It's 'do or die' time

Sep 13 2007 by Dave Bettley, Widnes Weekly News

VIKINGS skipper Mark Smith says it’s ‘do or die’ for the club in the next 80 minutes of rugby.

The Widnes captain claims next week’s Grand Final qualifier with Castleford Tigers could shape the future for the Vikings.

Smith says he has spoken personally and collectively to all the squad and has stressed the importance of winning next week to get a straight route to the Grand Final at Headingley.

‘It’s now or never’, said Smith.

‘I have spoken to all the players and we have had a good talk about the way things have gone and we know we have to pick it up.

‘Being totally honest, we have not played that well since the Leigh game the week after the Northern Rail Cup Final.

‘Steve (McCormack) and the lads know exactly how I feel about it and we know we must win next week as we don’t want the second bite of the cherry in the Grand Final Eliminator.

‘We need to beat Cas as all the teams below us are very tricky and they can pull out all the stops, especially Halifax and Whitehaven.

‘We have only been playing well for 20-minute spells and that needs to change next week.

‘All the lads are looking sharp and are well up for this game as we know what the stakes are for everybody.’

Players, fans and all connected with the club realise how important Super League rugby is next season.

In 2009, the franchise system comes into place and the Vikings know all too well what happened 12 years ago when they missed out on a place in the top flight.

Although Widnes will apply for a place in the revamped Super League irrespective of what happens in Leeds, they also know a Grand Final win will almost certainly see them included in the 14-team league if the gangway comes down.

Some fans’ major fears are Vikings will lose a host of their quality players if they fail to win promotion this year.

But Smith has reassured them that if Widnes win promotion, every member of the squad has indicted they will be staying.

He added: ‘I have spoken to the players and they want to stay at the club in Super League. But first things first and that is the Cas game next Thursday.

‘We have beaten them twice and we stuck 40 on them at their place so we know we can get the result and then have the week off before the final.

‘Next week’s game is the biggest of the season for us and I have stressed that to all the players. I was a part of the team that got relegated and when we had the chance last year to go up and we missed out. It hurt.

‘To see players like Terry O’Connor and Barrie McDermott in tears after the game just says it all really and how much winning promotion would have meant to them.

‘It’s our chance to put that right and if we perform to the high levels that we know we can, then we will beat Cas next week and then go onto to the final and win it.

‘Without playing mind games, it is fair to say they are the favourites but I like the sound of us being underdogs as well as I have been one all my career.

‘We are confident and it will be a great game between two very entertaining sides.’

The Vikings have no injuries concerns ahead of the game at The Jungle a week tonight.