Widnes Vikings boss has faith in the future

Jul 31 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

VIKINGS’ talented youngsters will be given the chance to shine in what coach Steve McCormack is defining as a “new era” for the club.

McCormack has been full of praise for the likes of Paddy Flynn, Matthew Strong and Michael Ostick, who have all stepped up to play key roles for the first team in recent weeks.

Now the Widnes coach believes they could soon be joined in the side by some of the other promising names from the club’s Academy sides.

McCormack said: “Since I’ve been here, there’s been no continuity of playing staff and so we’ve had to re-build the team every year.

“Now we have some excellent youngsters like Scott Yates, Dayne Donoghue and five or six others who will get their chance.”

As well as expressing his excitement at the potential of some his young stars, McCormack was equally delighted with the performances of some of his more senior playing staff, as well as the Vikings’ supporters, during Sunday’s demolition of lowly Dewsbury.

“We lost Ben Kavanagh and Adel Fellous in the week and so the likes of Richard Fletcher, Iain Morrison and Jim Gannon, who must play longer than any other prop in the division, were all excellent.

“Gavin Dodd was at his unpredictable best on Sunday and his never-say-die try typified what this club is all about.”

He added: “We also had a superb crowd of over 4,000 and we know that they’ll stick with us.”

The Widnes boss admits it was not the easiest task to get the players’ minds focused on the game, after last week’s Super League disappointment.

“I have every admiration for the players and they deserve credit because it’s their livelihoods at stake with these decisions and it could have gone either way this week.

“Hopefully now we will kick on and it will make us that bit stronger.”

Vikings travel to Hilton Park on Sunday to face a Leigh side, led by former Widnes coach Neil Kelly.