Widnes Vikings: Terry O’Connor eyes good start to Northern Rail Cup and Championship campaigns.

Dec 17 2009 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

DEFENDING champions Widnes Vikings will be the team to beat in this year’s Northern Rail Cup according to sporting director Terry O’Connor.

Reflecting on a fixture list that this week threw up an opening day home cup clash with Gateshead Thunder on Sunday January 31(3pm ko), the former Great Britain international admits that Paul Cullen and his players will be up there to be shot at following last season’s success in Blackpool.

Last year’s beaten finalists Barrow, now under the stewardship of former Widnes head coach Steve McCormack are the second team to travel to the Stobart Stadium Halton, on Sunday February 14 (3pm ko), after Batley host Vikings on Sunday February 7 (2pm).

O’Connor said: “We want a positive start to the season and to go and defend the Northern Rail Cup in order to set down a marker to everyone in the division.

“Every Widnes player will need to be on top of their game for 80 minutes every week as everyone is going to want to have a pop at us and the sooner our players realise that the better.”

Swinton Lions make up the rest of Vikings NRC group, while Championship new boys Keighley pose Widnes’ first Championship test in late February.

O’Connor is confident that the newly-assembled group of players, who will get their first outing in the World of Beds’ Cup against Warrington Wolves at home on Boxing Day (3pm ko), will be more than capable of launching an attack on two fronts in 2010.

He added: “The coaches have been happy with pre-season and the players themselves have been telling me that the atmosphere is better than ever in the squad.

“I’ve also been really impressed with some of the underage youngsters at the club right now, such as the under 18s pack which I have been working with lately.

“There are some skilful players and some real characters in there who will soon be ready to step up.

“So we are in no rush to add anymore dual registration players, as although Widnes will be first choice for a lot of young Super League players to join on loan, we see no point in signing anyone just to have them on the books.

“Then if we suffer injuries to key players we can bring in up to three others who can add to the side, as Kevin Penney, Steve Pickersgill and Craig Hall did last year.”

Tickets for the Boxing Day clash with Wolves are on sale from the O’Neill’s outlet in Widnes town centre (cash only) and from the stadium. Supporters cannot activate season tickets for this game and must buy a paper ticket for £12 (£6 concessions).