Moran passed fit for jungle

Sep 20 2007 by Dave Bettley, Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES boss Steve McCormack has been given a major boost before tonight’s acid test with promotion rivals Castleford Tigers.

Dennis Moran this week declared himself fully fit for the Grand Final Qualifier at the Jungle.

Moran has missed the last two Vikings wins and his creative spark and no-nonsense defence was conspicously absent.

The Aussie magician has just picked up the Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters Club Player of the Year awards.

McCormack said: ‘He’s a quality player and he has caused problems for defences all season.’

Although Castleford are being billed favourites, McCormack knows his team will relish their task after winning at the Tigers’ ground already.

‘We don’t mind being underdogs and we are all well prepared,’ he stressed.

‘We know what we are capable of and we know what happened last time at the Jungle.

‘We have some big-game players and they know what play-off football is about.’

McCormack has a lot of time for Tigers coach Terry Matterson.

He added: ‘Terry is a great coach and I have a lot of respect for him and what he has done at Cas.

‘We get on very well and we were speaking just the other day about the game at the coaches’ meeting. Both teams know a lot about each other and it’s going to be a great game.’

McCormack also divulged he and other coaches, including Matterson, were having frank conversations about the potential of their clubs being given a place in the Super League system in 2009.

So far the Vikings have not declared their hand.

McCormack exclusively told Weekly News Sport: ‘I feel that we do need to start banging the drum about the franchise as we have the stadium, the supporters and the youth set-up which will get us there.

‘That is for the future though. The objective is to beat Castleford and then beat whoever makes it through in the Grand Final eliminator.’

McCormack has already begun planning for the future and hopes to secure the majority of his squad for Super League XIII.

But he added: ‘Both us and Cas are in the same boat. ‘Players from outside won’t sign unless they have guarantees so all I have to focus on is securing the players that I have already.’

The Widnes head coach wouldn’t comment on whether the Vikings have been in talks with rampaging Salford prop Michael Korkidas but the Weekly News understands that has been the case.

Widnes (from): Beswick, Blanch, Cassidy, Dodd, Doran, Gaskell, Grix, James, Kirk, Kohe-Love, Moran, Myler, Nanyn, Noone, Penny, Smith, Summers, Tomkins, Webster and Wilkes.

The Rugby Football League has confirmed Widnes and Castleford will be eligible for promotion to Super League if they win the NL1 Grand Final.