WIDNES Vikings are going to have to smarten up their act if they are to get their season back on track – starting with Sunday’s home game against in-form Hull KR.

Coach Denis Betts praised the effort of his side, but lambasted them for “dumb play” in equal measure after Vikings slumped at home to St Helens.

It was something of a depleted squad that took to the field against the champions, with Kevin Brown, Hep Cahill, Lloyd White, Manese Manuokafoa, Willie Isa and Cameron Phelps sidelined.

Depleted Vikings dug in, grafted hard and looked on course to claim a prize scalp when they led at the break.

However, with echoes of defeats already this term the second half unravelled from the restart, with the result seeing Vikings drop to 10th in the Super League table.

Betts said: “It was wholehearted, but dumb effort. I told them 'I love your energy but you are going to have to be smarter'.

“Keeping hold of the ball is key.

“We conceded three dive over tries — that’s 18 points, that’s criminal and just can’t happen. We defended so well in patches and then they just fell over the line.

“It is frustrating – in our performances throughout the season we are paying the price for having to do so much work through being dumb that we are getting stung later on in games.”

There are doubts over Chris Dean with a rib injury going into the game.

Danny Tickle and Ben Kavanagh are free to play after both submitted early guilty pleas after being charged with a Grade A dangerous throw on Mose Masoe in the Saints game.

Vikings will have plenty on their plate when they face a Hull KR side that are bouncing at the moment following their win over Catalans.

Vikings assistant coach Mick Cassidy said: “I was looking at their result and they were 20-10 down at half-time but won 50-20. They can certainly score points.

“I watched their previous game against Warrington and they scored some good tries but just had a couple of lapses in concentration defensively which let them down.

“Their confidence will be through the roof this week having got it right against Catalans."

“They’ve brought in two new half-backs this year and getting them playing together can be difficult, but it looks like they clicked at the weekend.”