On the flip side, how about we give credit for some of the plays and flow considering these boys haven’t played in over a year… Can’t base how good or bad we will be this year based on that game to do so would be ridiculous
Agreed, one player who has been out injured for 6 months is extremely rusty first few games never mind the entire team who haven’t played for 12 months.
Hopefully Cook and Clough will be available this weekend. If they aren't it would certainly hurt us.
Haven will be tough, they always are!
Am thinking they may have been fit but we decided to throw the young lads in for some valuable experience. If that’s the case the scoreline justified it but I would like to see a more experienced pack vs Haven.
The other teams in the Championship are in the same position as us in terms of not having played. Expect a few surprises until teams bed down.
Lawton looked the real deal ball in hand. Must brush up on defence though.
Good to see Rangi back in action. Still one of the most creative players in RL. A shame we didn't keep him on.
Who’d have rangi back in a widnes shirt?
Who’d have rangi back in a widnes shirt?
Absolutely not.
Chase will undoubtedly stand out in League 1, he's a talented player but would be a nightmare to play with due to his unpredictability. He'll get away with it at West Wales though because of who he is and the level of the players around him.
His celebration was telling when he set up their only try at the weekend, he get pumped up and started walking away rather than going to the try scorer. Chase isn't bothered about developing the game in Wales, he's bothered about himself (fair enough) - but he's burned too many bridges to get a chance at a higher level now.
No logan Tompkins again.
It's pretty clear that his foot injury is still a problem and playing, even with us, is aggravating it. Maybe the plate that he is believed to have in it has moved or has to be removed. Pity, he was a big part of our attack system.
Top class hookers are pretty rare atm so we may have to rely on Lyons or Else, both looked sharp but lack physical size atm.
I wonder why they haven't given any update about Tompkins? Also no mention of Jewitt, anyone know whats up with him? I know he retired from Hull KR due to injury but decided to give it another go with Barrow before the season was cancelled.
Hopefully see Clough and Cook out there tomorrow.
https://widnesvikings.co.uk/17-man-squad-whitehaven/
Simon Finnigan has made two changes to his 17 man squad ahead of today’s Betfred Challenge Cup Round 2 tie with Whitehaven.
Matt Cook makes his Widnes Vikings debut from the bench, while Paul Clough makes his first start since joining the club in the off-season, having already spent a loan spell at the DCBL Stadium back in 2014.
Shane Grady and Calum O’Neill drop out of the side which defeated West Wales Raiders 58-4 in the first round of the competition last week at Stebonheath Park.
Today marks the first home game of the 2021 season for the Vikings, having last played at the DCBL Stadium in the Challenge Cup against Swinton Lions back on Sunday 15th March 2020.
Widnes Vikings 17-man squad:
1. Jack Owens – proudly sponsored by Teeling Management
20. Owen Buckley – proudly sponsored by The Johnson Family (For Frank)
4. Ste Tyrer – proudly sponsored by The Johnson Family (For Frank)
3. Jake Spedding – proudly sponsored by Comfort and Style Beds
5. Deon Cross – proudly sponsored by Jeannie’s Away Travel
6. Danny Craven – proudly sponsored by OM Contractors
7. Matty Smith – proudly sponsored by Landscape World
16. Owen Farnworth – proudly sponsored by MTC Couriers
17. Joe Lyons – proudly sponsored in memory of Liz Hindley
8. Paul Clough – proudly sponsored by Polyblend UK
15. Connor Dwyer – proudly sponsored by Arnold Gorse Financial Management
12. Adam Lawton – proudly sponsored by The Johnson Family (For Frank)
13. Kenny Baker – proudly sponsored by West End Motors
Interchanges:
23. Lewis Else – proudly sponsored by WISSL
10. Matt Cook – proudly sponsored by Skin Deep Aesthetics
22. Josh Wilde – proudly sponsored by Stephen Hindley
24. Will Tilleke – proudly sponsored by LB Brickwork
Whitehaven RLFC 17 Man Squad:
2. Lachlan Walmsley
25. James Worthington
30. Sean Croston
4. Jessie Joe Parker
5. Andrew Bulman
6. Karl Dixon
7. Nikau Williams
21. Glenn Riley
9. Callum Phillips
29. Dean Zammit
19. Ellis Gillam
15. Connor Holliday
16. Thomas Wilkinson
Interchanges:
12. Liam Cooper
24. Ethan Kelly
31. Oscar Thomas
33. Andrew Thornley
I wonder why Grady isn’t playing, unless he’s got a late injury, you would have thought he would be in the starting 17.