Betts: Widnes out to shock a few people

Widnes coach Denis Betts says his players out to shock a few people this season.

The Vikings have largely been written off and are being tipped by many to finish bottom of the pile in Super League, as they did in 2017 before surviving via the qualifiers.

Over the close season, they have brought in Krisnan Inu, Sam Wilde, Wellington Albert and Stanton Albert, and open their campaign against Catalans on Sunday week.

Betts said: “I want to win and I think I can see a real eye in the lads this year. They want to shock a few people and they want to right a few wrongs from last year.

“We didn’t let ourselves down as such, we just didn’t get the opportunity. We ran out of luck and we took some stick but we stuck together and we came out the other side of it.

“I think we were in a tough position last year and I think it’s only going to make us stronger.”

Betts was forced to use 39 players last season due to injuries and may see some benefit from that this season, with a number of youngsters given more game time than perhaps they were ready for.

He added: “We had to suffer to get it, but the competition for places has now been set by the likes of Jordan Johnstone, Danny Walker and the Chapelhows, Sam Wilde who we’ve brought in and Chris Dean who’s come back from injury.

“Ed Chamberlain has gone off and played well in the World Cup, and all these lads that have been around the youth system are working hard to create the competition for places because they want it so much, and the senior players have got to really step up.”