T’Other Side: Widnes Vikings

T’Other Side: Widnes Vikings

 

Head Coach: Denis Betts

Denis Betts first spell as a head coach was for a year from May 2004 when he was in charge at Wigan Warriors. He was appointed to the position at Widnes Vikings in 2011 and has been in that position ever since. When he took over Widnes were in the Championship but they gained entry to the Super League in 2012 under the franchise system.

As a player Betts was a magnificent second rower who combined the power of a prop with the skills of a halfback. His entire club career was at Wigan (from 1986 to 2001) with the exception of a stint at Auckland Warriors from 1995 to 1997. He was a regular member of the Great Britain side and also played for Lancashire.

Co-Captains: Chris Houston and Joe Mellor

After one year playing in the NRL with Saint George Illawarra Dragons in 2007, Chris Houston joined Newcastle Knights and remained there, making 160 appearances, until he left to join Widnes last year. He plays at second row or loose forward.

Joe Mellor is a stand-off. In 2011 he was in the Wigan squad but was only named in the team once as a substitute and never got onto the pitch. Over the next couple of years he had a few games with Wigan and played on loan at Harlequins and Widnes before joining Widnes for the 2013 season.

At the Back

Chris Bridge is a very experienced centre who can also fill in when required in the halves. He has played 277 Super League games (plus two on dual reg with Swinton) and scored 119 tries and 328 goals. He began his career in 2003 with two years at Bradford before moving to Warrington. He joined Widnes in 2016. He has played for both Ireland and England. Aussie, Rhys Hanbury, is a very reliable fullback who is adept at joining in the line on attack. He came to the UK to play for Crusaders RL in 2010 but joined Widnes the following year. Before arriving here he had played in the NRL with South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers. Corey Thompson is also an Australian. A winger who can also play at fullback he came to Widnes last year from Canterbury Bulldogs. He is Widnes leading try scorer this year with 9 and was also the leader last season with 28. At the end of this year he is returning home, having signed for Wests Tigers.

In the Halves

Quite a few players have played in the halves this year alongside Joe Mellor (see above). One of those is Aaron Heremaia who also plays at hooker. Early in his career he was unable to make the first grade in his home (New Zealand) or Australia and was picked up by Leigh Centurions in 2006. After two years with them he made it into the NRL with New Zealand Warriors. In 2012 he returned to play with Hull FC and then signed for Widnes in 2015. He has played representative rugby with both New Zealand Maori and the full New Zealand side. Jordan Johnstone is only 20 years old but is seen to have a promising future as either a hooker or halfback. He has already made 18 appearances this year. He was signed by Widnes in 2014 and played two games on loan for Whitehaven (his hometown club) in 2015. Widnes promoted him to the first team squad last year.

 In the Pack

Jack Buchanan comes from New South Wales and played for Wests Tigers before Widnes signed him in May 2016. He is a consistently reliable prop with a very good work rate and ability to organise the team. There can’t be many Super League players who come from Wiltshire, but that is where prop forward Gil Dudson was born. He began his career with Crusaders RL and was caught up in the collapse of the club at the end of 2011 but fortunately Wigan signed him and he played for three years there before joining Widnes in 2015. He is a Welsh international. Tom Olbison plays in the second row. He has been a regular in the side this year but often coming off the bench. His career began at Bradford in 2009 and he stayed with the Bulls until the meltdown of the club in the last close season when he left to join Widnes.

The Fev Connection

There is just one member of the current Widnes squad who has played for Rovers, Danny Craven spending last year on loan at Post Office Road.

But there are several current Fev players who have played for Widnes. Anthony Thackeray was a Widnes player from 2009 to 2011, playing for them 71 times. Ian Hardman, who comes from Widnes spent the 2008 season with them on loan from Saint Helens. Fev’s two newest recruits have also played for Widnes. Sam Brooks was actually signed from them last month and Connor Farrell played at Widnes on loan from Wigan last year. Finally, Anthony Mullally, who played once for Fev this year on dual reg, played for Widnes in 2009 and 2012.