Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley has provided an update on his side’s injury issues and loanee status ahead of Super League Round Eleven, where his side will take on Castleford Tigers.
It’s a repeat of a game from earlier in the season when the Red Devils travelled to the Jungle and lost narrowly with a late try blowing the score out to 22-14, however, Salford have since slipped to the foot of Super League.
A win would see them draw level on points with their opponents and move to two wins on the season and they’ve been handed a boost ahead of that with star centre Nene Macdonald back in the country.
The Papua New Guinean international had returned to Australia for the birth of his child and Rowley confirmed that the former Leeds man is available, with both mother and child doing well Down Under.
“He’s great. Obviously, he’s had a very unsettled year,” Rowley said of Macdonald, whose wages now come under their limited salary cap.
“Even looking all the way back from playing in the Pacific Cup and therefore not being able to do pre-season with us, then coming in into the turmoil that obviously we all know has been, and so he’s not played.
“It’s a great boost for him really, as well as us, so I’m pleased that he gets the opportunity now to pull on the Salford shirt again and obviously for us as well. Without adding pressure to him, he’ll take a few weeks no doubt to get back in the swing of things.”
Salford Red Devils star set to return
Macdonald isn’t the only key man to return with club captain Ryan Brierley set to return after missing out at Magic Weekend because UKAD could not approve the medication he was taking for an ear infection in time.
Speaking on the status of his squad, Rowley explained: “We’ve given some time off after Magic, just for headspace and physical recovery and we’ve been good since then.
“Ryan’s fit and available after the anomaly at Magic Weekend. Nene is back in the country, so he’s available as well so I’ve got a couple of additions there.”
Brierley and Macdonald are welcome returns but veterans Joe Mellor, Chris Hill and Chris Hankinson are still injured, through the latter is a chance.
On Mellor and Hill, Rowley said: “Neither of them will be available. Certainly Joe’s a few weeks in and Chris is the same. (Chris) Hankinson is touch and go so we’re still waiting on him but the other two won’t be fit.”
One man who has impressed in the absence of Chris Hill is loanee Tiaki Chan and Rowley hailed his character, revealing it to be one of the key reasons they had signed him.
On the French international, he explained: “I think he comes from good stock, his brothers, his family, his dad obviously is a great competitor, a great lad as well. So, we knew what character we were getting and then he’s backing that up with some really solid performances as well. He’s been great to have in and around the group and on and off the field he’s been very good for us.
Assessing Salford’s loanees
Chan isn’t the only loanee who has been impressing with the club’s other additions performing well and the Salford boss confirmed that the Red Devils currently have five on their books, with six being the maximum a side can have.
A boost is that Castleford’s George Hill can play against his parent club on Sunday with Rowley confirming that there are “no restrictions” on the loose forward taking to the field.
He added: “I’m not sure of the detail of each contract, I think they’re all ongoing and they’re just getting rolled over as the time or the deadlines come up so it’s pretty smooth but I don’t know the dates.”
After Jake Thewlis’ Warrington Wolves recall, Salford do have space for a sixth loanee and whilst the Red Devils are looking, they’re not expecting to add anyone in time for Sunday’s game.
“We’ll be looking, but as it is this week, we’re not looking to bring anyone in this week, that’s for sure,” explained Rowley.
“To answer your question for the immediate is no, but again, that could change come Monday.”
Refreshed and refocused, we go to @CTRLFC this Sunday! 💪
Back the boys: https://t.co/f8EDLKwPGw 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/KqnbR0uZkr
— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) May 12, 2025
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