Kevin Brown keen to learn more from Denis Betts at Vikings (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Kevin Brown keen to learn more from Denis Betts at Vikings

7:50am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Vikings news

WHEN Widnes Vikings paid a transfer fee to release Kevin Brown from his contract at Huddersfield they were making a declaration of intent that they mean business.

And having missed the last two months of the 2012 Super League season through injury, Brown has made it clear he does too and wants to hit the ground running at the Stobart Stadium.

Although the first team's pre-season training programme only begins towards the end of next month, the versatile former Wigan and Huddersfield stand-off has already begun getting used to his new surroundings and is not far off full fitness after his season-ending ankle injury.

Brown said: “I'm probably a week away from full fitness now and after a few more weeks of training on my own, I'll be reporting back with the rest of the lads for pre-season. In one sense I've been lucky that I was able to finish my season a little bit earlier, given how things turned out at Huddersfield, and come here flying and ready to get stuck in and used to my new surroundings.”

He has been impressed with what he has seen of the facilities so far as well as the personnel he will be working with.

Brown said: “I’d never actually been over to the gym until after I had signed, so to say that I was blown away when I first seen it is a bit of an understatement.

“I mean no disrespect to any other clubs when I say this, but they would bend over backwards to have the type of facilities we have in place here at Widnes.

“I've also been impressed with the work that Clive Brewer our strength and conditioning coach, has already put in place for the players to ensure they look after their wellbeing. The whole place just strikes me as a very professional set-up.”

Born and bred in Haydock, Brown explained that becoming a father was a big factor behind his decision to return with to this side of the Pennines after a seven-year stint in West Yorkshire.

“Obviously it was a massive decision. I was really enjoying my time at Huddersfield and being the captain, meant it wasn't something I did lightly. “But, having spoken with Denis Betts, Paul Cullen and Steve O'Connor, I was tremendously impressed with what they already had in place such as the structures and facilities and what their plans were for the future.”

Teaming up with Denis Betts again takes him back to his younger days at Wigan where he said he learned plenty from the experienced former Man of Steel and Lance Todd trophy winner.

“The stuff I learnt whilst at Huddersfield was tremendous but looking back to the very start when I was coached by and played alongside Denis, the bits and pieces that I picked up from him were also invaluable and have served me well throughout my career.

“Now I'm working with him again, I'm hoping I can pick his brain a bit more and get even more information out of him. “The same applies with my new team-mates, I'm really looking forward to getting to know them, earning their respect, building up a relationship with them and taking that out onto the pitch.

“I've had my eye on things at Widnes and I was impressed with how the team turned its fortunes around at the back end of the season and looked a completely different side to the one that started the year and was on the wrong end of a few hidings,” Brown said.