Rhys has just been off the beat – Betts

WIDNES head coach Denis Betts has explained the thinking behind his team selection for the Hull last Friday game which saw him leave out full-back Rhys Hanbury.

The 31 year-old Australian has been one of the Vikings’ main attacking threats in recent seasons but fellow Aussie, Corey Thompson, was moved from wing to full-back to take Hanbury’s place with Tom Armstrong shifting across to the flank. In addition, Chris Bridge started at centre having played recently in the halves with Aaron Heremaia partnering Danny Craven in midfield. Jordan Johnstone was selected on the bench to dovetail with Lloyd White in the dummy-half role.

Betts said: “We’re looking to change it up and Rhys has just been off the beat. He’s training really well but his form needs to come from somewhere and maybe not playing this week might be a way of getting to that place. I thought Thompson and Heremaia were good.

“Azza (Heremaia) missed a tackle on Minichiello that led to a try but he needs a bit of help from the people around him. Other than that he gave us some good direction and he was good with the ball in hand.

“Defensively we looked really connected on that edge.

“I thought Corey was dangerous at full-back and both the wingers performed OK.

“Whether it’s time to put Rhys back in this week I’m not really sure yet.

“I’d like to see Corey there a bit more; I thought he was dangerous with the ball, he beat defenders and cleaned up a couple of times.

“Positionally he needs to do some work but that’ll come if he plays there a couple more times.”

One of the major problems for Betts is that the injuries his side keep picking up seem to be particularly affecting specific areas.

First choice half-backs Joe Mellor and Tom Gilmore are still out and the injury picked up by Hep Cahill at Hull means middle unit forwards are also thin on the ground.

Betts added: “I’ve lost Hep Cahill for six weeks with a knee problem and I’m still waiting on Manase (Manuokafoa), Eamon (O’Carroll), Alex (Gerrard) and Chris (Dean) who are still three or four weeks off.

“It just puts us under a bit more pressure in that middle.

“The Chapelhow boys, and JJ when he came on against Hull, did a decent job but you can’t just rely on 20 year-old kids.”

Meanwhile, prop-forward Greg Burke is still working his way back to full match fitness after a recent injury and the birth of his child.