McCormack makes early recruitment

Sep 4 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

STEVE McCormack has already made improvements to his Vikings squad for next season.

This week, the club confirmed the captures of young half-back Anthony Thackeray from Castleford Tigers and experienced winger Danny Mills from Sheffield Eagles.

McCormack revealed his delight at securing the signatures of two exciting attacking players, who have both impressed against his Vikings side in The Co-operative National League One this season.

McCormack said: “Thackeray massively improved Castleford and Featherstone with his contribution and showed his quality against us this season.

“Mills is another one of those players who has always been outstanding against me.

“He’s very quick and is usually up there as one of the top scorers in any team he’s played for and I hope that he will do that here.”

Thackeray, 22, who still had 12 months remaining on his contract at Castleford, spent the latter part of the season on loan at Featherstone Rovers and cannot wait to get to work at the Stobart Stadium Halton.

He said: “Things weren’t working out at Castleford but when I came over to Widnes I couldn’t believe the set-up, it was so professional.”

His move to Widnes has been part-funded by fans’ organisation VIQI (Vikings Quids In).

Mills, 27, is hoping to bring with him a bagful of points on his arrival from Sheffield, for whom he had two spells, either side of playing at Doncaster.

He said: “Widnes is a top club with a great tradition in the game and I can’t wait to get across there.

“Obviously I’ve got to secure my place in the team first but then I want to do my best and it will be my goal to be there or thereabouts at the top of the try-scoring charts for Widnes, as I have been for every club that I’ve played for.”

Both new signings are ineligible for this season’s play-offs.

Vikings will be without the injured Lee Paterson and the suspended Jim Gannon for tonight’s play-off decider with Halifax.

Paterson is recovering from an operation on a broken hand, while Gannon picked up a one-match ban and a £100 fine from the RFL disciplinary panel after his red card at Whitehaven.

Michael Ostick, dismissed in the same game, was also fined £100 but escaped suspension.

Toulouse Olympique will participate in Co-operative National League One for the next three seasons to help enhance and develop the competition.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) will assist the French club’s travel costs while existing Co-operative National League One clubs will also receive additional funding for the same purpose.