Super League side have just 19 players to pick from in Round One

Injuries are often the achilles heel of every sporting side and in rugby league it is no different.

As we have seen in the past, injuries can make or break a season with often the most injury free squad going on to win the Grand Final.

However, despite plenty of injuries last season Salford Red Devils were able to get all the way to the semi-finals.

It was quite a remarkable situation with coach Paul Rowley having to name squads of just 17 men at times when other sides were naming the maximum of 21.

As players returned from injury it always seemed they would lose someone new often due to the strain being placed on them at times such as the effort they would have to put in with a thread-bare squad.

In the end, it was injuries which killed the Red Devils as Man of Steel Brodie Croft missed the semi-final through concussion whilst Andy Ackers was forced off during the defeat to St Helens.

Over the winter, Salford have only added further quality to their squad with the likes of Sam Stone from Leigh Leopards and Oliver Partington from Wigan Warriors joining the club.

However, as they prepare for Round One, Rowley has revealed that he only has 19 players fit for Round One.

He said: “We’ve got about 21 players to choose from, 19 of them are fit. So not ideal for Round 1, but we’re confident in our squad.”

It is a frustratingly familiar situation for Rowley but who exactly these injured players are remains unclear.