Widnes learn their fate

It was five minutes of silence after we found out we weren't in there. But straight after that we got together as a management staff and decided that there's only one way forward.

Steve McCormack
Quotes of the week

Super League may have shut its door on them, but Widnes are determined to bounce back from their disappointment.

The Vikings were denied a license when the 14 franchises were confirmed for 2009 and beyond at the end of July, with Salford City Reds and the Celtic Crusaders joining the current top-flight clubs.

After starting the season with minus nine points after going into administration last term, the bad news was the second major blow suffered by all at the Stobart Stadium.

But with two National League One games remaining, the club are on the verge of the play-offs and going someway towards easing the Super League heartache.

"That day when the licenses were announced live on Sky, we were all in one room," head coach Steve McCormack told Boots 'n' All.

"We were all in one room, the players, staff, the community staff and supporters as well and it is a memory that will live with us all for a long, long time.

"It was five minutes of silence after we found out we weren't in there. But straight after that we got together as a management staff and decided that there's only one way forward."

That means a top-six spot and a place in the play-offs and then, perhaps the Grand Final.

And although the Super League snub left a bitter taste in the mouth, McCormack believes it could be just what they needed to whet their appetite for a taste of welcome glory.

"We can't look back and even though we were desperately disappointed and all the other emotions that go with that, we set our goal to continue this season and hopefully have a successful end to it.

"We've used it a lot as a motivational tool this year. I remember at the beginning of December I was sat in my office at Widnes and I didn't have one player on my books while everybody else had recruited very, very well.

"So straight away we've had a lot of challenges from the off and we'll just take this challenge as another big one and hopefully we've have a very good end to what has been a very difficult season for us."

But the difficulty has been backing up the optimism with results.

The play-offs are well within reach, but the Vikings could just as easily slip out of the top six and McCormack does not need reminding of the problems they face on the field, as well as off it.

"We blow hot and cold," he said.

"On our day we can be very, very good on other days we can be pretty poor, so we need to find that consistency. But we fancy ourselves, first and foremost we've got to get into that top six.

"We've two very difficult games, first at Sheffield then at Whitehaven in the last game of the season and we've got to play well to ensure our place in that top six first."