Departing stars want to leave a Super legacy

WIDNES boss Denis Betts is backing his departing stars to play a full part in helping keep the club in Super League next season. The likes of threequarters Chris Bridge and Corey Thompson (pictured below) won’t be part of the Vikings set up in 2018. Bridge is bringing the curtain down on his 16 year professional career at the end of the campaign while Australian Thompson is returning to his homeland to link up with Wests Tigers in the Australian NRL. Betts said: “They’re part of this group and it’s not about what’s happening next year; it’s about now. “It’s about contributing to what they’ve been part of for the last two or three years. “You will have seen, for example, the way Chris Bridge has been for this last couple of weeks. “He wants to play well and go out on a high – and show people what kind of player he is. “He’s added a little bit of steel to us as well. He’s come out and said we should have a bit of arrogance and show what a good team we can be.” Betts’s opinion was backed up by halfback Danny Craven, who is already contracted to the club for the 2018 season. Craven commented: “We’re all a bunch of mates at the end of the day and the lads that are leaving want to leave us in the best position they can. “The likes of Bridgey and Corey have really been good in the last few weeks. “Bridgey’s retiring but he’s probably been one of the best players I’ve played with to be honest. “And Corey’s a freak when he’s got the ball in his hands. “They want to play the best they can for us from here on.”