Betts names a strong squad for Boxing Day clash (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Betts names a strong squad for Boxing Day clash

2:12pm Thursday 22nd December 2011 in Vikings news By Mike Critchley

VIKINGS boss Denis Betts has named a strong squad featuring a good handful of the club’s new boys for Boxing Day’s friendly at rivals Warrington.

This is the first of three pre-season warm up games the club have planned which, regardless of the result, will help the team knit together ahead of their return to Super League after a six year absence.

Betts has named closed-season signings Willie Isa, Stefan Marsh, Patrick Ah Van, Lloyd White, Frank Winterstein, Scott Moore and Hep Cahill.

Former Sydney Roosters forward Anthony Watts, who is just returning from major knee surgery, also has a chance of playing.

The result is not important – although Betts has promised the fans that his side will produce a committed first performance against their traditional derby foe.

Betts said: “We are going there to play – there will be a big crowd on at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and our boys will have to go out there and be committed or they will end up getting hurt.

“It is a good opportunity for the players to grab a shirt ahead of the first Super League game. It is something we have maintained here - if you are playing well and do the right thing you will get the shirt.”

Vikings have built their side from scratch – with more than a dozen new players coming into the side including an entirely new spine.

That blank piece of paper Betts started with when Vikings got the Super League nod now has 29 names on it – the key now is getting them to knit in time for the league opener against Wakefield on February 3.

Betts explained: “It is a case of starting at the beginning and getting them working together, understanding and liking each other and playing.

“It is about environment as much as playing a game. All these lads have been playing the game for ten to 15 years it is just getting them used to each other.

“They are a good bunch of blokes and they are getting on well and helping other despite there is competition for places.”

Although Vikings have retained some of the lads who battled through the Championship programme last year, Super League and the full time training that goes with it represents a massive leap for those players too.

“The place is nothing like it was last year – different players, different club and different environment.

“We also have a lot of lads coming in with different points to prove - the Briscoes, Moores, Hanburys Crosses of this world. Lads who have played international football are setting the standards now and setting the new culture at this club,” Betts said.

Vikings: Craven; Flynn, Isa, Ah Van, Marsh; White, Gore; Pickersgill, Coyle, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Winterstein, Haggerty, Mullally, Gerard, Moore, Cahill, Declan Hulme, Owens and possibly Anthony Watts.

Warrington’s starting line-up is likely to be: Riley; Williams, Blythe, Atkins, R. Evans; Ratchford, Myler; Hill, Higham, Cooper, McCarthy, Grix, Harrison.