Widnes coach Denis Betts praises Vikings after Huddersfield win
Sunday 28 February 2016 18:59, UK
Widnes coach Denis Betts watched his side go top of the Super League table with a rare victory at Huddersfield and warned the real test will come as they battle to remain there.
The Vikings, who finished in the bottom four in 2015, made it three wins from their first four games of the season with a 36-18 triumph over the injury-hit Giants at the John Smith's Stadium.
"We've not won here for 20 years and it was a great overall performance," said Betts.
"There are things in there we can do better - Joe Mellor was finding ways not to score a try.
"The lads are really made up with the fact we've been away from home three times and we've come out with six points from four games. We would have taken that early in the year.
"This next month the games are going to be coming thick and fast and it will be a real test for us. It becomes a war of attrition and the squad gets tested.
"It's nice [to be top] at this stage, we've made a really good start but we've got to make sure we get a bit more ruthless."
Widnes wingers Corey Thompson and Stefan Marsh scored two tries each, with former Canterbury Bulldogs player Thompson taking his tally to six in just four Super League appearances to become a fans' favourite.
"It's exciting when he gets the ball in his hands," added Betts. "Fans hold their breath and, when he gets one on one, he's going to score a try.
"It's nice to have that on both sides. We're blessed for wingers. Patrick Ah Van is close to returning and Paddy Flynn is knocking down walls to try and get in the side."
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The result leaves Huddersfield pointless and above bottom-of-the-table Leeds only on points difference as they prepare to take on the reigning champions at Headingley in Friday night's Sky Live clash.
"Historically that's a top-three game but both teams have copped some injuries and it will be a survival of the fittest," said Giants coach Paul Anderson.
"Let's see who can throw out the healthiest team."
Huddersfield went into the game against Widnes without eight members of their 25-man squad through injury and they lost Jamie Ellis with a shoulder problem after 24 minutes.
The scrum-half will almost certainly miss Friday's game against the Rhinos, but Anderson is hopeful Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree, Joe Wardle and Kyle Wood to will return within the next fortnight to boost his options.
"Three quarters of our salary cap have watched today," he added. "One or two might have a chance for Friday but we've got to battle on. The key is to stick together.
"I thought Widnes were very good we were poor and pretty soft if I'm honest.
"It was the same team [that almost beat Wigan] but our attitude was not quite right today. If your attitude is not right, you get challenged and Widnes did that. They ran harder than us and they had more vigour in everything they did.
"I've just congratulated Denis because they got what they deserved. We got what we deserved.
"In the first half we completed at 60 per cent, gave away seven penalties and had a man in the bin, that tells the whole story."
Watch Leeds Rhinos v Huddersfield Giants on Friday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7:30pm.
