Vikings showing off their strength
WIDNES VIKINGS had their busiest week of the year yet as the squad rebuilding for 2021 continues to gather pace.
Experienced forward Matt Cook will join from Castleford at the end of the Super League season while prop Lee Jewitt will also join the Vikings a year after leaving Hull KR for Barrow.
A host of other players have penned contract extensions. Centre Jake Spedding signed a new two-year deal, while loose forward Kenny Baker extended his stay by one year, as did Connor Dwyer and club captain Jack Owens.
On signing a new deal with his hometown club, 25-year-old Owens said: “It’s great to have agreed a new deal with the club, it was a no-brainer for me.
“I’ve spoken a lot in the past about how much this club means to me, so I’m made up to still have the opportunity to wear these colours. It’s always a proud moment for me and my family when I walk out and play for the Vikings, so I’m looking forward to doing it again in 2021.
“It was a huge honour to have been named captain last year, especially as it came from a vote within the playing squad, it’s just a shame the season ended so early. It was a great feeling walking the lads out though, and I’m looking forward to that again next season.
Jewitt played under Widnes coach Tim Sheens while at Rovers and said: “It was an easy decision really. I know quite a few of the lads who are already at the club and I know Tim [Sheens] quite well from playing under him at Hull KR.
“I know some of the ex-Widnes players too and all I have ever heard is good things about the club, so as far as the club goes and the supporters it makes it a pretty easy decision. Tim is a great coach to work with. He’s probably one of the best coaches I have had throughout my career. He knows how to look after his boys and get the best out of them at the same time.
“He’s a very clever coach and the amount of games that he has coached speaks volumes; he’s a legend within his own right and is someone I really enjoyed working with. As soon as I spoke to Tim it was a case of ‘yeah, I want to play under you again’.
“I’d like to think I have been around the game long enough to bring some sort of experience in different areas. It’s all about winning and winning in the right manner, and that will come from a culture that is created from the squad. If everyone buys into Tim’s way of playing at Widnes and we all have the same ambition then I’m sure it won’t be too long until the club is back where it should be.”
Meanwhile Jay Chapelhow, Ted Chapelhow, Sam Wilde and Pat Moran will all depart the Vikings at the end of the
2020 season