The Vikings are pleased to reveal our newest addition ahead of the 2024 season, as 32-year-old forward Danny Langtree arrives at the DCBL Stadium from Barrow Raiders.
He signs for the club following his release from Barrow in the final year of his contract as he was unable to travel due to new work commitments.
The former Oldham and Hull FC man arrives having played for the Raiders since 2022, scoring six tries across 37 appearances, and will now link up with new head coach Allan Coleman at the Vikings.
Langtree, who plays primarily in the back row, becomes Allan Coleman’s 7th new signing and is delighted to be a Viking in 2024.
In 2023, he made 21 appearances scoring five tries, and is eager to get into pre-season with the team. “I’m just looking forward to getting going now, meeting all the lads and looking ahead to the season.
“Widnes is a massive club and it’s got more or less Super League facilities, it’s probably the best about in this league. So, I’m looking forward to getting amongst all of it and getting stuck in with the lads.”
Langtree explained how excited he is to play under new coach Allan Coleman and the ambitions the team has ahead of the 2024 season.
He said: “Obviously Allan did a really good job with Swinton last year, so I’m really looking forward to playing under him and hopefully having a successful season.
“We need to take every game as it comes, but obviously Widnes haven’t been in the playoffs for a long time so that’s a minimum for us this year with the squad that we’re getting together.”
Allan Coleman sees Langtree’s acquisition as a huge coup for the club and one that helps to solidify the club’s targets ahead of 2024.
He said: “He’s a quality player who knows the championship. He’s very strong, athletic, and a big running threat.
“He’s a player that every championship team would want, so I think it’s a fantastic coup for us to get such a fantastic player with a great attitude also.
“He’ll bring that threat on an edge, he’ll bring a hunger and work rate for the ethos we want within the club. He also adds experience which will be vital for the players around him.”
Langtree becomes the 6th signing in the forward pack for next year and Coleman believes that he is a perfect fit for the culture the team is building, saying, “People will have their own views on our signings, but we know these are the right people for what the club needs. They will work hard and will prove that in their performances which will help us to change things that need changing at the club.
“It will certainly take time because it’s not going to happen overnight, but we feel that the players we’re getting in have a very similar ethos on the game, and that is to work extremely hard. Hopefully, we’ll get the rewards from that.”
Langtree gave a message to the Widnes fans ahead of the new campaign, saying, “I’m a player who will get stuck in and give you 100% every week, so hopefully the fans will see that and get behind us.”
As mentioned earlier this week, signings like this are made possible due to the fantastic Widnes VIPS scheme in place to assist in strengthening the Vikings’ squad. If fans wish to sign up for the scheme they can do so here
Everyone at the Vikings welcomes Danny to the club and can’t wait to see him pull on the shirt in 2024 as the squad continues to take shape.
