Viking Bent in to bolster Hornets’ pack
ROCHDALE Hornets have brought in Widnes Vikings utility forward Liam Bent on an initial four-week loan.
Bent, who is currently in his third season with the Vikings, has been brought in to bolster the Hornets pack and goes straight into contention to face Newcastle Thunder this Sunday.
The 26-year-old spent time in Salford’s academy earlier in his career before going on to join North Wales Crusaders and Oldham on loan.
Bent would go on to secure a permanent move to Oldham and made just short of 100 appearances for the Roughyeds over a five-season spell, helping the club secure promotion to the Betfred Championship in 2019.
He joined the Vikings ahead of the 2022 season and has made 28 appearances for the club to date.
However, just one of Bent’s three appearances in 2024 has been from the start - that match being a 50-16 victory over Doncaster in the third round of the
Betfred Challenge Cup in February.
The tough-tackling forward, who is capable of operating at loose forward or second-row, will now make the move to the Crown Oil Arena to boost his game time.
He becomes the second Vikings player to link up with the Hornets on a short-term basis, following in the footsteps of outside back Lloyd Roby who joined last week on a fourweek loan.
Rochdale Hornets chairman Andy Mazey said: “With the Injury situation, suspensions and some inconsistencies in certain aspects, Gary was keen to address a few things and get another forward through the door.
“Benty is an athletic, hard-working and experienced Championship forward who gives 100% in everything he does, and his performances are always consistent.
“I’m once again grateful to Allan Coleman and Chris Hamilton over at Widnes for allowing another valuable squad member to join up with us on loan.”
Meanwhile, outside back Max Flanagan said the squad were out to right some wrongs on Sunday when they came up against his former club Newcastle Thunder.
The Hornets had suffered three successive defeats since victory in Round 1 of the new Betfred League 1 season at Midlands Hurricanes back in February.
Their most recent setback came at Workington Town, the Cumbrian side capitalising on a strong start to run out 32-22 winners.
While admitting the squad were well below-par on that day, Flanagan is confident that the injury-ravaged Hornets can turn their fortunes around.
“Injuries aren’t helping us at the minute, but we know we have enough quality to be winning games in this league,” he said.
“We didn’t deserve to beat Workington, and we’ll be looking to right some wrongs in our performance this time around.
“It was disappointing that the home opener against Hunslet didn’t go our way last month.
“Nevertheless, we’re determined to turn things around. We want visiting teams to feel the pressure and every point matters in this division, especially on our own turf.”