An honest and open Paul Rowley has spoken after Salford Red Devils‘ huge loss to Hull KR with the head coach airing his frustrations at the club’s current situation.
The Red Devils went behind after just one minute and thirteen seconds as Hull KR scored on their first tackle and despite a Salford score midway through the first-half to offer some fight, they would eventually slip to a 74-12 defeat.
Joe Burgess scored four against his former club as reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis staked his claim to regain the title with a mesmeric performance, particularly with the boot, as he registered eight assists and scored himself, whilst also running for almost 150 metres.
Paul Rowley’s concluding words in his post-match interview on Sky Sports saw him label the game as a ‘mismatch’ but he’d aired some frustrations at the club’s situation prior to that.
Asked for his thoughts and emotions, Rowley admitted: “I’m not sure what the emotion is, to be honest. I think Jon (Wilkin) probably said it ages ago and I’ve agreed with him ever since. I’m bored of it, I’m sick of it. We just want to compete, don’t we?
“I would imagine it would be a really hard game to commentate on as well because it’s not what we want to see.
“We’re sad at the situation. We’re sad for everybody. We’re sad for the sport. We don’t want to be in this position and not competing and performing in the way that we should be.”
“We’ve got our hands tied” – Honest Paul Rowley on what next
Salford have been hamstrung all season by their financial woes and despite the constant promise of funds, they still find themselves in that situation in Round 20 – almost six months after the initial takeover.
Rowley would continue as he expressed the disappointment with the situation but he again went out to bat for his players, even noting that several of those younger players shouldn’t be thrust into such a situation.
A proud coach, he said: “One thing that never disappoints me is the group and there’s a lot of players, I don’t mind saying it, that really shouldn’t be on this platform together as a collective.
“Maybe (they should be playing) every now and again as a spattering but not as a collective and they’re being exposed to things that they probably shouldn’t be and so it’s tough lessons.”
With seven more rounds to go and countless questions about the future of the club, the Salford coach was asked where the Red Devils go from here and Rowley offered up another honest answer.
He responded: “I’m not sure, honestly, to be honest. It’s going to be much of the same, unfortunately, because what are our options? We’ve got our hands tied, so to speak.”
Salford Red Devils coach reveals team selection issues as senior players don’t play
One aspect of hands being tied in this game was that four senior players named in the 21-man squad didn’t play, believed to be sitting out of the game. Rowley didn’t speak on that specifically but did reveal how many different teamsheets he had produced as the scramble for players continued.
Rowley revealed: “I’ve had about eight teams. You know yourself, I’ve sent you at least two or three different teams this morning. I think before I woke up, before I stepped out of the house at lunchtime, I got 16 calls and 17 text messages so it’s non-stop, to be honest.”
As such, Jamie Pye was called into the squad and that meant the Red Devils lost one of their eight interchanges with Ethan Ryan, Chris Hill, Chris Hankinson and Joe Shorrocks the four not to feature from the 21-man squad, alongside loanee Dan Russell.
Continuing, Rowley said: “I think where do I go from here? I’m going home, giving my head a rest, to be honest, but first and foremost, I’ve got to shake the lads’ hands in there and pay credit.
“I always try and pay credit to the opposition, regardless, they had a professional job to do against whatever the opposition and our boys, as always, were brave.
“We’re up against a team that’s far too experienced and good and physically good and beat us on every level but that’s not a slur on the character of our players whatsoever.
“It’s just a mismatch that we all know it is and we’ve got to say it, and that’s the truth of the matter.”
Salford Red Devils’ owners’ reported bold claim for Super League 2026
A record #SuperLeague win for @HullKROfficial 🐦 pic.twitter.com/FZwgTJ1Uaq
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 31, 2025
James
August 1, 2025 at 1:01 am
Salford need to be shut down or close up themselves. Irrespective of the causes the results are only slightly more tragic than comedic. It needs to end now for all concerned especially those players and their fans.
I’ve more or less withdrawn from the sport and only wait for SRD’s demise to seal it once and for all and it can’t come soon enough.
To be honest I can’t believe I’ve spent decades championing this sport! I look at the comment by fans on social media and I don’t know why I’ve wasted so much time.