Cummins sees Vikings progress, despite losing run

Anchored to the foot of the table, Widnes are all but mathematically certain to face the ordeal of the Qualifiers at the end of the regular season.

But interim coach Francis Cummins has not given up on the five remaining regular games even if any wins in this time is unlikely to count for anything post the Super 8s split.

His focus is on getting things right from training and transferring that to game day.

But Friday night will be a tough one for Vikings - particularly off a short turnaround.

Cummins said: “We have got to believe we can win and have just got to play well - we can’t afford to have a handful of players off, but that is been where we have been for most weeks.

“Hull won’t turn up just thinking they will win, they will turn up desperate for a win and play well.

“We have had a look and have seen what they can do and they play some good football as well.

“They threw the ball about against Wigan before the torrential rain - so we know what we are up against but we are going to have to keep going.”

On the evidence of the couple of games since Denis Betts departed there is a feeling that Cummins is still trialling his players and he has not been afraid to make changes - throwing in 20-year-old Ollie Ashall-Bott in at full back.

And he was rewarded with a good display from the youngster.

Cummins sees progress in what Vikings are producing.

“We are still a bit up and down but you can see that we are working hard and are improving in what we are doing.

“We are training better and the things we are focusing on in training is now come in games.

“I would have liked it a lot earlier, but it is happening.

“We have just got to stick to it an be brave in those moments of the game where you have to hold in there for another play or two,” he said.

Lloyd White (knee clean-out) and Chris Dean (pectoral muscle tear) are both a month away fitness wise, which would make them available for the Eights.