Denis Betts: Widnes thoroughly professional against Wakefield

Widnes head coach Denis Betts was impressed with his team's performance against Wakefield on Saturday.

Widnes head coach Denis Betts believes his side have overcome any anxiety they may have had at the start of the Super 8s campaign.

The Vikings moved one step closer to securing their Super League status with a 46-4 defeat of Wakefield at Belle Vue on Saturday.

The victory is Widnes' fourth in five matches and all-but guarantees their place in the top flight for next season.

"Nobody has been in the Super 8s before so none of the players understand what it's like to be in a relegation fight," Betts said after the match.  

"We decided to get our energy in defence right and our attack would build once we got that anxiety out of us.

"In the first two or three weeks, you saw that anxiety in our attack but our ruthless edge in defence got us results. What you are seeing now is that the anxiety has dropped out of us and we're scoring points that we know we can score."

The Vikings are in a rich vein of form and raced into a 34 point lead before finally conceding a solitary try in the second half.

"It was thoroughly professional," added Betts.

Rhys Hanbury scored four of Widnes' eight tries against Wakefield.

"I think it was a knock on from the second half last week. We scored some great tries but to concede only four points here is a fantastic effort. That's the pleasing part about how much desire and energy and effort is in the team.

"Once the shackles are taken off us and we lose that anxiety, you saw tonight how well we can attack.

"We're in a good place. I think the top three is virtually set. We've just got to finish our season off in a real positive manner that we've shown over the last couple of weeks."

Wakefield's head coach Brian Smith was critical of his team's efforts, although they still remain in contention for the Super League places, despite the defeat.

"It was a poor day for us today," Smith said.

Wakefield head coach Brian Smith shouldered some of the blame for his side's defeat.

"Widnes were as good tonight as they were against Bradford and maybe even better at times. They started with a bang and we just couldn't bang back with them.

"It's very disappointing. We'll need to improve remarkably next week to get ourselves anywhere near where we like to think we can be.

"I think I at least contributed to tonight's performance because it was lacklustre from the beginning,

"Since I've been here I've tried to do some things in terms of preparation that most of the players are not familiar with. I tried to revitalise them a bit with energy but the payback was we were soft."