Widnes played 11 seasons in Super League across two spells, with eight players managing to register a century of appearances.
After controversially being left out of the inaugural Super League season, Widnes had to wait until the seventh season of the new top flight to feature, earning promotion by winning the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final in 2001. Under Neil Kelly, who would win Super League coach of the year in the process, Widnes finished agonisingly outside of the play-off places, just a point shy of Castleford.
The 2003 season was one of consolidation but the following campaign, Kelly was dismissed mid-way through the season and Widnes stayed up on the last day of the season by virtue of Castleford’s defeat at Wakefield. There was nothing that could be done to prevent relegation in 2005 though, Frank Endacott leading the side down despite finishing second bottom, as an extra relegation spot was in place to accommodate the arrival of Catalans.
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Two National League One Grand Final defeats followed, plus administration, before Widnes eventually made it back up to Super League for 2012 under the licensing system. Denis Betts was the coach for the majority of that stint, leading Widnes to a first ever Super League play-off spot in 2014, and a hard-fought 22-19 defeat to Warrington. They reached the Super 8s in 2016, another fine achievement, but only avoided the dreaded Million Pound Game in 2017 with a last round win over Catalans. Betts was sacked midway through 2018, and a miserable effort by successor Francis Cummins saw Widnes relegated without even reaching the Million Pound Game.
Widnes have since dropped to mid-table obscurity in the Championship, only buoyed by last season’s play-off achievement. Still a popular team to follow and for placing a bet online, it seems like it might be a good few years until Widnes see Super League again.
Here are the players that hit a ton for Widnes in Super League.
Rhys Hanbury – 152
Electric full-back Rhys Hanbury was responsible for some of the most exciting moments for Widnes in Super League and he featured in all seven seasons of the Vikings’ second stint in the competition. Signed from Crusaders ahead of 2012, Hanbury initially started as a half-back and wore the number seven shirt, but was soon shifted to full-back by Denis Betts and was a revelation, becoming a man many teams feared due to his pace and running ability from deep. He scored a blistering hat-trick away at Salford in Widnes’ only away win in 2012, and scored memorable tries at Magic Weekend and away at Headingley against Leeds. He is the only man to have played more than 150 Super League games for Widnes, and is top of the list with 152, all starts.
Joe Mellor – 134
Joe Mellor was another player to feature in all seven seasons from 2012-18, initially arriving on loan in the 2012 after actually scoring against Widnes for Wigan in the Vikings’ first win back in the top flight. Mellor formed a fine half-back pairing with Kevin Brown, with his support running and excellent defence providing the perfect foil for Brown. Like Hanbury, Mellor was responsible for some exciting moments – including a clever try from a short kick-off at Castleford, chasing his own kick from deep at Bradford and for the incredible drop goal in a 23-22 win away at Leeds. He finished at Widnes having made 134 appearances.
Stefan Marsh – 121
Marsh was another player that initially arrived on loan from Wigan, but made a permanent move to Widnes, and he too played in all seven seasons in the second Super League stint. Playing at centre or wing, Marsh chipped in with 56 tries and his pace and direct running was an asset. He will perhaps be most remembered for his crucial try-saving tackle away at Catalans in 2017 that effectively kept Widnes up, and for chasing down London Broncos’ Liam Colbon on a breakaway interception from deep.
Chris Dean – 120
Dean was a solid performer, who played for Widnes in the Championship either side of the stint in Super League. His first spell came in 2008, on loan from St Helens, and he moved to Widnes permanently upon promotion back to Super League for 2012. Playing at centre and back-row, Dean formed a lively partnership with Joe Mellor on the right edge, and he was a provider of some great tries, notably in the win over Warrington on Good Friday.
Hep Cahill – 119
The popular Kiwi not only played seven seasons in Super League for Widnes, but stayed for a final season in the Championship in 2019, as a popular member not only of the squad and the club, but the community as well. Playing anywhere in the pack, Cahill’s bravery, work-rate and determination saw him play long minutes, often from the start, and usually as the third middle at loose forward. Few will forget the game where he played on with almost his whole head and face bandaged up, with barely his eyes visible.
Macgraff Leuluai – 116
Macgraff was one of a handful of players that made the step up from the 2011 Championship squad to play in Super League, and he was another that served in all seven seasons. Formed a bash brothers partnership with Willie Isa, known for tackling way above his size and putting in some ferocious hits. Often deployed off the bench, more than half of Leuluai’s appearances were as an interchange impact.
Lloyd White – 115
The Wales international recovered from a difficult start to his Vikings career by becoming a trustworthy regular under Denis Betts. Handed the number six shirt on arrival, it soon became clear that stand-off wasn’t the best position for White, and with the tribulations surrounding the other two hookers in the squad, Scott Moore and Anthony Watts, a spot soon opened up for White to claim his own at dummy half.
Daniel Frame – 106
The only man from the first era of Super League to appear on the list is no-nonsense Australian forward Daniel Frame, a hard-working and consistent back-rower who featured in the four seasons in the top flight from 2002-05. Such was his ability and durability that he even featured at stand-off and centre, and will always go down in history as the man who scored Widnes’ first ever Super League try, in the 15-14 defeat to St Helens. Formerly with Melbourne Storm and Dewsbury Rams, Frame came off the quota when it was discovered his mother was from Hull and he gained British citizenship.
