Widnes coach believes team are ready for Super League

Cullen believes his side deserve a Super League franchise

Widnes Vikings coach Paul Cullen believes his team selection against FC Lezignan-Corbieres proves his side are ready for Super League rugby.

A youthful Vikings' side won the Challenge Cup match 44-24 at the Stobart Stadium on Thursday.

"The best advert we can offer to the RFL is bringing young players through," Cullen told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Seven played tonight and that's something that a lot of clubs chasing Super League can't offer."

Widnes narrowly missed out on a Super League franchise during the last round of awards in 2008.

Cullen is now hoping the clubs hard work off the field, as well as success on the pitch, will stand them in good stead when the next set of franchises are awarded for 2012-2015.

"There were two 17-year-olds [Jack Smith and Tom Kelly] making their debuts.

"For a long, long time this club has been doing the right thing by the Rugby Football League," said Cullen.

"We've played [against Lezignan] with seven home-grown players and there was nine of them under the age of 21. There are not an awful lot of clubs in the Championship that can offer that."

Widnes will now entertain Wigan Warriors in the fifth-round of the Challenge Cup on 8 May.