It has been reported on Sky Sports by host Brian Carney that Salford Red Devils’ head coach Paul Rowley is among the names that is “in the sights” of Hull FC after their dismissal of Tony Smith.
Hull FC made the decision to sack Tony Smith last Thursday after a torrid start to the Super League season with just one win from seven and a whopping 36 tries conceded in the team’s last four in all competitions.
That embarrassing statistic worsened tonight when a St Helens side without Lewis Dodd, Daryl Clark or Alex Walmsley ran in ten tries to land a 58-0 victory, marking the fourth occasion this year the Black and Whites have conceded 50 or more and the second time that they had been nilled.
Richie Myler was the club’s shock announcement as Director of Rugby and the ex-Leeds Rhinos man will head up the search for a new head coach with the club currently led by interim Simon Grix.
Brian Carney has revealed on Sky Sports’ coverage of Super League that Paul Rowley is the name that he has heard whispers of in a potential coaching coup that would shake up Super League.
Could Paul Rowley head to Hull FC?
Credit: Imago Images
After analysing FC’s dismal loss to St Helens, Carney outlined the team’s necessity to hire someone and do so quickly and he put the idea of Paul Rowley taking over at the MKM Stadium.
Carney asked: “I just wonder, you’ve heard it all before, I wonder will Richie Myler, the new Director of Rugby at Hull FC, have a close eye on Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley?”
Hull-born Jon Wilkin was certain in his response: “Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t you? He’s a genius with limited resources.
“Hull have just got limited resources, so who’s the best man in the business to get the best out of rinsing every bit of moisture out of your squad? Well, it’s Paul Rowley.”
Salford Red Devils have consistently out-performed their budget in recent years, Sky Sports themselves recently revealed their estimates for every Super League side’s salary spend in 2024 which saw the Red Devils far below the salary cap.
It’s Rowley’s ability to eek talent out of limited squads that make him so appealing, not least the attractive style of rugby, and that could be on the way to Humberside if Brian Carney’s sources are corrext.
Carney explained: “Salford Red Devils fans,won’t like us speculating about that but they’ve had their players picked from a coach from their squad and I’m hearing that the coach is certainly in the sights.
“I never reveal my sources but I’ve had a text.”
Should Paul Rowley leave Salford for Hull FC?
Credit: Imago Images
The question of could Hull FC make a big enough offer to Salford and to Rowley is one matter, but the bigger one is whether Paul Rowley himself should take the plunge and abandon ship at Salford.
Salford seemed to be a popular ship to abandon in the off-season with the club losing plenty of their stars including spine players Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers, whilst wingmen Ken Sio and Joe Burgess were also released for differing reasons.
As such Salford have had to rebuild their squad based on scraps, the Red Devils being the last team to make an overseas signing ahead of 2024 when they picked up the released David Nofoaluma from Wests Tigers.
Despite that bargain-basement recruitment, the Red Devils have been incredibly impressive in 2024 and boast four wins to three losses currently.
One of those wins came against St Helens, the club’s first victory on the road against the Red Vee in 44 years, and barring a short drop-out disaster from Man of Steel leader Marc Sneyd then they’d have likely beaten champions Wigan.
In short, Paul Rowley shouldn’t be touching Hull FC, not even if Richie Myler presented him with a blank cheque. His work at Salford has been incredible and it deserves to continue.
