_{THE HALIFAX HOMECOMING}

Halifax Panthers vs Widnes Vikings

'The Digital Den' Matchday E-Programme -
Sponsored by Collett & Sons

Betfred Championship Round 25 - Sunday 7th September 2025

"It's great to be back at The Shay. The boys are looking forward to playing on a nice, fresh pitch. It's a massive game for us, win this and we'd like to think we've secured ourselves in the top six."

Ben Crooks
^{Captain, Halifax Panthers}

Welcome back to The Shay.

It's been 120 long days since we last played here. Odsal did a job for us, and I want to thank Jason Hirst and Tracey Erby at Bradford Bulls, Calderdale Council, and Ken Davy for their support during that period – but this is different. This is home. This is The Shay.

And look at the place now. The work has been worth it – we've got a fantastic new pitch beneath us, a surface fit to host the very best of Panthers Rugby League to get your best support.

We've waited long enough to be back. Now it's time to make up for lost time. Win today against Widnes and we're in the playoffs – it's that simple.

The boys will give it everything, but they need you with them every step of the way.

Your voices.

Your noise.

Your passion.

From the first whistle to the last – make The Shay shake. Make it fierce. Make it ours.

Before we get underway, we'll also come together to celebrate the lives of two staunch Panthers supporters, Hilda Hardy and Alix Punch, with a minute's applause. A moment of respect – then straight into full voice for the team.

It's brilliant to be back. So let's stand together, let's lift the lads, and let's turn The Shay into a wall of noise. Have a great afternoon and as always: Up the Panthers!

Damian Clayton MBE
CEO, Halifax Panthers

UP THE
PANTHERS

#BAWA

Coaches Corner

KYLE EASTMOND on coming home, staying focused and pushing for the play offs

It's good to be home again. It's been a long time coming but we're finally here. 120 days is a long time to be away but now it's time for us to be back. It is a great place to play your Rugby and be involved in game days and the lads love it, we appreciate it and we're looking forward to getting out there. The new pitch is unreal, I wish I could play on it myself! It's just a great surface and one the lads deserve.

In terms of home field advantage, I've never looked at a game of Rugby like that to be honest, even from when I was playing myself. Don't get me wrong, it's always nice and you always want your home stadium to be a fortress, I get all that. But ultimately, you've still got to perform, haven't you?

All the little creatures comforts and that, all that comes in handy of course but good players just turn up and they get the job done. Just like we did up in Barrow, you know, if home advantage was a big thing, we wouldn't have gone up there and put in the performance we did. So it's great to be back, but at the same time, we've got to get our performance right whether we're at home or not so that's the most important thing.

I think the best thing about it all is being able to play in front of our home fans again. Whether that's an advantage or not, it's just great to be back and we're looking forward to the game. They've been great since day one whether it's here at The Shay or away, they've just really pushed the lads on and helped us along the way. They've been a massive part of a lot of the good we've done this year so it's just great to be back home and playing in front of them again.

We're going into the match with the same mentality that we always have but I do understand the implications of what a win would mean in securing a play off spot. Let's get the job done, that's what we come and try to do every single week and the lads haven't let us down yet on that so there'll be no change there. We're excited for it.

We know it's a big day for the club. It's always good to play in front of big crowds and everything so we're looking forward to that and seeing all the Fax fans down here today. We've got to embrace these occasions but at the end of the day, we're playing a game of Rugby against another seventeen, don't ever steer away from that. It's something we've done all our lives so my message to the lads is that I expect us to win, but that it's just another game of Rugby. Don't build it into something it's not.

To make the play offs in my first season as head coach, honestly it'd be great. I think for me personally, I'd be happy for the players based on what they've put in. I've never done what they do, I don't go out to work all day and come home and go training and play on a weekend so I've never done that. I respect that more than what they understand really so making the play offs would be great for them.

We know what it means and everything, and there should be some sort of pressure playing for Halifax because it's a big club. But at the end of the day, We've all got a job to do and we'll go out there and do it to the best of our abilities and hopefully that will be enough. One thing is for certain, we'll be ready. We have to be.

Kyle Eastmond
Head Coach, Halifax Panthers

Player Profile

Quickfire Questions with Hometown Hooker Tom Inman

Rapid-fire Q&A

Q: How did you get started playing the game?
A: My Dad played Rugby Union locally so I started playing at Old Brods but they weren't doing contact at under 9s so I went to Rugby League at King Cross Park and never looked back.

