led to a move to St Helens in 2014, where he has spent eight years making 211 appearances so far, scoring 21 tries. He is currently on a season long loan with Warrington Wolves.
Kyle’s signing is a statement of intent and signifies the importance of our recruitment and retention at Widnes, with work already ongoing to build the strongest squad we possibly can for next year.
On signing for 2023, Kyle said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining. I’ve been lucky to play for many big clubs in my career and I’ve no doubt Widnes is one of those with the history and support it has.”
Kyle is looking forward to working with John Kear again also: “John played a massive part in my development many years ago. I’m excited for working with the players and improving as a group, helping John out in any way I can both on and off the field.”
The prop forward also spoke about the experience he will bring to the squad and how it can benefit the rest of the team for next year: “I’ve had some terrific mentors through my time – part of your role as a senior player is to help these young kids, particularly the middles. In many ways, if I can pass on as much as I can to these young lads it can certainly help us going forward.”
Widnes Vikings head coach John Kear added: “This is a massive signing for the Vikings, there’s no doubt about that. Kyle’s a good person, but he’s a very good rugby league player.
“I expect him to contribute definitely on the playing field but I also expect him to significantly contribute off as well with regards to the culture and our development as a playing group.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him once again, after previously working with him at Wakefield. I think he’ll be a significant and a headline-grabbing addition.”
Kyle Amor will be proudly sponsored by Landscape World for the 2023 season.
A good player to sign in a key position. He will be a real asset for our forwards to learn from.
Interesting that we already have three (or possibly four if Lawton continues to play there) props signed up for 2023. Good to see the position we have most struggled with being prioritised.
Really good start for next season’s recruitment.
Who knows maybe people won’t have to read (my) boring posts about us not buying quality props that have been fairly regular reading for the last 2 or 3 seasons 😁👍
Absolutely a great signing who will be a leader on the pitch
The pack leader we have needed for years!
What contract have we at the moment with Farnworth. He must be attracting attention! Need to get next years retentions sorted.
We also have Levy, presumably nearly match ready? Johnson also reported as being on the verge of playing again.
The great lack of props in the UK game make the signing of Amor a positive step in the right direction with his vast experience at the very top level. He should be able to pass on tips to the younger players. & provide some leadership in the pack. However for that to work those players have to have the potential ability to respond & I also do fear Amor, at 36 next May, will disappoint many on here who seem to be treating him like a messiah. A Kurt Sorensen he is not. So let us not put too much pressure on him with over the top expectations,
Age is not on Amor's side, but he keeps himself in excellent shape and his game game is based on the ability to gain ground and solid defence. I know it sounds simple, but it is a combination we have been missing in some of our forwards in recent years.
The problem which often accompanies props as they age , is the tendancy to give away penalties , but I think he will be a welcome addition to the ranks.
Do we know what the plan is for Doro next year , as he is not being retained by Warrington. I think he has the ability to progress his game if he can swap 50 % of his sideways running for going forward and control his discipline.
Yes at 36 he probably won’t play every week but he’s a presence in the team we have lacked
@mt Lawton is useless at prop as he is not one, he needs to play out wide where he can make breaks and score tries. Non of our second rowers make breaks never mind score. Maybe it is his poor defence that they are not playing him out wide but that seems strange as they play him in the middle.