This article details the Widnes Vikings rugby league football club's 2012 season. This is the seventeenth season of the Super League era.
Season review
March 2011
The Rugby Football League announced that the Vikings' application had been accepted and would be accepted into Super League XVII.
April 2011
Widnes give Prop Ben Kavanagh a 3-year Super League deal making him the first current player to get a new Super League contract.
June 2011
It was announced that the Vikings would keep current players Paddy Flynn and Steve Pickersgill through the 2012 season on their existing deals.
July 2011
Widnes announced the capture of Wigan Warriors Prop Ben Cross (formerly of Leeds Rhinos) on a one-year deal; they also recruited Second Rower Hep Cahill form Crusaders on a three-year deal. Another signing for the Vikings came in the form of off of contract Hull Kingston Rovers fullback Shaun Briscoe, also current player Macgraff Leuluai signed a two-year Super League deal after impressing the coaching staff in 2011. Three more current Widnes players signed Super League contracts: David Allen on a two-year deal, Thomas Coyle on a two-year deal and Kurt Haggerty on a one-year deal with the option of another year.
August 2011
The Vikings signed New Zealand winger Patrick Ah Van from the Bradford Bulls on a two-year deal. Other new signings include Frank Winterstein on a 2-year deal from Crusaders, also his teammate Lloyd White joins Widnes on a 3-year deal. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats centre Chris Dean was announced on a 2-year deal while Wigan Warriors prop Ben Davies also signs for 2 years. Widnes have also promoted youngsters Jack Owens, Danny Craven and Tom Gilmore to full-time contracts with the Vikings.
September 2011
Widnes announce the signing of Castleford Tigers centre Willie Isa on a 2 Year Deal. The Vikings released Dean Gaskell, Richard Varkulis, Gareth Haggerty, Danny Hulme, Shane Grady, Chris Lunt, Chaz I'Anson, Matt Gardner, Greg Scott, Daniel Heckenberg, Danny Sculthorpe, Tangi Ropati and Dave Houghton.
October 2011
There was no news for October.
November 2011
The 2012 Super League fixtures were announced with Widnes taking on Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at the Stobart Stadium on 3 February; this match was selected to be on Sky Sports. It marked the Vikings' first Super League game since 2005. Widnes signed centre Stefan Marsh on a one-year loan deal from fellow Super League club Wigan Warriors.
December 2011
The 2012 squad numbers were released. The Vikings lost their Boxing Day friendly 32–18 against arch rivals Warrington Wolves, the Vikings tries came from Scott Moore, Thomas Coyle and Danny Craven, Patrick Ah Van kicked all 3 goals.
January 2012
Widnes started 2012 with a 28–6 win over Championship team Swinton Lions. Paddy Flynn, Stefan Marsh, Kurt Haggerty, Rhys Hanbury and Danny Craven all scored a try each for the Vikings whilst Patrick Ah Van kicked a goal, Craven kicked a goal and Lloyd White finished with 2 goals. The Vikings signed ex-Wigan Warriors fullback Cameron Phelps on a 2 Year Deal. Widnes had the honour of being St Helens R.F.C.'s first opponents at Langtree Park, however they went down 42–24 after a spirited performance, wingman Paddy Flynn scored a hat-trick while Stefan Marsh and Rhys Hanbury also crossed the try-line, Ah Van converted 2 of the tries. It was announced that the Vikings had captured Melbourne Storm prop Sione Kite on a two-year deal.
February 2012
Widnes kicked off their first year back in the Super League with a 32–14 loss to new-look Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the Vikings looked good and took the lead with tries from Danny Craven, Patrick Ah Van and Hep Cahill with Ah Van kicking a goal however they surrendered to a late Wakefield fightback. The Vikings were destroyed by a rampant Huddersfield Giants side, the Giants came away with a 66–6 win with Widnes' sole try coming from Paddy Flynn while Ah Van kicked the goal. Widnes lost 38–18 to Salford City Reds with Ah Van scoring 2 tries and 2 goals with Flynn also scoring. Rhys Hanbury also kicked a goal. The Vikings were beaten 44–16 by the champions Leeds Rhinos, Ah Van, Hanbury and Flynn all crossed for tries whilst Ah Van kicked 2 goals.