Cummins rolls the dice for Widnes’ last chance

Widnes coach Francis Cummins has made five changes to his squad for their do or die Qualifiers clash with Leeds on Sunday.

After three straight defeats, a fourth will surely spell an end to the Vikings’ stay in Super League, though they do boast a decent record at home against the Rhinos, winning four of the last five meetings between the two at the Halton Stadium.

Charlie Gubb is a welcome returnee to the 19-man squad, having suffered injury on his debut against London Broncos last month.

Youngsters Owen Buckley and Danny Walker are in, as is Joe Lyons, who will make his first team debut if selected.

Back-rower Sam Wilde is also selected, with Tom Gilmore, Gil Dudson and Chris Dean missing out due to knocks, and Danny Craven and Alex Gerrard also making way.

Joining the five Widnes academy products in the Vikings squad are two in the Leeds 19-man squad, in the shape of Richie Myler and Anthony Mullally, while Jimmy Keinhorst and Dom Crosby have also previously played for Widnes.

Leeds are without Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall, Mitch Garbutt, Brett Delaney, Ash Handley and Carl Ablett through injury, while Ashton Golding, Adam Cuthbertson and Josh Walters haven’t been selected.

Widnes 19-man squad: Ah Van, Buckley, J Chapelhow, Finn, Gubb, Hansen, Hauraki, Heremaia, Houston, Inu, Leuluai, Lyons, Mellor, Olbison, Runciman, Walker, White, Whitley, Wilde.

Leeds 19-man squad: T Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Moon, Myler, Parcell, Singleton, Jones-Buchanan, Ward, Dwyer, Mullally, Keinhorst, Ferres, Peteru, Walker, Smith, Oledzki, L Briscoe, Crosby, Thompson.