Salford Red Devils were unable to avenge their semi-final defeat away to St Helens today despite leading 12-0 early in the piece.
They lead after tries from Brodie Croft and Ryan Brierley but the Saints scored five tries without reply to claim a 26-12 win.
After the game Rowley blamed his side’s ball control as well as injuries to key men Andy Ackers and Shane Wright:
“Absolutely, our ball control was woeful, our discipline with the ball. We needed a bit of luck and we had a couple of bodies who went off injured so that hurt us sub wise and energy wise and that doesn’t help.”
The Wright injury in particular came after a tackle from Matty Lees which Mark Wilson questioned saying it was “foul play.”
Rowley subtly hinted that referee Chris Kendall should have made more “strong decision” around these incidents when he said:
“We probably could have done with some strong decisions, that would have helped but we left too much on the field.”
Next Salford take on Huddersfield Giants and Rowley is concerned about injuries:
“No problem getting this side up and we saw the character of the team in the fact Saints didn’t score more points, the problem is the bodies and that is always the problem.
“Saints have a good squad and we have a good team.
“We’re in a bit of a dark place now.”
