Widnes Vikings Head Coach John Kear was immensely proud of his players following their 30-0 defeat against league leaders Featherstone Rovers.
The Vikings were forced to use their 18th man during the game, after losing Matty Fleming, Zach Eckersley and Lewis Hatton to head injuries.
In a moment of history, Will Tilleke became the first 18th man to play for the Vikings. But that was not the end of it.
Later in the match, Ant Walker also failed a head injury assessment. All four players will now go under the 11-day return to play concussion protocols.
Kear admitted he had never seen anything like that before during his coaching career.
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“It’s been chaotic to tell you the truth,” he said. “I’ve never known anything like it.
“I’ve coached many years, and I’ve coached many games, but to lose four players to head injury assessments, I’ve never known anything like it.
“We’ve lost a full-back, a centre and two middle men. It just puts stress on everyone, with rearranging the team, and then we could only change one player in the second half. It’s absolutely unbelievable, the effort they put in.
“I know people look at the paper and see 30 points to nil, but what they ought to have done is come along today and see exactly what happened. They lost the second half eight nil, two tries and I felt we bombed a few ourselves.
“It’s great credit to them, and I take great heart from the effort, enthusiasm and makeship they demonstrated in that changing room.
“I want to pay tribute to Will Tilleke as well. 18th men are rarely used, but he prepared as though he was playing the game. I thought when he went out there, he gave a really good 25 minutes work in that middle.
“Even though we lost 30-0, there are lots of positives I can take from that.”
The Vikings now have a week off, before they return to action in York for the Summer Bash against Swinton Lions.
Kear believes his squad will be in a much healthier place for that match, as they look to return to winning ways.
“It’s an 11-day return to play protocol, so we would have lost four players for next week,” he added.
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“We should be in a much healthier position for the Summer Bash. I certainly hope so, it’s about time!
“We’re not using it as an excuse, but I will look at our resilience and group unity to draw on that for later in the season.
“There will be times when we come under the cosh and face adversity, but I know we can handle it pretty well.”
Kear also confirmed Kyle Amor and Adam Lawton missed this game through injury. Both were absent from the pack after Monday’s defeat at Batley Bulldogs.
On them, Kear said: “Kyle Amor had a knee injury, and Adam [Lawton] has had a recurring knee injury which we are trying to manage.
“Those were the reasons behind those two.”
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