Salford Red Devils boss answers squad selection question ahead of Challenge Cup tie

Paul Rowley insists his Salford Red Devils players have trained well as they prepare to face off against Bradford Bulls in the Challenge Cup. The Red Devils took on Castleford Tigers on the back of almost a week without training last week due to a delay in payment and ultimately fell to a 22-14 defeat at Wheldon Road.

It was a spirited performance from Rowley’s side but ultimately it wasn’t enough to pick up their first points of the season as they roll into this weekend, which they will see as an opportunity to finally get back to winning ways. Rowley won’t have the luxury of being able to chop and change his squad with Salford remaining under the RFL’s special measures and the head coach has spoken about his team selection decisions.

“We’re still in measures,” Rowley said in his pre-match press conference. “We’re governed by the rules and we’ll stick to the rules as best we can to try and work out who’s fit and if we need to change how we can do that. We don’t have a lot of options.

“Jayden (Nikorima) is available but we’ve obviously got some players who aren’t available from Cas as well. We’ll work it out and we’ll stick with what we’ve been told we can and can’t do.”

He added: “It’s just been difficult, reading about the company you represent and lots of different opinions because there’s been a lack of information out there, some of it is accurate, some of it in inaccurate. Without getting too deep into it, it’s been challenging.

“We’ve all supported one another, I’ve said that before and I think everybody has been there for one another but it’s been difficult.

“We’ve trained well, we’re OK and we’re ready to play.”

Bradford Bulls were beaten last weekend by Toulouse Olympique but prior to result they had been in a rich vein of form, with the Bulls beating Castleford in the last round of the Challenge Cup. Salford Red Devils will do well to be wary of the threat coming from West Yorkshire then.

“It’s a tough draw in many respects but it’s good to take the focus away from the league,” Rowley added. “We’re coming up against Bradford who are a rejuvenated side. A lot of us have been in the shoes of where Bradford are now.

“We know how much excitement and confidence and belief we’d have coming to a Super League team, especially one that’s been in such turmoil. We’re very aware of the risks and there’s a lot to gain with the Challenge Cup being a short route to the final but there’s a lot of danger as well coming up a side in Bradford with a host of ex-Super League players who can pull it out the bag for the week. There’s a lot of risk and a lot of reward attached to the weekend.”