McShane in Widnes loan move

James Gordon

Widnes have signed Leeds hooker Paul McShane on loan until the end of the season.

McShane, 22, is likely to go straight in to the Vikings line-up for Sunday’s Super League clash with Huddersfield, with coach Denis Betts struggling with a hooker crisis.

Having lost first choice hookers Scott Moore and Anthony Watts in controversial circumstances earlier in the season, both sacked by the club, Betts will be without captain Jon Clarke for the Giants clash, after he was handed a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Warrington’s Matty Blythe last weekend.

Two other hookers, Thomas Coyle and Lloyd White, are both out for the season through injury, so McShane’s arrival will be a welcome relief to the Widnes coaching staff.

Betts said: “Paul’s come in on loan and he’s already trained with us.

“He was supposed to have gone to London, but something happened.

“We were looking at a couple of options to give us number nine cover anyway so we’ve been scouting around.

“Paul was looking to find some game-time because he isn’t getting any at Leeds at the moment and if I’m honest he really suits the way we want to play. I’m really pleased we’ve got him until the end of the year because with Lloyd being out we haven’t got another hooker in the squad.”

McShane was handed the number nine shirt at Headingley for 2012, but has struggled to impose himself on the team thanks to the fine form of Rub Burrow.

He has still managed nine appearances, mainly off the bench, this season, his last appearance coming in the Challenge Cup victory over Leigh.