Salford Red Devils vice-captain, Ryan Brierley, is also a boyhood fan of the club. As a result, yesterday’s win Super League over Warrington was particularly special for him. Preston-born Brierley finally secured his move to Salford in 2022. He has since become a crucial part of their side.
Brierley has played in eight of Salford’s games this season, scoring five tries. Salford continue to defy expectations this season and currently sit in sixth place. According to Brierley, this is thanks to their sought-after head coach, Paul Rowley.
“Best Signing” Salford Red Devils have ever made
Credit: SWpix
Speaking after yesterday’s win over Warrington, Brierley outlined the influence that Rowley has. He also described how the squad felt about the Rowley’s potential move to Hull FC.
“Ultimately, I think… him and his coaching staff are the best signings this club will ever make going forward. I think what the three in particular have between them, the knowledge of them guys is pretty special and it would have been a travesty for the club to lose him.
“Me and the boys were hoping he didn’t go because we see the stuff that was happening externally, and we were just hoping that he didn’t.”
Rowley leaving would be a disaster
As a big fan of the club, yesterday’s victory was a special moment for Brierley. Salford struggled to make a mark on Super League for several years. But now, expectations are higher, since the club made the Grand Final in 2019 and the Challenge Cup final in 2020. Brierley explained that the side now go into games against the sides expecting to win.
“We understand how lucky we are to have him and hopefully we can keep him here for many more years to come because [these] days are pretty special. I think as a Salford fan, I’ve been through watching years of Salford where we get battered by [these] sorts of teams and the fact that we turn up now expecting to win, internally, is pretty special, and I’ve never really seen that from a Salford team.
“So I feel lucky to have him, and Kurt [Haggerty] and Krissie [Krisnan Inu], as part of our coaching team and I think that’s pretty evident in how the boys respect him. I see it daily, and every week, how much they respect the boys have for these three and so yeah it would have been a disaster if he went.”
Rowley had also spoken on why he rejected Hull FC but Brierley continued and explained it makes perfect sense for other clubs to sniff around and try to recruit Rowley given his elite talents.
“I think, ultimately, he’s his own man isn’t he?”, Brierley said. “I think for what he’s done for this club he’s going to get attention so big club would be stupid not to approach him. Why wouldn’t they? From what he’s achieved here. Again, that’s what it’s all about. How lucky we are to have him. I’ve always said it, I think we’ve got the competition’s best coach and we should be happy that he’s with us.”
