Academy duo in line to face the Aussies
Thursday, December 6, 2007 NEARLY 500 people attended a sell-out Fans Forum organised by new Widnes owner Steve O’Connor with a fully liveried ‘Eddie Stobart’ vehicle outside the main entrance providing food for thought.
Once inside, the sense of professionalism was all-pervading and it was not only confirmed that the Stobart Group was to be the new shirt sponsor for the Vikings, but also that they had secured naming rights for the stadium.
O’Connor highlighted that work had already begun on the Super League Licence application for 2009 while a reduction in admission prices, a new website and a new playing kit were unveiled, and it was obvious that under O’Connor Widnes would be dragged into the 21st century.
While promising financial input and professional commitment, he left no-one doubting that the fans also had a major part to play. ● WIDNES VIKINGS: On This Day is available now at £9.99 from the Vikings Superstore.
TWO of Widnes Vikings’ upand-coming youngsters were this week named in the England Academy squad to take on the Australian Schoolboys at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).
U19s players Ben Davies and Sam Walters will be hoping to make England Academy coach Dave Elliott’s final selection to play in the big game.
Vikings’ performance director, Phil Finney, believes both teenagers have a big future.
He said: “Ben’s a Widnes lad who came through Halton Farnworth Hornets amateur club and went to Wade Deacon school.
“He’s come right through with us since he was about 11 years old and he’ll be going into the last year of the Academy next year.
“He’s versatile and we weren’t quite sure what his eventual position would be; I think the only position he’s not played in is time with us is hooker!
“He stepped up and played stand-off for us last year and ended up being picked for the England Academy programme.
“He’s got a good all-round skillset.
“Sam’s another from Halton Farnworth Hornets and again has been with us for a number of years.
“He’s just going into the second year of Academy so he’s a bit younger than Ben.
“He’s a good, tall back-rower who runs a really good line off the half-back.
“When he gets the timing right, it’s virtually impossible to stop him from breaking the line. He’s got skill as well with a really good offload out of contact.”
With several Super League clubs having no representation at all in the England Academy squad, Finney believes it is another feather in the cap for the highly-respected Widnes youth set-up.
He added: “One of the pleasing things for us is that these are probably players who went a bit under the radar at 13 or 14.
“It just shows how much these lads have progressed and how they develop in our system.
“That’s down to the work of people like Ryan O’Brien who is fantastic at identifying talent and potential.
“They’re handed over to Grant ● Gore at U19s level who builds on the work done at Scholarship.
“It’s great for the players and their parents when, having worked hard for a long time, they get their rewards.” ● England Academy squad: Ben Davies (Widnes Vikings); Cameron Scott (City of Hull Academy); Corey Johnson (Leeds Rhi- nos); Callum McLelland (Leeds Rhinos); Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors); Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos); Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors); Innes Senior (Huddersfield Giants); Muzzi Mustapha (Leeds Rhinos); Jack Welsby (St Helens); Jake Wingfield (St Helens); James McDonnell (Wigan Warriors); Joe Shorrocks (Wigan Warriors); Josh Simm (St Helens); Louis McConnell (Leeds Rhinos); Louis Senior (Huddersfield Giants); Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors); Oliver Wilson (Bradford Bulls); Owen Trout (Leeds Rhinos); Sam Walters (Widnes Vikings); Tom Holroyd (Leeds Rhinos); Tom Nisbet (St Helens).