Paul Rowley makes Salford Red Devils ‘promise’ after defeat to Catalans Dragons

Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley has made a ‘promise’ after his side’s 38-10 loss to Catalans Dragons in Super League, explaining that if the circumstances at the club change then he can turn the season around.

So far, Salford have won just one of their opening eight games in Super League with the Red Devils plagued with a limited salary cap and a vastly different team from week to week.

That’s seen them concede the most points in the competition and they fell to another heavy defeat in France, despite putting in a spirited performance – something Rowley claims is a given.

Reacting post-match to suggestions of good effort, he said: “That’s a given in rugby league isn’t it. We’ve been championing that every week but I think at some point you have to give a little bit more than effort as well.

“We need a little bit more discipline with the ball and to complete a little bit higher but what I’ve got to say is credit to Catalans, they were very strong, they totally dominated possession and territory and with that sort of weight of possession came points.”

Despite the defeat, Salford scored their first points since Round Five with two late tries which Rowley dedicated to the “fantastic support that we’ve had, not just this week but every week”.

“I can fix this team quite quickly” – Salford Red Devils boss not writing off 2025

In a somewhat combative interview, Rowley hit back at the idea that it had been a difficult time, stating: “You keep saying difficult times but we’ve been in France in the sunshine. Life’s not that bad, trust me,” before going on to make his promise about the club’s 2025 prospects, should the club’s financial worries finally end and restrictions lift.

Rowley declared: “If we come through the other side and we get some stability, cap lifting and all that, I can promise you that I can fix this team quite quickly into being a team that will compete. We’re not that far off.

“Obviously we’ve had quite some considerable amount of our cap and X-factor players stripped from us. With a change in fortunes in that regard and spend, I can promise you I can fix this pretty quickly.”

Continuing, he said: “There’s a lot of this season left and we’re not too far away from a lot of teams above us and there’s still a team below us as well. So I would say there’s a lot to play for and I’ve been in these positions before as a player at Huddersfield with 13 on the bounce and the second half of the season we can flip that completely.

“I’ve learned lessons from tough experiences in the past and they will stand us in good stead going forward.”

Unquestionable spirit from the lads tonight, but it’s defeat in R8. pic.twitter.com/uPeEUqvsBd

— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) April 19, 2025

Paul Rowley showers loan players in praise

The Salford Red Devils boss would also refute the idea that it was the “biggest challenge” he had ever faced, stating: “There’s a lot of things that aren’t in our control so we just concentrate on the things we can control and for me as an individual, as a coach, it’s about trying to help people along their journey and whatever that is.

“There’s a lot of people here, six loan players, so the journey is very individual, it’s very unique and my job is to try and facilitate that and bring them people together.”

On that playing group he has, Rowley explained: “I would say we’ve got a good group. All our loan players have been fantastic in buying in and the spirit that they’ve shown and the rest of the players who exist at the club have welcomed them brilliantly.

“We’ve fitted in as quickly as we can and I’m really proud of the attitude of the group, really. We’ve got a fantastic group and you learn about people in tough times, don’t you? So I’m enjoying learning about people. That’s always a pleasure for me.”

Next up for the Red Devils is a game against Leigh with the Leopards visiting Salford in Round Nine of Super League.