Q: What is your favourite thing about being a Rugby league player?
A: After the final whistle has gone and you know you've had a good dig. And then the team song with the lads. Celebrating.

Q: Who's had the biggest influence on your career?
A: My Dad is a big one actually. He's good with life lessons and stuff so I've taken some good morals out of that and brought it into Rugby.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?
A: I like to see where my family are in the stands before a game. It's just my pre match check before I'm ready to go.

Q: Would you rather play in 32 degree heat or 2 degree sleet?
A: 32 degree heat, we've done it a couple of times this summer and I didn't mind it.

Q: Favourite Stadium(s) you've ever played in?
A: I like playing at Toulouse, I think it's nice there. The Shay as well, you can't beat The Shay in my hometown.

Q: Best Try you've scored?
A: There's not many of them! [laughs] I did a chip and chase at York once but I'll take the one at Fev away in the Challenge Cup in 2023. We were written off in that game and then went on to win at Wembley that year so that was a good moment.

Q: Who was your Rugby Hero as a kid?
A: There was the likes of Sam Burgess and stuff. And then, coming down to The Shay as a kid and watching Bob Fairbank and Adzy Tangata, to be fair. You forget about it when playing alongside them now but you take it for granted a little bit.

Q: What do you do for a day job when you're not playing Rugby?
A: I'm an apprentice brick layer. Graft, proper graft.

Q: Who's the best player you've played alongside or against?
A: I'll just say the best player never to play Super League - James Saltonstall! And probably Gareth Widdop as well, went down under as a kid and ended up winning an NRL Grand Final and playing in a World Cup Final. Pretty cool that!

Q: What do you like to do to relax after a tough game or training session?
A: Nice bit of food mate, not a horrible disgusting takeaway but just a good meal from somewhere.

Q: What is your dream holiday destination?
A: There's all the Maldives and places like that. I'd love to do a big tour of Australia, yeah definitely.

Q: What's your Karaoke song?
A: I haven't done it for a few years but it was always 'It Must Be Love' by Alan Jackson. I just knew it off by heart.

Q: What's at the very top of your bucket list?
A: I want to be a good parent, have a nice family and stuff. Be comfortable in life.

Q: What's your favourite cheat day meal?
A: There's a few places. I'll just knock off one that I've been going to lately, it's called All Pizzetto in town. I get the chicken alfredo with garlic bread, lovely.

Q: If you could switch lives with anybody in the world for a day, who would it be?
A: Connor McGregor, if he was out on the boats in Ibiza and that. Yeah, that'd be cool.

Q: What's one thing you're unbeatable at?
A: DJ'ing the pre match tunes in the dressing room. I'm very good at that!

Q: You find a crystal ball. What is one thing you'd like to know about the future?
A: How the UK looks, I suppose. And personally, what's going on in my life, how my family looks and things like that. Nothing too out there.

TREBLE CHASING PANTHERS

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHALLENGE CUP AND LEAGUE LEADERS SHIELD DOUBLE WINNING WHEELCHAIR PANTHERS. PUSHING FOR THE GRAND FINAL NOW ON 28TH SEPTEMBER

JOHNNY FREEMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY FRONT RUNNERS - 2025 LEADING TRY SCORERS (ALL COMPETITIONS)

JOINT 1ST - JAMES SALTONSTALL - 11

Sitting joint top with two regular season games to go, Winger Saltonstall leads the way in his Testimonial Year. Reliable try scorer during his decade long tenure with his hometown club

JOINT 1ST - BEN TIBBS - 11

Winger Tibbs is having a stellar season in his 5th year at The Shay, sitting joint top of the Panthers try scoring charts level with James Saltonstall. Fast and elusive with a keen eye for the line

3RD - CHARLIE GRAHAM - 10

Despite missing a large part of the early rounds with a broken hand suffered in pre season, Graham has wasted no time getting reacquinted with the try line. In good form, big chance to take the trophy in final play off push

4TH - JAMES WOODBURN-HALL - 9

Despite finding himself in a new position under Kyle Eastmond, Woodburn-Hall has shown that his Rugby League Class is definitely permanant. Dangerous close to the line, outside chance of topping the charts

5TH - JACK HANSEN - 8

Closing off the top 5, Hansen has settled well into life as a Panther. Often found backing up breaks as a good half back should, the talented number 7 will have his say before the year is done

Meet the Visitors

Introducing Widnes Vikings

Founded in 1875, Farnworth and Appleton FC was formed originally as a cricket club, before deciding to embrace the burgeoning football code. The first known game for the new Farnworth and Appleton FC was in Widnes in January 1876 played under Rugby rules against Northwich Victoria. A few weeks later, a return match was played at Drill Field, Northwich under Soccer rules. Vics won both games. These are the only two known fixtures in their truncated first season.

