Two sign for Vikings after Dupree leaves
WIDNES Vikings have moved to strengthen the hand of Simon Finnigan’s successor with a two new arrivals announced this week.
Though the club has yet to make an announcement on the new coach, behind the scenes work continues to improve their flagging fortunes on the field following a poor run of form that saw Finnigan depart last month.
Experienced prop Josh Johnson has joined the club from Salford Red Devils, while Callum Field has signed on a season-long loan from Featherstone Rovers.
Vikings also confirmed prop forward Tyler Dupree has joined the Red Devils with immediate effect as part of the agreement to bring Johnson in.
Johnson, 27, joins the Vikings for the remainder of this season as well as 2023, and has a wealth of both Super League and Championship experience having made 146 appearances in his career so far.
His arrival for both the remainder of the season and for 2023 provides stability for the club in the forwards for the remainder of this season and next, and his experience is seen as key in supporting the club’s promising young forwards who will benefit from playing and training alongside him.
A statement on the club’s website read: “With some of our more experienced forwards missing through injury for large parts of the season so far, Josh’s arrival will fill that gap and provide some size and aggression in the middle of the pack.”
Johnson began his career with Huddersfield Giants, making his debut in 2013 and spending three years with the club including dual registration spells with Doncaster and Oldham and a loan spell at Batley Bulldogs.
He moved on to Hull Kingston Rovers in 2017, where he helped his side win promotion back to Super League for the 2018 season.
The forward played for Barrow in 2019 before joining Salford later that year. He has been with the Red Devils since, including a loan spell back at Barrow earlier this year in which he played against Widnes at the DCBL Stadium.
Johnson linked up with the squad this week in preparation for this weekend’s game against Whitehaven.
The loan deal which sees Field arrive includes a no call-back option, so he will be with the Vikings for the remainder of the 2022 season.
Field plays in the middles, and started his career in Super League with Wigan Warriors, making his debut in 2017 before spending time on loan at Swinton Lions, London Skolars and Dewsbury Rams.
He represented England at youth level, touring Australia in 2016 with Owen Farnworth, as well as ex-Vikings Danny Walker, Brad Walker and Liam Walsh.
He has made eight appearances so far this season for high-flying Fev, and helped his team to victory in the 1895 Cup final last year.*