SUPER LEAGUE PREVIEW | Widnes Vikings vs Castleford Tigers
The final regular Super League game of the 2018 season takes place at the Select Security Stadium on Sunday when Widnes Vikings host the Castleford Tigers. Both teams were on the end of disappointing defeats last weekend.
SQUAD NEWS
Widnes Vikings
Coach Francis Cummins has included new signings Liam Finn and Harrison Hansen in his 19-man matchday squad.
Chris Dean returns after a lengthy injury spell, while Rhys Hanbury, Lloyd White, Ryan Ince and Owen Farnworth also come into a much-changed side.
Widnes 19-man squad: Ah Van, Albert, J. Chapelhow, T. Chapelhow, Craven, Dean, Farnworth, Finn, Hanbury, Hansen, Hauraki, Ince, Inu, Leuluai, Mellor, Olbison, Walker, Whitley, Wilde.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Set of Six’ with Owen Farnworth
Castleford Tigers
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Head coach Daryl Powell has made four changes to the side that lost to Huddersfield last week. Mike McMeeken returns from injury and new signing Peter Mata’utia is also added.
Youngsters Calum Turner and Jacques O’Neill are included as well, and out go Matt Cook, Grant Millington, Jake Webster and Lewis Peachey.
Castleford 19-man squad: Clare, Clark, Eden, Ellis, Gill, Holmes, Laulu-Togaga’e, Massey, Mata’utia, McMeeken, McShane, Milner, Moors, O’Neill, Sene-Lefao, Shenton, Trueman, Turner, Watts.
HEAD TO HEAD
These two sides have not met since round 2 of Super League, with Castleford winning 13-12 with a Luke Gale drop goal being the only difference between the two sides in a freezing February tie. The Tigers have won four of their last five visits to Widnes and will look to make the double over the Vikings for 2018.
KEY BATTLE- Liam Finn (Widnes) vs Jamie Ellis (Castleford)
A new halfback can take a few games to settle in but Liam Finn will need to make an immediate impact. His main task will be moving the ball around the field with the Vikings in dire need of some organisation across the board. He will need to be able to sit back and come up with the plays needed to get over the line.
Jamie Ellis is having to step into this role himself with Luke Gale still injured, but he has the advantage of being with the Castleford side for some time now. Both have underrated skill sets so this could be an interesting battle.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 29th July
Venue: Select Security Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Liam Moore
