Betts sees nerves in a positive light ahead of opener against Wakefield (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Betts sees nerves in a positive light ahead of opener against Wakefield

12:34pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Vikings news

VIKINGS boss Denis Betts believes the nerves that are in the camp at the moment ahead of Friday night’s Super League opener against Wakefield Trinity are a positive sign.

With many members of the newly-assembled squad having spent 16 weeks in pre-season training, the players just can’t wait to get out there and play in what is the club’s biggest game since they won the Northern Rail Cup Final in 2010.

Despite picking up a few knocks in their friendly run out against St Helens, Betts says he has a fully fit squad of 25 men to pick from ahead of the televised Wildcats clash.

Betts saId: “I hope there are plenty of nerves about ahead of the game. The anticipation and excitement can create that nervous energy. It has been around the players and the place – it is a real positive at the moment.

“We got as real feel of excitement and anticipation from them after the game at St Helens. It has been a long off-season for a lot of them. “There was a bit of a cheer last week when we talked about going into playing week – the pre-season is over.”

Motivation tools being what they are, nobody at Vikings was ever going to sound grateful for being presented with Wakefield as an opener, rather than a game against champions Leeds, runners-up Saints or cup winners Wigan.

But the game against a Wakefield side that has had its share of upheaval since last term is exactly the sort of fixture they need to target as winnable.

Betts said the important factor was not the opposition, but the fact that their return to the top flight was at home and will allow them to pack the fans in.

“You have to play who is front of you so it is not about who we would choose but who we have been given.

“Wakefeld are going to be determined to start their year off after the problems they had at the end of last year.

“It works out pretty well with it being our first game back in Super League; new pitch, new team and new environment and we hope to get a bumper crowd which could set us off for the rest of the year,” he said.

Betts has a healthy, eager squad to select from with Anthony Watts and Rhys Hanbury directing operations from half back.

“I am impressed with the way the squad has responded to having 17 new blokes coming in and getting to know each other’s play and foibles; front rowers players with nines, back rowers playing with halves and centres and wings combining,” Betts said.

Friday’s game at Stobart Stadium kicks off at 8pm.