THE Vikings' first new recruits of the close season were unveiled as New Zealanders Gareth Adams and Paul Mansson after the pair put their signatures to 12-month contracts.

Adams, a 26-year-old forward, was snapped up after Swinton released him at the end of the season and Mansson, also 26, has arrived from Hunslet, where he featured as a stand-off.

Both men were on a list of five drawn up by Vikings' staff as key targets.

And vice-chairman Tom Fleet said the club would be putting in place a new wage structure more dependent on performance.

He said: "We want to make up a more incentivised wage scheme."

The two new men will be followed by others, though neither Colin Whitfield nor Tom Fleet were prepared to speculate at this stage.

Assembling a squad with sufficient quality will be important as Widnes aim for promotion to the Super League.

With the major sponsorship contract with ICI coming to an end next season, good showings will be necessary to attract new backing.

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