Widnes Vikings back-rower MacGraff Leuluai knows there will be no tougher game to make his 2015 Super League bow in than Friday’s home clash with St Helens.
Having not made the Vikings team for the opening two Super League rounds, Leuluai joined Whitehaven on dual registration and has featured in their last two games.
But now he, alongside Phil Joseph, who also played for the Cumbrian outfit last weekend, has been recalled to Denis Betts’ 19-man squad and is eager to hit the ground running.
“It definitely feels good to be back in the squad,” Leuluai told totalrl.com.
“I have had to bide my time and get myself ready to get back out onto the field for Widnes and finally play alongside the boys again.
“Denis asked me to go to Whitehaven, get some game time and play for them as I would have for Widnes. He’s watched the videos and is happy with what I have done for them. We have a few injuries as well, which has helped my cause as well and I’m just happy to be back with the boys again.
“Massive game to come back into. They are a big physical team so going to be tough on Friday, but always seem to be a bit more confident when we are playing at home with the fans behind us. It was a tough defeat at Huddersfield last week and we will be looking to bounce back from that on Friday.”
Widnes’ 19-man squad to face St Helens: Patrick Ah Van, Chris Clarkson, Danny Craven, Chris Dean, Gil Dudson, Paddy Flynn, Danny Galea, Alex Gerrard, Grant Gore, Rhys Hanbury, Aaron Heremaia, Phil Joseph, Ben Kavanagh, Macgraff Leuluai, Stefan Marsh, Joe Mellor, Eamon O’Carroll, Jack Owens, Danny Tickle
