Hornets enter into Vikings alliance
ROCHDALE Hornets have announced of Dual Registration with Widnes Vikings of the Betfred Championship.
The arrangement, which was introduced to the sport in 2013, will see all Widnes players registered with Hornets, making them eligible to play and train for either side.
It means Hornets coach Gary Thornton will have the luxury of including up to five of John Kear’s players in each of his matchday squads, if required.
“Having this partnership with Widnes gives us a safety blanket to cover periods of injury and player unavailability. I know John Kear well, having worked with him in the past, and he is building a really good squad of players at Widnes.
“So it’s a great asset to have some of those players at our disposal – should we need them,” said Thornton.
The Hornets head coach also confirmed that, as part of the agreement, his side will travel to the DCBL Stadium to take on the Cheshire outfit in a pre-season friendly on Sunday 15 January (3pm kick-off).
“Part of that agreement also involves us visiting them for a pre-season game in January, which will give us an early opportunity to see our new look squad in competitive action, and also have a look at players that could potentially be available to us,” he added.
Having played in the Super League as recently as 2018, the seven-time Challenge Cup winners have produced their fair share of talent including one of Rochdale’s latest recruits – Lewis Else.
As a result, chairman Andy Mazey is excited to have negotiated such access to the Vikings’ playing group.
He said: “We are delighted to have agreed a partnership with Widnes Vikings. The two clubs have a good relationship and the partnership is clearly of mutual benefit for both teams.
“We are looking forward to a very useful and fruitful partnership as well as a competitive friendly on January 15 at Widnes.”
Meanwhile, the club has confirmed the line-up of backroom staff for the 2023 Betfred League 1 campaign.
Assistant coach Mike Grady, who has also been the head coach of North Wales Crusaders, South Wales Scorpions and assistant coach at Newcastle
Thunder, came to Hornets in August and has now agreed a new deal with the club which will see him work alongside Thornton again in 2023.
Commenting on the extension of his contract, Grady said: “I’m delighted to have extended my stay with the club and I’d like to again thank Andy and Gary for the opportunity to be here.
“I was really welcomed at the back end of last season and it’s a great place to be a coach at. I feel Gary, and the staff here, are the right fit and we all work really well together as a group and complement each other in what we do.
“I’m looking forward to 2023 – Andy and Gary have put a young, exciting, squad together for the season and one that’s already hit the ground running in pre-season. It’s shaping up nicely and I’m looking forward to the year ahead”.
Thatto Heath Crusaders under-18s coach, Peter Eccles, will take up an assistant coaching role, alongside Grady, working closely with head coach Thornton.
Eccles is also the BARLA Lancashire under-17s head coach and has also worked recently with Wales under-16s as well as being a former Wigan Warriors Community Coach of the Year.
Speaking about his arrival at Hornets, he said: “I’m massively excited at this fantastic opportunity. I want to say thank you to Andy Mazey and Gary Thornton, for giving me this chance, and also Jason Seddon for helping make this possible.
“I feel I’m ready for this level and I will give it my all to contribute to what could be a fantastic season.
“I would also like to say a big thank you to everybody at Thatto Heath Crusaders. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave such a fantastic club as I really love it there but, as I say, I now feel I’m ready to step up to this level and I cannot wait to get started”.
Team manager Dave Ramsbottom will also remain with the club along with medical team lead Hayley Price who will also play an important role in the strength and conditioning coaching in 2023.