Widnes captain Kevin Brown confident Vikings ready for first match of new-look Super League
Thursday 5 February 2015 09:37, UK
New Widnes captain Kevin Brown says the Vikings are ready to tackle Wigan in the first game of the new-look Super League.
All eyes will be on the artificial pitch at the Select Security Stadium on Thursday night when Brown's men launch the 2015 First Utility Super League season against last year's beaten Grand Finalists Wigan.
"We're very lucky that we get the chance to kick off the new season, to get the cameras and arguably the biggest club in the country down and show what we can do," said Brown, a former Wigan stand-off who has taken over the Widnes
captaincy from the retired Jon Clarke.
"We're under no illusions, it's going to be tough - there's probably no tougher start - but we've not done too bad against Wigan at home in the last few years."
The Vikings won 24-10 in the corresponding fixture last August in a season which saw them maintain their upward curve under coach Denis Betts with a first appearance in the play-offs.
With two of the six clubs who finished below them relegated to make way for a new 12-team division, Widnes are widely expected to be among the bottom four set to battle in out with the top four from the Championship in the middle section of the new Super 8s.
Live First Utility Super League
But Brown, one of eight former Wigan players hoping to face their old club, says the Vikings, who beat reigning champions St Helens in a friendly, are determined to maintain their momentum and believes the addition of Manase
Manuokafoa, Chris Clarkson, Aaron Heremaia and former Wigan prop Gil Dudson has strengthened the team in key areas.
"The players we've had were great players but I think we've got a better group than last year and hopefully that can show in the results," he said.
"Where we struggled to beat teams was when we had to go up the middle against some real big sides.
"We've got hard-working people with good footwork but now we've got big Manuokofoa and Gil Dudson and, if the pitches aren't as good or the weather's a bit off, we can go through teams as well, which is something we didn't have the luxury of doing last year."
The game has come too soon for Dudson, who will be among a bumper crowd boosted by the club's attempt to set a world record for the most number of people exercising to a fitness video.
