Steve puts faith in youth

Jul 10 2008 by Ian Cheveau, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

PADDY Flynn’s four-try display in the U21s has prompted a recall to the Vikings’ first-team squad for the former Thatto Heath amateurs winger.

Powerful hometown three-quarter Matty Strong has also been drafted into the senior ranks for the first time – after likewise giving a dazzling performance for the Senior Academy team against Salford City Reds.

Coach Steve McCormack insists he is ‘looking forward and not back’ but hinted at a reshuffle for tomorrow’s National League One basement battle at home to Batley Bulldogs.

Danny Hill has been omitted from the squad and is likely to play for the U21s next time out against Huddersfield on July 20, when Tommy Gallagher will make the second appearance of his comeback with John Stankevitch’s side.

“No players’ jumpers are safe,” McCormack declared this week.

“Everyone is vying for a starting position at the club. We have a lot of quality in that dressing room and I will pick the team on form and form alone – not reputations.

“I have given Paddy Flynn and Matty Strong a chance this week with the first team and they are in contention for Friday’s game.

“They have been in really good form and it’s only right that I reward them and hopefully they can make the step up.

“It’s a great position to be in as a coach as we have a strong squad with players all fighting for the same spots, but we want that at the club as it’s healthy competition.”

McCormack seems to have decided to shake things up after his side were defeated in front of the Sky Sports cameras in Wales against Celtic Crusaders a fortnight ago.

The Vikings were a shadow of the team which had dispatched Salford City Reds a week earlier.

They are near the bottom of the pack largely as a result of a nine- point deduction at the start of the season for the club going into administration.

But even so, the coaching staff is demanding an improved performance.

Since the Crusaders defeat, the Vikings have announced the signings of Saints trio Chris Dean, Steve Tyrer and Matty Smith until the end of the season.

Jason Crookes of Bradford will also remain with Widnes for the remainder of the campaign, as will Adel Fellous.

These signings reinforce Widnes’ quality and McCormack reckons it’s time they found more consistency.

He added: “It’s important that the players reach the intensity levels that has seen us grind out some excellent results and we know that we can beat anybody in this division on our day. “We have a very talented group at the club and we need to show that on the field every time we cross the whitewash.

“If players work hard, whether it is in the reserve grade or in the first team, they will be rewarded.

“I will never pick a player on reputation – it’s always on form and that is something that I have always done.”

Widnes’ Carnegie Challenge Cup conquerors Hull FC have been fined £100,000, with £40,000 of it suspended, for fielding an ineligible player in the fifth-round win over the Vikings at Stobart Stadium Halton.

The KC Stadium club were allowed by the Rugby Football League to stay in the Wembley competition and will play Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the semi-final at Doncaster at the end of this month.

Vikings’ Scholarship players are to take part in a 100-mile bike challenge as part of H208, the Liverpool Capital of Culture Youth Event in Halton this weekend.

Festivities take place over two days in the borough with Stobart Stadium Halton in Widnes and The Brindley arts centre, Runcorn, hosting everything from music to extreme sports.

Saturday’s bike challenge in Morrison’s plaza will be started at noon by Mayor of Halton, Kath Loftus.

The players will ride for five minutes at a time, clocking up distances towards the 100-mile target.

For further details of H208, see page 27.

Because of the festival, the Widnes Vikings Rugby League Museum will be closed tomorrow and Saturday but will reopen on Friday, July 18 (10am).

The museum will also be open on Tuesday, July 22 (9am-12.30pm).