By May 1876, the club had changed its name to Widnes FC and the cricket side of the organisation had disbanded, leaving the way for the club we know now to begin life proper.

Widnes were one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. Their first game was an away fixture against Runcorn which they lost 15–4.

From humble beginnings, Widnes would go one to become on of the most successful Rugby League clubs in the country, sitting 8th on the all time major honours list (Fax sit 9th in the same rankings) with Three League Championships, Six Premiership wins and Seven Challenge Cup to their name.

One of the Chemics most prestigous moments came in 1989, when Widnes beat Canberra 30-18 at Old Trafford in the first ever recognised World Club Challenge match. The win was the perfect conclusion to the Cheshire side’s finest spell which saw them claim 3 Championships in 11 years as well as 3 Challenge Cups.

When the sport moved to Summer in 1996, Widnes weren't included in the initial 12 team Super League. However, the Vikings as they were renamed in November of that year, were always a forced to be reckoned with in the second tier. They earned promotion in 2002, surprising everyone by narrowly missing out on a play-off place, finishing seventh.

They would be relegated back to the second tier in 2005 when Catalans Dragons were introduced to Super League, meaning two teams faced the drop that season. They enjoyed more cup success during the following years, lifting the Northern Rail Cup twice in 2007 and 2009.

But 7 years on from relegation, the Vikings would be the beneficiaries of the choice of the games' administrators when they were awarded a license to return to the top flight for the 2012 season.

The 2014 season proved to be the most successful season of the franchise period, with the club finishing eighth in the Super League table on 27 points and subsequently qualifying for the end of season play-offs for the first time in their history.

A 22–19 away defeat by the Warrington Wolves brought the curtain down on a season that can only be seen as a success for the Vikings, with a Challenge Cup Semi-Final appearance against the Castleford being the key highlight.

The RFL overhauled Super League for the 2015 season, scrapping the Franchise System and re-adopting promotion & relegation. Widnes finished in 9th and went on to consolidate their top flight status in the Middle 8's.

The trajectory charts were only heading down though as a narrow escape from the Million Pound Game with victory over Catalan in 2017 only delayed their eventual relegation which finally came the following season when a 19 game losing streak saw the club finish bottom and return to the Championship.

Financial problems would follow which set the club back and forced a rebuild across the board as the Vikings narrowly avoided liquidation due to the fundraising efforts of their loyal fan base. But it seems like things at DCBL Stadium might finally starting to get back to normal for the Chemics.

Widnes opened their Betfred Championship account for 2025 with an eye catching 18-14 win over Toulouse Olympique in the South of France. Victories over Sheffield and Hunslet followed but the Vikings struggled to put any kind of run together in the early rounds to convince of their top six credentials.

Defeats to Batley, Barrow, York, Featherstone and Bradford coupled with home draws against Oldham and Halifax meant Widnes struggled to maintain the form needed to mount a play off push. But as Summer hit, the Vikings finally found their mojo. A 100% record in August leaves the Chemics on the cusp of turning the season around.

Sitting just one place and one point behind Fax on the league table, the Vikings come to The Shay full of confidence on the back of a five game winning streak, knowing only victory will keep their 2025 Betfred Championship play off hopes alive. Allan Coleman's men have a good record at The Shay, winning on 3 of their last 4 visits to Halifax.

The Panthers will have their work cut out to shut down a Vikings side littered with ex Panthers motivated by the prospect of extending their good form to six in a row.

Watch Out For...

Players who could change this match

ONES TO WATCH

James Woodburn-Hall

DOB: 2/2/1995
Position: Half Back
Number: 6

Big players step up in big time games, and if there's any player in this Panthers side that has had his fair share of magic moments, it's James Woodburn-Hall.

The Jamaican International is capable at times of the seemingly impossible, and has done some freakish things on the field of The Shay during his 10 seasons with the club (jumping over York's full back to score our 2024 try of the season springs to mind, or his 2019 Cup Quarter Final Heroics.)

