Salford Red Devils are fighting to force their way into the Super League playoffs with Paul Rowley’s men currently sitting just outside the top six, one spot behind Hull KR but ahead of last year’s Grand Finalists Leeds Rhinos.
They headed to Perpignan this week to face top of the table Catalans Dragons with Steve McNamara’s side being gifted a prime opportunity to go four points clear following Wigan Warriors’ earlier win over Leigh Leopards.
The Red Devils got the better of the French side earlier in the season, one of just a handful of teams to beat them, however recent form for them was lacking with four consecutive losses having contributed to their seventh placed position.
The Dragons had been in brilliant form barring a surprise home loss to Huddersfield Giants but generally they’ve been excellent this season losing just twice at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
As for Salford they’ve actually faired quite well on the road with five wins to four losses, but their squad was very thin today.
Andy Ackers plays once again but starts from the bench with the impressive performances from Amir Borough taking the starting hooker slot.
Centre Tim Lafai is out, whilst second-rower and captain Kallum Watkins remains missing.
Arguably though the biggest miss of all would be Marc Sneyd with the brilliant playmaker being replaced by one of the league’s best utility men in Chris Atkin.
Come half-time the Red Devils were losing by a score of 22-0 with the Dragons in cruise control in the hot south of France.
Wigan bound Adam Keighran scored the opening two tries before Tom Johnstone adding to his impressive season tally to top the try scorers chart.
Samoan Tyrone May also forced his way over just before the half to bring the score to the huge 22-0.
Paul Rowley then gave his team talk as expected for half time however he opted to do it on the middle of the pitch, in a scene that was reminiscent of former Hull City Football Club’s manager Phil Brown.
On that day when Hull were losing heavily to Manchester City the tactic didn’t work and given that at the hour mark the Red Devils are still without a score and now losing 34-0, it would seem the case that it hasn’t worked for Rowley either.
You can see the bizarre incident as tweeted by Catalan Media, a well renowned journalist in the South of France.
Half-time team talk on the pitch for Paul Rowley, somebody must've turned the heat up in the changing rooms…
❤️💛🐉👹 pic.twitter.com/Y9YUbVOXkK— Catalan Media 🇨🇵 (@catalanmedia) July 29, 2023
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