Vikings sign up super seven

Nov 22 2007 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

SEVEN more signings yesterday brought the total of Widnes Vikings captures to 12 in just 24 hours.

Five survivors of last season’s Grand Final squad had already contributed staying power to Widnes Vikings’ dramatic revival by signing new deals on Tuesday.

And Vikings have now unveiled another seven recuits – including 24-year-old Scottish international back-rower Iain Morrison from Super League club Hull KR and Irish prop Martin McLoughlin, 26, from Widnes’ fellow National League One side Batley Bulldogs.

Morrison is a stalwart of the Scotland team, which McCormack coached to World Cup qualification.

Also in the fold are a handful of promising players who have already begun to make names for themselves at Halton Stadium.

Loose-forward Dayne Donoghue, full-back Scott Yates and prop Michael Ostick are all 19 and, like 17-year-old full-back, Shane Grady products of Vikings’ world-class Scholarship scheme.

Loose-forward Rob Draper, 19, has also put pen to paper – he and Yates having represented England Academy.

Last season’s skipper Mark Smith, 26, and loose-forward Bob Beswick, 23, had already given Vikings fans a lift by committing to the cause on the club’s readmission to NL1 on Monday.

But Vikings will start the 2008 campaign on minus nine points – the penalty being incurred for their period in administration.

McCormack will fashion next year’s squad around highly-rated ex-Wigan pair Smith and Beswick along with vastly-experienced second-row Paul Noone and full-back Gavin Dodd, both 26, plus 24-year-old winger Dean Gaskell.

McCormack said of the five stayers: “All the players are good, honest professionals and give me the nucleus of a strong side for 2008.

“Our 2008 squad is starting to take shape and I’m delighted with the mix of youth and experience.”

Players to have been linked are ex-Super League half-back Tim Hartley, former Hull KR prop Jim Gannon, another Scottish international Lee Patterson and former Warrington youngster Nick Owen.

Meanwhile, Smith, who has led Widnes to two successive grand finals only to finish on the losing side, said: “I’m very happy to have the chance to continue my career at Widnes.

“I’d had three very enjoyable years and when Steve rang me to tell me he was continuing as coach, I had no hesitation in re-signing.”

And Beswick admitted: “I’m just glad things have been sorted out for all concerned.

“It’s been a long time coming but it’s been worth the wait. I just can’t wait to get back to training now.”

Hometowner Noone believes all the ingredients are in place for Vikings to push for a Super League franchise in 2009, when four of the prospective 18 applicants will miss out.

“I want to finish my career at Widnes and I think I’ve got a good few years in me yet,” he said.