Betts dismisses Schofield’s Widnes predictions

Widnes coach Denis Betts has reacted calmly to comments from former Great Britain star and current pundit Garry Schofield, who has opined that the Vikings will finish bottom of Super League in 2016.

The ex-Leeds stand-off also criticised the Vikings’ recruitment policy, claiming that the club lacked ambition and appeared to be stagnating.

Schofield made the comments in a newspaper column, but Betts is taking them with a pinch of salt.

“Garry was a very, very talented player; probably one of the most gifted I played with,” Betts told the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s a journalist now and he writes stuff – but it doesn’t bother us.

“Our recruitment drive has been about finding the right people to put in the team, not to appease journalists or people outside of this club.

“Our recruitment has been specific to what we need.

“If somebody thinks it’s not very exciting, then they should try recruiting.

“He’s entitled to his opinion. That’s sport; that’s what it’s for.

“He’s probably stoked the fire of a lot of people in Widnes; he might not be able to come here!”