Widnes Vikings captain Kevin Brown believes that his side’s dual-registration partnership with Whitehaven is one of the few success stories of the current system.

A number of Vikings first team players appeared for Haven earlier in the season on dual-registration and Widnes have given the West Cumbrian side four players for their final seven games of the season.

With speculation surrounding the introduction of a reserve league for Super League sides from 2016, Brown believes there is no reason why dual-registration can’t work alongside a league for second-string players.

“In our case, dual registration is good for everyone involved,” Brown said. “The result Haven had last weekend shows that our players are making an impact.

“I spoke to a few guys from Whitehaven and they are really happy with how things are going and our players who are there are thrilled because they are playing in a tough league.

“For the younger lads there is a massive jump from Under-19s to the first team.

“If they string 10 man of the match performances together at that level it doesn’t automatically mean they are ready for the first team.”

Although the Vikings captain highlighted the improving standard of competition in the Championship he believes that a reserve league is needed for more players to get game-time in the top flight.

“The link between ourselves and Whitehaven has worked particularly well, it’s a success story but it’s one of the only ones that I’ve seen.

“In previous years I’ve known lads who have been sat there for eight to 10 weeks and not being played because there’s no opportunity for them to get into the side.

“There needs to be a reserve grade so there’s an opportunity for them to work in the same system and structure and develop like that.

“I can see why some people say there needs to be a reserve grade because at some clubs there isn’t the room to have extra players there.

“The standard in the Championship is good and we’ve seen from teams in the Middle 8s that they are capable sides.

“It’s a good stepping stone and for players who can’t play in the Under-19s it means they can’t play if they don’t go out to other sides.

“It’s important to get minutes under their belts and keeping rustiness away and ultimately doing what they are paid to do.”