Aaron Heremaia: Widnes youngsters doing great job
Aaron Heremaia has been impressed with Widnes’ young players when filling in for their injured forwards this season.
The Vikings beat Salford Red Devils 24-16 at the Halton Stadium on Thursday night and they now sit in eighth place in the Betfred Super League table.
Widnes were without regular forwards Gil Dudson, Lloyd White, Alex Gerrard, Jay Chapelhow and Hep Cahill for the game due to injury.
But Heremaia was been impressed with the likes of Sam Wilde, Jordan Johnstone, Danny Walker, Ted Chapelhow and Brad Walker.
Speaking after the game, he told loverugbyleague.com: “It wasn’t the best game, it was a bit scrappy at the end but its two points for us and that’s the main thing and we aim to build on that going into Easter.
“We put a disappointing effort in a couple of weeks ago against Huddersfield so we were looking to right a few wrongs and the two points big for us. We are delighted with the victory.
“We are without our regulars but I think the young guys are doing a great job. We’ve got a big squad now whereas in previous years, we probably had 17 to 18 players in the regular squad.
“We’ve got around 26 players in the first team now so everyone is doing their job. We are coming up to Easter so we need everyone on form.”
Denis Betts’ side face a gruelling Easter schedule. They face a trip to local rivals Warrington Wolves on Good Friday while they host league leaders St Helens on Easter Monday.
Heremaia thinks the team can go into the Easter period with confidence though.
He added: “The competition is more competitive now, it’s just whoever turns up on the day, anyone can beat anyone.
“I think we’ve got a couple of players coming back so hopefully we can go to Warrington on Friday and those guys who are returning from injury can add a bit on the Monday.
“Easter is always a tough period and I don’t think it comes much tougher than Warrington on Friday and St Helens on the Monday but the result against Salford has put us in good stead going forward and I’m sure we will put forward our front foot against Warrington.”