Widnes sign pair on loan from Leigh

Widnes have signed Leigh duo Kieran Dixon and Luis Roberts on loan until the end of the season.

Dixon, 29, previously hooked up with the Vikings on loan back in April, but suffered an injury before making an appearance.

He has more than 200 first grade appearances under his belt, featuring for London, Hull KR and York.

The winger will fill the void caused by long-term injuries to Vikings backs Ollie Brookes and Lloyd Roby.

Kieran Dixon recently featured on loan for League 1 side Rochdale.

Also making the move to the DCBL Stadium is utility Luis Roberts.

Roberts, 20, made his Wales debut last weekend under new Widnes coach John Kear.

The winger or centre scored 10 tries in 20 appearances for Swinton last season.

Earlier this week, Widnes allowed prop Will Tilleke and hooker Dec Gregory to join North Wales on loan.

New coach bounce

Kear is due to take charge at Widnes on July 1, succeeding Simon Finnigan.

He was the guest on the latest Love Rugby League podcast.

LISTEN: Podcast: John Kear on international rugby league, re-structure & new Widnes role

Kear said: “You’ve got to have positive things in your life and you’ve got to have projects in your life that you want to buy into and work towards. I just like being busy and I like being involved and thankfully I’ve got another opportunity with that as a head coach of a great club with Widnes.

“I’ve been really fortunate. It’s been nice people have contacted me about roles, I had a player agent ask if I wanted to go in to that side, I had a rugby union club and a couple of rugby league clubs but the one that really appealed was Widnes.

“The facilities there are excellent, there’s a great fanbase.

“I honestly do believe they’ve underachieved this year and I like to think that I can get the best out of individuals and a group as well.

“And that will obviously be my immediate aim and from that in the off-season it’s to grow that playing group and improve it through recruitment and retention.

“It’s a fair old task. It’s a task I’m going to relish and I hope that the club see the fruits of my labour this year but more importantly in 2023 because that’s when you’re really going to have to put your best foot forward both on and of the field to play at the highest level you possibly can.”

Widnes have lost 11 of their last 12 games and host London Broncos on Sunday.

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