Salford announce first signing since Koukash exit

Salford have signed forward Gavin Bennion from Rochdale Hornets.

The 23-year-old was one of the Hornets key plays during the 2017 season as they successfully survived relegation from the Championship.

Bennion has previously played for the Mackay Cutters and Warrington Wolves, spending time on loan at Swinton and Featherstone while at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

He signed for Halifax ahead of the 2016 season before moving to Rochdale this season, where he has become one of their most important players.

Salford head coach Ian Watson said: “Through our good relationship with Alan Kilshaw, we’ve been keeping tabs on Gavin throughout the 2017 season and he’s put in some massively impressive performances for Rochdale.

“He’s a young, hungry forward with a great work ethic and excellent attitude and we believe he can grow into a quality Super League player.

“I first came across Gavin at Warrington where he showed plenty of potential. Gavin then choose to go across to Australia to help with his rugby education where he was selected for the Queensland residents team.

“Gavin has shown his development this year while working with Alan at Rochdale and hopefully he can continue that here at Salford Red Devils. I’m excited to work with him next season and I feel he’ll prove to be a good signing for Salford.”

Red Devils CEO Ian Blease added: “Gavin is the first of a few signings we’re hoping to announce in the coming weeks and months.

“We feel he’ll be a great addition to the squad, and under Coach Watson’s guidance I’m expecting Gavin to challenge for a first team position at the start of the new season.

“Gavin is the first of a new batch of Red Devils who we feel can help continue our growth on the field in 2018.”