Widnes Vikings: ‘We can win the Championship despite cup final defeat,’ claims assistant coach

Jul 22 2010 by Daniel Mckenzie, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

THE Vikings will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of cup final defeat with a victory against local rivals Leigh.

Widnes face the Centurions at the Stobart Stadium on Sunday (3pm) in what is ultimately a must-win game.

Widnes have just six games of the regular Championship season to play and are battling with a number of other teams to secure a top-six finish.

Assistant coach Stuart Wilkinson knows that there is little room for error if the Vikings are to secure a spot in the play-offs.

He said: “Realistically we need to win five out of our last six matches to secure our place in the play-offs, but when everyone is fit, like they are now, we have got a big enough and good enough squad to be able to deal with that kind of pressure.

“I feel confident this team can go anywhere in the league and score enough points to win matches, now we just have to work on stopping our opponents from outscoring us.”

Wilkinson believes that Sunday’s match could be the perfect remedy to a cup final hangover.

“It is a perfect opportunity to put the disappointment behind us with a derby match against one of our fiercest rivals.

“The players just want to get back out onto the pitch now and put everything right.

“We are really disappointed with how we played on Sunday but what’s done is done and we have got to move forward.

“The same set of players who lost in the final could realistically still end up winning the grand final for us, that has to be our aim now and we believe it is an achievable target.”

Gareth Haggerty and Steve Pickersgill returned to the side last week after long spells on the sidelines and Wilkinson is hopeful that the squad now has the depth to turn a disappointing season so far into a great one.

“We have got a full squad of players back now so we are going to have a really big go between now and the end.

“Our medical staff, conditioners and coaching staff have done a fantastic job all season at getting our injured players back on the pitch.

“It is a massive bonus having Gareth Haggerty and Steve Pickersgill back in the side, and any side who fancies themselves as having a decent pack should watch out.”