Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley sat down in front of the press this morning ahead of the club’s game with Leeds Rhinos this weekend. Of course, with Salford’s well-documented takeover situation and their struggles with the sustainability cap, the prospect of facing Leeds on Saturday was hardly mentioned.
Instead, Rowley found himself speaking about the prospect of being able to name a full strength side, the communication he’s had with the team’s new owners, the impact the situation has had on his players and the reaction to Saturday’s record breaking defeat at St Helens.
Here’s what Salford Red Devils’ Rowley said to journalists on Wednesday morning.
Do you know who will be able to play this Saturday?
No. It’s a simple answer to a simple question, no. I’ve got nothing else.
That must be frustrating for both you and the first-team lads?
Yeah, it is. We can only prepare as though we’re playing a full team.
Have the reserves that played on Saturday been preparing just in case?
Well, they’re part-time so…
So they’re not able to train with you before the game?
No, unfortunately not.
Have you spoken to anyone about whether it’s likely you’ll be able to name your preferred team?
I think the dialogue is between the RFL and the ownership group and the CEO. You would have to ask them those sort of questions. All we can do is prepare to play. We’ve just come off the field now and we’re ready to go again. There’s not much more we can do. It’s unprecedented really, to start a season in the middle of a very complex takeover has never been done before. The rules are there for general state of play but in 150 years I don’t recall, not that I’ve been around 150 years although it feel like I have in the last few months, I don’t recall anything as unique as this situation.
Has the reaction come as a surprise to you from people across the game?
I’ve hunkered down. It was uncomfortable on Saturday for a host of different reasons but I’ll always double down on that I’ve looked after my players who I represent. I’ve said before we’ve had three and a half months of stress, turmoil, call it what you will. They’re my priority and will continue to be so.
How are the players?
It’s been difficult like I said for a long period of time. The players are mentally all over the place, absolutely all over the place. The players and staff are the ones at the receiving end unfortunately. They’ve done a pre-season and they just want to play rugby.
How are you?
I’ve been better but like I always say, you can feel sorry for yourself or you can stick your chest out and remember who you represent and why you do the job that you do. I’m loyal to them players and I do my best to protect them. I’ll battle through, it’s been a tough three and a half months. I said in jest before the Saints game when we were prepping that it feels like an end of season for us, it feels like we’ve done a season already. It’s been very draining.
Of the squad, you’ve got a few injuries, Sam Stone, Loghan Lewis, Joe Mellor, are they all long term?
They’re reasonably long term so they’ll be a few weeks.
The lads who are fit will surely just want to get out there this weekend?
Yeah, there’s no point to prove, we just want to start the season like everybody else. Such a good start and we weren’t part of it. It’s something we’re not in control of unfortunately.
What has been the message from the owner and the CEO to you?
I’m just waiting. The only message I need is when the cap has been lifted, that’s all really. You need to ask them those sort of questions.
How do you feel going into this year now given how poignant it is for you?
I just want to get started. I’ve not even thought about any of that, I just want to get started and do our best in what’s always a tough season, the opposition is so strong. We enjoy playing, we’re looking forward to it and we believe we’ve got a good team. We want to add to Super League and we feel like we’ve done that over the last few years. We believe Super League is a better place with us in it and we want to contribute.
Can the criticism Salford Red Devils has received and what you’ve been through create something of a siege mentality within the squad?
I don’t think so. We’re not going to suddenly grow an extra leg or get stronger from it. We’re already tight as a group and every group is probably in a similar situation. We just want to get over the start line and start playing rugby. That’s what we’re here to do and that’s what people like Marc Sneyd, runner up to the Man of Steel, he’s got all sorts of kicking records and he’s not getting off the mark. Kallum Watkins, Tim Lafai, Chris Hill, a current England international and last year we spoke of the suspensions and robbing the game of seeing our stars, but those four players are our biggest stars and as it stands, we’re robbing supporters of seeing their biggest stars.
With that and with players not knowing whether they’re going to playing at the weekend, have you seen you an impact on the intensity of training?
No, they’ve been brilliant. I can’t speak highly enough of them. There’s a tone in our team room and a nervousness and small talk in around there because it’s a situation that isn’t under our control and that’s the one thing that we don’t like to be in. When we got the 11th hour notice that we couldn’t play, heads fell off, for want of a better word.
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— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) February 17, 2025
