Salford Red Devils’ Paul Rowley said his side were unable to cope with Catalans Dragons’ physicality during their Challenge Cup loss on Friday night.
The Salford boss was also critical of the lack of a video referee as the only quarter-final that was not televised played out.
He thought there were a couple of decisions he’d have liked to have seen reviewed but with a lack of cameras at the game, his Salford side have to take it on the chin.
Speaking to the media after the loss, Rowley also discussed more injury problems for his squad as well as how he thought his side struggled in the arm-wrestle of the game.
Talking about the lack of coverage for the game, he said: “There are various things (to look at), you’d have had a look at the first try for example, and it was close, wasn’t it?
“The tackle on Chan, the camera angle we had was a distant camera angle but I could see enough to know that there were a couple of things in there.
“We won’t go down that route, the fact that I’ve mentioned it probably grabs the headline but it’s definitely not that.”
The Salford Red Devils admitted that his side had enough chances to claim the victory but said they just weren’t at the races for the game.
He added: “I don’t think they (Catalans) were at their best either and therefore that makes it tougher to take for us because I felt they gave us an opportunity to get a result but we didn’t take that opportunity.
“We looked a little bit tired and busted at times but congratulations to Catalans, good luck in the next round, but we’re disappointed, that’s for sure.
“Obviously, Catalans are very dominant physically but I felt that we allowed them to be dominant in that first half in particular.
“We believed in ourselves a little bit that we could cope in an arm-wrestle so respecting possession a little bit more was key today certainly, which we didn’t do.
“We’re the master of our own downfall 100%, that’s on us, and nobody else, so we’ll take that. It’s tough to take when it’s on us as well.
Salford Red Devils have more injury concerns for their squad
As well as being knocked out of the Challenge Cup, Rowley also has a couple of injury worries to add to the pressure on his shoulders right now.
Ryan Brierley was named in the starting line-up but pulled out prior to kick-off through injury.
Whilst the Salford boss didn’t have an update on him just yet, he did mention injuries to two more of his players.
He said: “Nathan (Connell) did some damage to his shoulder so I’m not sure what the outcome of that will be but it looked quite significant.
“Chan failed his HIA so he’s gone for next week. He wasn’t in a good way, what I witnessed was a bloke coming off who was unsteady on his feet.
“He seems okay now, which is the main thing, and in good spirits. He’s a little bit groggy still but it was just unfortunate.
“I don’t think it was malice but being so far away and the coverage we have, the live feed is wide and you might as well be watching people on the moon.
“We’ve got some checks and scans and God knows what else for the rest of the boys.”
Rowley admitted that if the game had been televised, perhaps his side might’ve had a little more luck.
He finished: “It would’ve been interesting if it was on the TV like the other three quarter-finals, we might have had a couple of decisions that might have been a little bit different.
“I don’t think it was high quality across the whole game today, whether that be at Catalans, ourselves, the officiating, or the fact that it wasn’t on TV, it just wasn’t a great game.
“When you get to this point, it’s about getting through to the next round so for Catalans, it’s a good day.
“Nevertheless, fair play to Catalans, they found a way to win.”
