Promise made to fans as Salford Red Devils loanee gives gracious and “refreshing” verdict

A Salford Red Devils loanee has sent a message to the struggling club’s fans and given his verdict on his time at the club, labelling it as “refreshing” and offering huge praise for the club and the team’s leaders.

Jonny Vaughan was brought in on a season-long loan from St Helens and the young outside back has been one of the mainstays in a Red Devils team that changes from week to week.

Since being parachuted into the Salford squad just a day after securing his loan move at the end of March, Vaughan has played in every game for the Red Devils with the 21-year-old having one try to his name.

The 2024 season was his first of senior rugby and a St Helens’ injury crisis saw him make eight appearances but he’s set to easily surpass that this season and he’s confirmed that the search for game time was a major motivator in his move.

“On a personal level, it’s been refreshing for me,” he explained when talking to club media.

“I was struggling to find game time at St Helens and with the challenging squad it is to get into there, I thought a loan move would be the best option for me.

“Luckily enough, Salford came forward and asked me to come and play for the season and I can’t thank them enough for that to work with the lads and Paul Rowley and all the staff, and learn as I go along in a different environment.”

How Paul Rowley inspired Salford Red Devils’ loanee

Vaughan will have learned more in the seven weeks and seven matches since arriving at Salford than plenty of players learn across a season with the ever-changing situation at the club making it a testing environment.

Despite that, Vaughan explained how a speech made by head coach Paul Rowley shortly after he arrived helped put everything into perspective and settle him in fast.

He revealed: “In one of the first sessions, Rowls spoke about his volunteering with the homeless shelters and he told us a story about a fella who had been struggling.

“I don’t want to go into too much detail but there was a realisation that the lads at Salford had been doing it tough for longer than I have and there are people out there who do it tougher than us.

“It could always be worse. I wake up and my job is to come and play a sport I love, I get paid to go to the gym and eat and sleep and recover. It could be worse for us.”

That positive attitude is very reminiscent of Paul Rowley’s who often fronts the media and explains that it’s a day by day job and one where the situation could be far worse, something that certainly seems to be rubbing off on his players.

Among the players who have stepped up is new co-captain Ryan Brierley and Vaughan credited him and another playmaker for how they have helped develop his talents by pushing him to improve.

Vaughan explained: “Ryan Brierley took me under his wing and showed me the ropes a bit. Jayden Nikorima has and you need those senior lads that will tell you what you’ve done wrong and nudge you on it.”

“Things are coming, we’re going to start winning” – Salford loanee sends message to fans

As referenced, Vaughan has been an ever-present since arriving at Salford with only Esan Marsters, Joe Shorrocks, Jack Ormondroyd and fellow loanee George Hill also playing in all seven of those games.

Despite his constant presence, Vaughan revealed that there wasn’t really a plan for him when he arrived with Paul Rowley simply urging him to make the most of the opportunity.

“There wasn’t really a set plan as to where I’d fit into the team,” the 21-year-old revealed. He brought me into his office and said ‘You’re here to write your own chapter, you’re going to be a part of the story for Salford but it’s about writing a chapter for yourself’.

“I think I’ve played back-to-back for the last eight or nine weeks and for me that’s unexpected for this season. It’s only my second year full-time and I could be making ten appearances before the halfway point this season so it’s something that I’m grateful for.”

Another thing that Vaughan was grateful for was the support of the fans, something he admitted he was unaware when making the switch from St Helens to Salford.

“Saints are infamous for being loud and proud but coming here and hearing the fans behind you and on your back with no negatives or any abuse, just positives and clapping you. That’s a testament to the club and to the town itself. Without them fans, the club would have struggled a lot more through this time.

“From a player’s stance, there’s a chance now where we can sit here and confidently tell you that things are coming. We’re going to start winning and performing better. We’re going to train like we have done this week and there are brighter things ahead.

“We appreciate you sticking with us and we’re going to reap the rewards now.”