The 30 year old half back is getting back to his best form heading into the business part of the season, linking up well on the edges with full back David Nofoaluma to add to his controlled short kicking game and deceptive footwork at the line.

A big strike weapon pulling the strings in the middle yet capable of breaking a game wide open with ball in hand, he has the ability to make a huge impact on the result at The Shay today.

Jake Maizen

DOB: 4/1/1997
Position: Full Back
Number: 33

Former Fax man Jake Maizen is well known to the men in blue and white.

The 28 year old Australian spent a single season with the Panthers back in 2023, and was a part of our triumphant AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Winning side.

After spending 2024 in Cumbria with Whitehaven, a three month UKAD suspension delayed the Italian International's inevitable arrival at DCBL Stadium. But following the completion of his ban, Maizen finally made the move and has settled in quickly to life with the Vikings in 2025.

A versatile three quarter who is currently plying his trade at full back, Maizen's speed is his main strength. Capable of going the length at any time, Fax will need to put him under pressure and quickly as any weaknesses could be exploited in double quick time.

David Nofoaluma

DOB: 28/11/1993
Position: Full Back
Number: 23

Playing his first ever game at The Shay this afternoon, David Nofoaluma is the man with the X Factor in blue and white.

The Serbian International has enjoyed a flying start to his Halifax career.

Bringing a sturdy and calming presence to the full back role that was causing the Panthers issues earlier in the year, the 31 year old has had a big hand in our attack since joining midway through the 2025 season.

Fast, elusive, strong and always giving 100% in both attack and defence, Nofoaluma has threatened every time he's touched the ball, having a big say in the resurgence of the Panthers attack in the closing stages of the season.

If he gets his arm free any any stage, his teammates are likely to benefit from his ability to find anybody at any time with his offloading skill. A real game breaker for the Panthers.

2025 STAR MAN AWARDS CATEGORIES

Our Annual Awards Night takes place at Berties on Friday 12th September, with players, sponsors, officials and supporters all coming together to celebrate another terrific year in blue and white.

There is plenty of awards up for grabs on the night, with the winners mostly chosen by our coaching staff.

You can vote now for your 2025 Supporters Player of the Season and the brand new 'Star Fan' by clicking here

Here's a summary of the awards to be won on the night.

The Malcolm Powell Volunteer of the Year Award - In memory of a late great servant of the club, awarded in recognition of the hard work our volunteers put in each and every season to ensure our club is the best it can be.

Champagne Moment - Voted on the night, the moment of the season. It can be a big hit, a special try, a funny comment in an interview, anything!

Try of the Season - Chosen by you, the fans!
Nominations are out now for you to pick your favourite Halifax Panthers try of the 2025 season. Click here to view the nominations now.

The Stan and Hilda Hardy Memorial Trophy - Top Tackler - In memory of two beloved club stalwarts, awarded to the player that has had the biggest impact in defence, not necessarily the one that has made the most tackles.

The Johnny Freeman Memorial Trophy - Top Try Scorer - In memory of the Late Great Fax Hall of Fame Winger and clubs all time leading try scorer, awarded to the player that tops our scoring charts at the end of the season.

The Jack and Maisie Akroyd Memorial Shield - Players Player of the Season - The one they say every player wants to win, chosen by your peers makes it that much more special.

Supporters Player of the Season - As voted by you, the fans!

Star Fan - A new award this year to recognise our loyal supporters and everything you do to back the boys and the club both on and off the field.

Star Man Award - The Evening's Main Prize, given not only to the best player of 2025 but to the man who best exemplifies the core values of the club both on and off the field throughout the season.

The winners will be announced across our social media channels and website for those unable to attend on the night.

#StarManAwards #Panthers2025

Halifax Panthers

Head Coach: Kyle Eastmond

TEAM
23. David Nofoaluma
3. Charlie Graham
4. Ben Crooks
21. Alfie Johnson
2. Ben Tibbs
6. James Woodburn-Hall
7. Jack Hansen
8. Brandon Douglas
9. Adam O'Brien
16. Ronan Dixon
12. Adam Tangata
19. Zack McComb
13. Jacob Fairbank

Subs: 1. Louis Jouffret, 34. Vila Halafihi, 17. Will Calcott, 15. Connor Davies (18th Man: 20. Brad Graham)

Widnes Vikings

Head Coach: Allan Coleman