Houston excited by Wigan challenge

Widnes back-rower Chris Houston says the Vikings are looking forward to testing themselves against Wigan in the top of the table clash on Thursday night.

Widnes head to the DW Stadium tomorrow to take on the undefeated Warriors.

Wigan have won five from five in 2016 while the Vikings have won five out of their six games. Widnes, Warrington and Wigan take the top three positions on the Super League ladder and all have 10 points.

Houston is excited about playing Wigan for the first time.

“They’ve been a quality side for years,” the back-rower told Love Rugby League.

“This year they’ve had a great start as well and they’re a team that does the little things right. We’re looking forward to the challenge really.

“We’ve had not a bad start and we’re looking forward to each game as they come. Playing at that stadium, it will be a bit of a buzz too.

“We’ll do plenty of homework on them and our coaches will come up with a plan that hoepfully we can put into practice, and we’ll see what happens.”

Despite having a year left on his contract at the Newcastle Knights, Houston moved to Super League after Knights coach Nathan Brown told him he could look elsewhere.

The Australian has fitted in well at the Select Security Stadium and is enjoying his time at the club.

“I just had some really good phone conversations with the CEO James Rule,” Houston said.

“And then got on to Dennis and had a good chat with him. From the owner Steve down it just seemed like everything was bult from the bottom up and working well.

“I just decided I wanted to come over here and see it for myself. I came over at the end of November and once I was here I was happy with the way everything was set up.

“Obviously playing under Dennis was something appealed to me being a back-rower and him being an ex-back-rower and ex-international. I knew a handful of blokes in the team as well and I made some calls to those blokes, and they said they were enjoying their time here.

“It was a pretty easy decision in the end once I had met everyone involved.”