WIDNES VIKINGS coach Allan Coleman says Nathan Wilde’s pedigree was clear to see as the on-loan Leigh forward lined up alongside namesake Sam in the back row and played his part in the recent win over Salford.
While 30-year-old Sam, originally a Warrington product, started a third spell at Widnes when he switched from North Wales ahead of this season, Nathan, 26, arrived late last month after a previous loan stint in 2024.
He came through hometown Wigan’s renowned development system but made his senior bow after joining Newcastle, where he spent 2021 and 2022 before signing for Leigh.
Nathan Wilde has also been loaned to Rochdale, Doncaster, Featherstone and Salford, and Coleman was happy to bring him in alongside Leigh teammate, centre/secondrow Andy Badrock.
The pair were loaned for the reminder of the season with recall options, which Leigh have already taken up to bring back Badrock.
But both featured in the 52-8 home victory over Salford, a fourth Widnes win running and tenth in twelve league outings.
“Nathan was excellent,” said Coleman, who is now looking ahead to Sunday;s visit of London Broncos.
“He didn’t lose a ruck defensively and he carries the ball really strongly.
“He’s very professional and really smart, and it’s clear he has been in good structures throughout his career.
“And he stays relaxed and has a calming presence on the pitch, which helped the rest of the team.”
Coleman believed patience was the passport to success against Salford, with Widnes notching 36 unanswered points in the second half.
“The first half was a bit frustrating, but I think we found more aggression and we solved the aggression they had been showing against us in the second,” he explained.
“We didn’t panic, we created options and we found holes in their defence.”