Widnes v Hull KR preview
Widnes Vikings head coach Denis Betts makes two changes to his squad for the visit of Hull KR.
Chris Bridge and Setaimata Sa make way and are replaced by Tom Gilmore and Matt Whiteley.
Widnes Vikings are sitting pretty at the top of the Super League after four rounds, but boss Denis Betts is not getting carried away. Vikings aim to retain their lofty position when they entertain struggling Hull KR on Friday night.
But despite wins over last year’s top four sides Leeds and Huddersfield, Betts is keeping his side’s feet on the ground - with the Hull KR clash a prelude to a massive March which features a home game with big-spending Hull, followed by derby clashes against Wigan, Warrington and St Helens.
Betts said: “There is no euphoria or feeling that anything has been achieved. "We know exactly where we are. “The players know that nothing gets given out in the first month or the second, but it is about being consistent."
Hull KR assistant coach Willie Poching has been forced into making three changes to his 19-man squad for Friday’s match with Super League leaders Widnes Vikings.
The Robins will travel to the Select Security Stadium with a growing list of absentees after Albert Kelly and Graeme Horne picked up injuries in last week’s defeat to St Helens.
James Green also misses Friday’s game against the Vikings after being handed a one-match suspension for punching by last night’s RFL disciplinary panel, leaving Poching to ring the changes once again.
Young half back Matty Marsh is recalled to the squad this week after recovering from a knee injury whilst Kieran Moran and Joe Wardill are also named in the 19 after they were called up to train with the first team from the City of Hull Academy.
Widnes: Chris Bridge, Kevin Brown, Hep Cahill, Chris Dean, Gil Dudson, Connor Farrell, Tom Gilmore, Rhys Hanbury,Aaron Heremaia, Chris Houston, Macgraff Leuluai, Manase Manuokafoa, Stefan Marsh, Joe Mellor, Eamon O’Carroll, Charly Runciman, Corey Thompson, Lloyd White, Matt Whitley
Hull KR: Mitch Allgood, Maurice Blair, Chris Clarkson, Ben Cockayne, Kieran Dixon, James Greenwood, Stephen Holker, George Lawler, Matty Marsh, Thomas Minns, Kieran Moran, Robbie Mulhern, Liam Salter, Ryan Shaw, Ken Sio, Iain Thornley, Dane Tilse, Adam Walker, Joe Wardill
