Widnes Vikings Head of Youth Development Stuart Wilkinson has been appointed as assistant first team coach at the Club in a part time capacity. He links up with Paul Cullen again following a successful period in 2006 when the duo guided England to victory in the Federation Shield defeating France, Samoa and Tonga in the group stages before accounting for Tonga again in the final at Widnes. Stuart's role will be taken over by Phil Finney who was appointed by the Club as Player Performance Manager earlier this year. www.widnesvikings.co.uk

Widnes Vikings Head of Youth Development Stuart Wilkinson has been appointed as assistant first team coach at the Club in a part time capacity. He links up with Paul Cullen again following a successful period in 2006 when the duo guided England to victory in the Federation Shield defeating France, Samoa and Tonga in the group stages before accounting for Tonga again in the final at Widnes. Stuart's role will be taken over by Phil Finney who was appointed by the Club as Player Performance Manager earlier this year. www.widnesvikings.co.uk

This is a big relief as I know there were rumblings that he might be leaving and I get the impression that this guy is a genuine asset.

They dont come much more disciplined and thorough than Cullen and Wilkinson. Whilst the last coaching team may have been fun and very relaxing the current will be the total opposite.


It could be just what we need.

Wilkie would do a better Job than Cullen as Head Coach.

He is a massive asset to any club and was on the coaching team at Leeds when they whooped everybodys ar*e a few seasons ago.

He is a top bloke and if I had to admit to some type of envy then it would be that he is at Widnes and not part of the set up at Barrow.

He knows his stuff and will teach Cullen a thing or 2.

Your opinion isnt valid, go away.

And yours is ? That is when you are not sulking and hiding





To judge whether my opinion is valid (about your number 2) mention my name to him and see if it is valid. I would say it is a little more valid than yours !

Just spoken to Stuart, the conversation went


Me - Hi Staurt, do you know Gary High?

Stuart - Yes mate, he's a big gay Barrow lad who works on a farm

Me - Many thanks stuart you have confirmed my thoughts

Stuart - No problem just make sure you stay well clear of him

Me - Will do

Priceless

However i nearly pis*ed my pants





That gets my vote for comeback of the year, maybe century !

I happily admit ive been OWNED big time !! It actually sounds like the type of thing Stuart would say to. Not about me though.......Im not a Barrow lad

Is this the same guy who assisted Millward at Wigan too?

Job history?

If he's that great, then why isn't he still at Leeds or Wigan?

Instead, (not meant disrespectfully) he is at Widnes on a Part Time Contract!

Enough said.

According to reports i've read he left Leeds for a new challenge and he left Wigan, again according to reports i've read, cos he did not like the way that Noble was running things.

or, he left both clubs because both coaches who are highly respected as HEAD COACHES, lost their faith in him?

Brian Noble and Tony Smith are obviously not idiots. Maybe they smelt a rat?

Pieface why are you trying to stir things up? John was a good lad and will be back in the game quickly.

Not trying to stir things up, I'm sorry if it comes across that way.

I am just stating my opinion and unlike some others posters on this forum, I do think about what I write, and try to look a little deeper into things than maybe a few other people do.

My comments in the main are not reactionary and I think I have a pretty good opinion.

I don't write on this forum to cause mischief, but I like to state it as I see it.

Hopefully, the people that respond in a decent manner will appreciate it that way. Thats how this forum should be shouldn't it?

I have agreed and sympathised with some of your early posts about JS. But it is getting a bit ridiculous now and , to be frank, sad. You are doing JS no favours going on and on about the way you think he has been treated. Derailing threads and insulting those still at the club will change nothing, except the likelihood of actually turning some of those otherwise sympathetic towards JS against him.

Stop it.

No problem. I've been told!

Dont talk sh*te !!!

Maybe he was a threat to their jobs ??


I know the guy personally and what he doesn't know about coaching rugby league, quite frankly isnt worth knowing !!!

Widnes have a cracker with Wilkie....He may turn your fortunes round.

Always heard that Wilkinson is a strict guy, so it will fit in well to Cullen's ethos.