Smith led Widnes to victory in last season's Northern Rail Cup (Getty)

Widnes Vikings' Mark Smith and Iain Morrison have both signed contract extensions to keep them at the club until the end of the 2010 season.

Morrison, 25, has moved from second-row to prop forward recently and Smith, who is 27 and club captain has played regularly as a hooker.

Widnes coach Steve McCormack told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Smith has been fantastic - an outstanding player.

"Morrison has been a great signing and has become firmly a fans' favourite."

In addition to the contract extensions for Smith and Morrison, the Vikings have signed Anthony Thackeray and Danny Mills for the 2009 season.

Thackeray, 22, plays at half-back and had 12 months remaining on his contract at Castleford.

He has spent the latter part of this season on loan at Featherstone Rovers and his move to Widnes has been part-funded by fans' organisation Vikings Quids In.

I think Danny Mills has been the standout winger in National League One over the last two or three years Widnes coach Steve McCormack

Winger Danny Mills, 27, began his career at Huddersfield and moves to Vikings from Sheffield Eagles, with whom he has had two spells.

McCormack believes Thackeray and Mills will increase his options.

"We wanted to bring a little bit more quality in," he said.

"I think Danny Mills has been the standout winger in National League One over the last two or three years.

"Anthony Thackeray is an outstanding player - he played against us for Featherstone earlier on in the season and did very, very well."