Hodgson set to return Down Under to coach
WIDNES have confirmed that assistant coach Brett Hodgson will be leaving the club at the end of the season as revealed in the Weekly News a fortnight ago.
The popular Australian will be returning to his native land where he will take up the role of assistant coach at his former club Wests Tigers working under Ivan Cleary.
Hodgson has been on the Vikings coaching staff since 2013 and has combined his first-team duties with being in charge of the club’s U19s side since 2015.
Widnes CEO James Rule commented: “It was an easy decision for Denis (Betts) and I to give Brett his first full-time coaching role as we could see the potential he had.
“He has fulfilled that potential, not only in working with the senior players but also in his excellent work with our Academy.
“We recognise that this is a fabulous opportunity for Brett to test himself in the NRL and we wish him the best of luck for the next chapter of his career. On behalf of everyone at Widnes Vikings, I would like to thank him for his contribution to the club.”
Hodgson himself added: “I would like to thank everyone at Widnes Vikings.
“I have enjoyed my time here and will leave with some special memories.
“Widnes Vikings gave me a great opportunity to coach and I will always be grateful for everything that I have learned here. I am excited to take the next step in my career with Wests Tigers, which offers a fantastic opportunity to return to a club that I know well and develop my career in the NRL.
“I will leave knowing that Widnes Vikings supporters have a lot to look forward to.
“The Academy has some great young players with real talent.
“I am sure that many will step up into the first team in the seasons ahead and I am excited to see them progress.
“In the meantime, I am fully focused on supporting the Vikings first team and Academy this season.”
Hodgson becomes the third member of the Vikings’ key backroom team to leave for other clubs in recent times following in the footsteps of Jon Clarke (Warrington Wolves) and Dave Banks (Wigan Warriors). ●
Sunday, July 20, 2008 BOGEY team Halifax held Widnes to a 26-26 draw at The Shay as the Vikings fell just short of victory after conceding a late penalty.
Matty Smith had Widnes on the front foot from the off and they went in front when Paddy Flynn raced in.
Halifax equalised the scores before Smith capitalised on a poor ‘Fax kick to jink his way over with Steve Tyrer’s second conversion giving the Vikings a 12-6 lead at the break.
Matty Strong’s debut try extended the lead before Paul Noone’s score gave Widnes an 18 point lead.
Thomas Coyle reduced the arrears before conceding a penalty which Tyrer knocked over.
However, Ben Kavanagh was later sinbinned and Halifax took full advantage scoring two converted tries before Graham Holroyd’s last minute penalty levelled matters. ● WIDNES VIKINGS: On This Day is available now at £9.99 from the Vikings Superstore. ● ● WIDNES VIKINGS ........................ 8 WAKEFIELD TRINITY ............... 36
WIDNES’S hopes of securing an extra home game in The Qualifiers were quashed as they went down 36-8 to Wakefield Trinity at the Select Security Stadium last Friday evening.
It was the Vikings’ first home defeat in four outings but the nature of the loss may be a cause for concern for home fans, particularly coming on the back of the previous week’s 40-0 thrashing at Huddersfield Giants.
In truth, Wakefield were better in all departments than a Widnes side which seems to be suffering a crisis of confidence.
While Trinity went forward with endeavour and purpose, the Vikings seemed devoid of attack- ing inspiration.
The previous week’s key failing at the John Smith’s Stadium – an inability to hold on to the ball – also reared its ugly head as the game went on, effectively scuppering any hope of Widnes dragging themselves back into the contest.
To make a bad night worse, Widnes hooker Aaron Heremaia was led from the field in the first half with a knee injury which could see him miss the rest of the campaign.
Vikings head coach, Denis Betts, commented: “Our skill was average at times and it looked like we had some players who were just trying to get through the game – that’s the way it felt.
“We spark up every now and again and we fly into them. We came out in the second half and we were competitive in patches again. But then we make some poor errors and give penalties away and end up back in our own end.
“Then we defend our line well but do the same again. So we end up losing the momentum battle and they run in some tries.
“Wakefield are playing well and with a lot of confidence to be fair, while we’re a side that’s searching for something we don’t seem to be able to find at the moment.
“We need to know how to break out of that over the next two or three weeks.
“We’re searching for some confidence and my job is to find a way of putting some spark into them.
“They don’t need ripping to pieces; they’re all pretty despond- ent in there.”
Playmaker Rangi Chase returned to the Widnes line-up after a two match suspension to join Joe Mellor in the halves while forwards Tom Olbison and Eamon O’Carroll were also back in the game-day XVII.
The Vikings started brightly enough and took an early lead when Mellor took advantage of some hesitation in the Trinity defence to wriggle his way to the posts from 15 metres out.
Stefan Marsh’s successful conversion made it 6-0 but that was just about as good as it got for Betts’s men.
A scrum move of great effectiveness but dubious legality saw Wakefield hit back with pacy winger Mason Caton-Brown supplying the finish and Liam Finn soon levelled things up with a