Life doesn't get any easier for Widnes Vikings (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Life doesn't get any easier for Widnes Vikings

3:00pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Vikings news By Mike Critchley

VIKINGS have suffered another double-whammy on the injury front with prop Ben Kavanagh and half back Anthony Watts both sidelined for six months.

The latest injuries to rock the club could not have come at a worse time, with Vikings still licking their wounds from a third consecutive top-flight defeat and with newly crowned world champions Leeds in town on Sunday (2pm).

Both players were injured in last weekend’s defeat by Salford.

Kavanagh has already had an operation on a snapped Achilles while Anthony Watts suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

To compound their woes, hooker Scott Moore will be out for six weeks with a broken jaw, but Simon Finnegan and Hep Cahill return after being disciplined by the club last week.

There is a possibility Shaun Briscoe could be back, too, but he will be assessed in training this week.

When asked, coach Denis Betts did not rule out options to de-register the two long-term casualties, but said that was a conversation he would have to have with director of rugby Paul Cullen.

Betts said: “We have never stopped looking at next year or the year after. It is a constant bombardment of where are we going, who is available and what can we do?

“As a group we are not there yet. With the way we have carried out our recruitment we need our best 13 blokes on the field to stand a good chance and we have not had that yet – two of them are not even in the country.

“We are still building the squad and developing, particularly with regards to the younger players.”

Cameron Phelps is due to arrive in Widnes next week – although he is not expected to make an immediate appearance in the first team, with his fitness levels needing to be assessed.

The other overseas player they are still waiting on - Sione Kite - is still awaiting his visa.

Although Vikings have lost their opening three games on their return to Super League, Betts said the team was still solid as a group, but explained that it was tough to keep their heads up.

Betts said: “Every week now is like an inquisition because we have not won. We are where we are but we knew it was going to be tough in this league because we are playing seven year catch up on the other clubs.

“We are quite solid as a group, but a lot of our players are bit part players from other clubs. Jon Clarke has not played 80 minutes in four years at Warrington – he is our captain.

“Our lads who are playing 80 minutes regularly have come from environment where they have not been mainstays of their previous side.

“You can’t take these players and stick them in a melting pot and expect them to win because we have a nice stadium and a new pitch.

“We don’t want to be one of those bottom end teams but have to put something in place that is going to help us spring forward.

“But it is a hard job keeping players heads up because nobody likes getting beaten up every week and the reality is that is not going to get any easier when you look forward.”

Sunday’s opponents Leeds come into town buoyed by last weekend’s World Club Championship win over Manly.

It would be wishful thinking to bank on the Rhinos turning up still seeing champagne corks from Friday’s victory – this will be a formidable test for Vikings.

Betts said: “It is exciting for the team and the supporters.

“The world champions coming to play at Widnes and the lads are going to able to see where they are to test themselves.

“Regardless of the scoreboard it should be exciting for the supporters – this is what we dreamed of and put in place over three years to make happen.”