No need to panic

Aug 30 2007 By Martin Lace, Widnes Weekly News

VIKINGS chairman Peter Knowles says the club has 'definitely not' hit the panic button after one defeat to promotion rivals Castleford Tigers.

In fact, the Widnes supremo believes the Vikings still hold the edge over Terry Matterson's men after recording two wins against them, one in the league and the other in the Northern Rail Cup.

'There has been no need to panic,' Knowles said. 'We still have a chance of getting the top spot if Cas slip up and there are still two games to go so, anything can happen. Cas have the easier run-in with Leigh and Rochdale, whereas we have to go to Whitehaven and Batley.

But we have not given up on finishing in first place.'

Knowles says he is relishing the business stage of the season and he says the Vikings are in bullish mood to exorcise the Grand Final ghost of Hull KR last season.

He said: 'We are better placed now than we were 12 months ago. We have a very good squad and have really strengthened as we've gone along, so we have a lot to be confident about.'

Knowles also insists the 24-18 defeat by the Tigers is a thing of the past and he is calling on fans not to dwell on one defeat.

He added: 'We didn't play to our best but there were a few things that didn't go our way.

'Another referee may well have ruled in our favour over one or two of the incidents that went on but that game has gone now.

'We may well have to play Cas five times this season but we are not bothered by that.

'We went into the final last year knowing that we hadn't beaten Hull KR. This time it is different - we have played Cas and beaten them so there is no fear of the unknown.

'If we play to our best, we can beat anybody and they know they will have to catch us on an off day to turn us over.'

Coach Steve McCormack added: 'The prospect of us going up to Castleford doesn't faze me or the players. We've been up there before and won so there is no reason we can't do it again. But that's a few weeks away and we haven't given up on the top spot yet either.

'We need to build some momentum for the play-offs and start with Whitehaven this week and Batley the week after.'

Knowles claims the mood in the Vikings' camp is still upbeat despite forfeiting top spot.

The chairman added: 'We are still very, very confident of reaching our objective which is getting to the Grand Final and winning it.

'We have had a very eventful year with one thing and another but the focus has always been the same.

'Steve McCormack and Stephen Vaughan both put together a squad which they thought would win promotion and nothing has chang ed.'

Dennis Moran (hamstring) and Tomkins (ankle) will both recover in time to face 'Haven at the Rec this Sunday.

Gareth Price, who sustained a toe injury playing in the Senior Academy last week, is McCormack's only doubt.

* The RFL has ruled neither Oliver Wilkes nor Moran have a case to answer after being placed on report in last week's game against Cas.