Owens ready for trip into the unknown
THE prospect of a fourhour coach trip early on Sunday morning seems less than appealing to most, but Vikings skipper Jack Owens is relishing the trip – for it’s the start of a journey twelve months in the making.
The captain, born and bred in Widnes, returned to the club after four years away in 2019 having spent time with St Helens, Sheffield Eagles and Leigh.
Having impressed in his first year back at the Halton Stadium, he and the rest of the squad found their playing careers on hold as the Covid pandemic put a stop to all sport.
When the players returned for pre-season training recently, they did so under new coach Simon Finnigan and Sunday’s Challenge Cup clash against West Wales Raiders will be his first since taking charge.
“I’ve worked under probably five or six coaches now and everyone has similar ideas, in Rugby League most teams play very similar, but the views can be different at times - it’s just like anything it’s a new set of eyes and a different way of seeing things,” said Owens.
“We had Tim Sheens who was coach here for many years and he saw the games we played one way and Simon sees the game differently and it’s just about adapting to the players we’ve got and playing what’s best for us as well.
“It’s hard when a coach has this one way, and maybe a player can’t quite adapt to that, so it’s a bit on both sides – players have to adapt, and coaches have to realise qualities of certain players and the positives and various things to improve and adapt them to a new culture. I think we’ve done that well.”
After the frustration of last season’s curtailment and months of training alone, Owens is grateful to be returning to action.
Widnes withdrew from the Challenge Cup last season as the impact of the virus rapidly grew. It was a decision Owens described as ‘sensible’.
“Our final game was a cup game against Swinton before the season was postponed,” he said. “At that time, we got through to play against Catalans, but obviously then we went into lockdown and everything was up in the air, and we didn’t know if the season was going to restart or not.
“Then it got to the point where I think Super League was starting and again, the Championship is still up in the air, it was like a month behind the Super League so it was about whether it comes back or not and I think it was a sensible decision from the club and obviously the discussion with the RFL was just to withdraw from the Cup.
“Catalans obviously got a bye and went through, but the Championship didn’t resume so you can’t just bring us back in just to play the Cup.
“The first lockdown, because it was new to everyone, was a bit awkward getting used to, everyone’s done their own bits and bobs; like I’ve a done a lot of road running, some lads have just been doing home circuits and some lads were able to get some work from the club, but obviously that’s limited because there was 20 lads wanting a bit of gym equipment.
“Obviously then we’ve come back to pre-season and we have a new coach, so everything was brand new again.
“In terms of what can happen this year, obviously, the first two rounds is a double header as well.
“We’re going to hit the ground running with it straightaway and like I said, the first couple of months, it’s genuinely who can adapt the best I think because stuff is going to go wrong in games and the game’s quickened up with the new rules and obviously, there is no scrums so it’s harder to get penalties.
“So the rest time is cut down massively - I just genuinely believe the first couple of months it’s what team could adapt the best on the day to be honest with you.
“You want to keep improving like any season – it’s a couple of months before you want to start hitting your stride and hopefully we’re in a position towards the back end of the season where we’re hitting form and in and around that top six spot.”
Before the Championship season kicks off – with a trip to Finnigan’s former club Newcastle Thunder – there’s the small matter of Sunday’s cup tie against West Wales Raiders, a side Owens admits he knows little about, apart from a couple of big names among their ranks.
“I’m just looking at it as a game we’ve got to win. To say that it could be a banana skin is a bit of an insult to them really because let’s be honest, I don’t know anything about them apart from Rangi Chase and, I know who Gavin Henson is,” he said. “I know they’ve struggled for the past couple years in League 1 and they haven’t won many games but they’ve brought them two to the club so they are obviously trying to start something off.
“So I don’t want to say they’re a potential banana skin because again I don’t want to come across like I’m insulting them. I’ll be totally honest I don’t know anything about them. I know they’re in the same boat as us because we’ve not played rugby for a year so I think the first couple of months could be interesting.
“The game’s changed in terms of the rules so I think it’s just going to be a bit different this year. And obviously after everything that has gone on. things change daily, not weekly and I know we’re looking positively and hopefully all things go well and fans will be allowed back in middle of May.
“It’s going to be good to get all of them back as well.”