Betts calls for strong finish to the season
WIDNES coach Denis Betts won’t be allowing his players to take their foot off the gas despite having virtually secured a Top 8 berth in First Utility Super League.
Only a bizarre and highly unlikely set of results over the final two rounds of the regular season could see the Vikings drop into the bottom four.
The fact Widnes have been competitive in, but still lost, a number of games this season may not have done anything for them in terms of league points. But it does mean the team’s points difference is significantly superior to that of the only side capable of taking their place in the Top 8, Hull Kingston Rovers.
With plenty of time remaining until the end of the Super League campaign proper, Betts wants to see his men put their best foot forward starting with tomorrow night’s home game against Salford Red Devils.
He said: “We’re not worried about making the eight. We’re looking at finishing as high as we can in the table.
“We don’t want to be in that situation where we’ve scraped through; we want to feel like we’re well established in the Top 8.
“There are nine games left to put ourselves in a position where this club’s not been in a long time starting this week.
“I think Salford have been a pretty solid side this year – very similar to ourselves. They’ve plugged away and played some decent stuff.
“Our competition with them over the last few years has been pretty intense; they’ve won some, we’ve won some. We particularly want to win here at our own ground.
“The last few years we’ve been pretty solid at home but this year we’ve been really solid away.
“If you look at their playing roster they’re a good bunch of lads who work hard for each other and have got some pretty decent players in their team. It’s going to be a tough game here on Friday night.
“Mentally we’ve got to bring the fact we want to finish as high as possible.”
In-form prop-forward Gil Dudson limped off during the 12-10 defeat at St Helens last Friday evening and has been diagnosed with damaged ankle ligaments which will keep him on the sidelines for five or six weeks.
That particular blow will be softened by the avaialability of another former Wigan prop, Greg Burke, who will make his home debut against Salford.
Burke made his first appearance in Vikings colours at Saints and Betts felt he did well off the bench.
The coach added: “Greg Burke came on and did a really good job for us. He did two sessions with us beforehand and we spent time watching some tape.
“He can play, Greg. It’s not like he’s playing in a complicated position and he comes from a good school. He’s learned some valuable lessons during his education as a rugby player and knows what’s expected of him.
“You bring players in trying to build a bit of competition for places.
“Greg comes in and looks pretty solid and we lose Gil – a one in, one out kind of thing.”
Aaron Heremaia is available for selection against the Red Devils after missing out on the Saints game and is expected to dovetail with Lloyd White at hooker.
However, centre Chris Bridge’s achilles injury keeps him on the sidelines.
Salford have won both their encounters with Widnes so far this season including an 18-12 victory at Magic Weekend in Newcastle.