COREY GETS FULL MARKS
Betts hails stand-in star
DENIS BETTS saluted his emergency full-back Corey Thompson after Widnes took a massive step towards Super League safety.
Game-ending injuries to firstchoice full-back Rhys Hanbury and deputy Danny Craven forced the NRL-bound winger into an unfamiliar role.
Abuse
But Thompson was in the right place at the right time to score the Vikings’ fourth and game-breaking try with 20 minutes remaining.
“Corey is a bit like that,” said Widnes boss Betts. “He enjoyed the abuse he was getting from the Leigh fans.
“He seemed to thrive on the fact they couldn’t stand him.
“He wanted to play full-back until he realised how hard it is and how much running you have got to do.
“But he enjoys fitting in there now and again.” Betts believes 10 points will ensure top-flight security and Widnes now have six from their opening four matches in the Qualifiers.
“We came in with the attitude we were the better team,” added Betts.
“We haven’t been giving ourselves enough credit. But we have started to look like a Super League team.
“We wanted to be more arrogant about how we carried ourselves. In the first half we were dominant.”
Leigh’s latest defeat leaves them occupying one of the two Million Pound Game slots. But their next outing is against Middle 8s leaders Warrington.
And the Centurions are expected to be without Aussie hooker Daniel Mortimer, who was forced out of the game after only four minutes with a bicep problem.
“It couldn’t have got any worse,” said Leigh coach Neil Jukes of his side’s poor start that included conceding a try to Lloyd White.
“But other than the injury it was all our own doing.”
Widnes led 14-0 at the break as Alex Gerrard bulldozed over and Hanbury also crossed.
Winger James Clare scored a debut try to give Leigh hope after the break, but Thompson’s touchdown and three Chris Bridge goals put the result beyond doubt.