Salford Red Devils v Leigh Leopards team news with 2 doubtful

Salford Red Devils host Leigh Leopards in the first game of the Super League play-offs with Paul Rowley benefitting from a fully rested team.

Rowley ‘gambled’ by playing a completely fresh team against Wigan Warriors in Salford’s final game of the regular season as he handed out eight debuts and completely rotated, ensuring that his stars were rested and avoided suspension.

Whilst it meant that Salford lost convincingly, it achieved the main goal of avoiding injury and suspension so Rowley has plenty of players to choose from tonight.

Ironically, Salford were also aided by tonight’s opponents Leigh Leopards with Leigh’s victory over St Helens ensuring that the Red Devils retained fourth and therefore a home game in the first round of the play-offs.

That has seen the club sell a record number of tickets with the club having already sold over 7,854, meaning that they will break their record crowd and could even trend towards a sell-out.

On such a momentous occasion, we look at the team news for both Salford Red Devils and Leigh Leopards.

Salford Red Devils team news

Because of Paul Rowley’s decision to rest his entire first-team squad, something that was controversial in some parts and raised questions of ‘integrity’, it means that he has a healthy squad to pick from.

Even better for Salford is that mid-season recruit Loghan Lewis has been named in the 21-man squad. The second-rower suffered a groin injury in the win against Hull FC over a fortnight ago but he has returned in a timely fashion for the play-offs. How fit he is will be something to look out for.

Lewis was signed to a contract extension committing him for the 2025 season recently and he’ll be keen to celebrate it in front of the club’s record crowd tonight.

Salford Red Devils: Ryan Brierley, Ethan Ryan, Nene Macdonald, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Sam Stone, Kallum Watkins, Oliver Partington, Chris Atkin, Shane Wright, Joe Shorrocks, Jack Ormondroyd, Adam Sidlow, Chris Hankinson Joe Mellor, Gil Dudson, Loghan Lewis, Joe Bullock, Jayden Nikorima.

Leigh Leopards team news

Leigh Leopards had a big worry and wait over the fate of centre Ricky Leutele after his controversial sin bin against St Helens but the disciplinary panel adjudged that a sin bin was sufficient, meaning he is available for tonight’s game.

That saves a major headache for Adrian Lam who has been blessed with a healthy squad of late after suffering injuries all season. Edwin Ipape has been suffering a shoulder injury but he returned last week to take on St Helens and is named once again. He will be one to monitor.

It would seem that Leigh are heading for an unchanged side meaning that we’ll likely get to see a full-strength Salford and Leopards go head-to-head.

Leigh Leopards: Gareth O’Brien, Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Matt Moylan, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Kai O’Donnell, Jack Hughes, John Asiata, Matt Davis, Frankie Halton, Owen Trout, Oliver Holmes, Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Brad Dwyer, Darnell McIntosh, Aaron Pene.

Sales for Friday’s Play-Off game today have surpassed our current attendance record at the Salford Community Stadium! 🙌

✅ 2024 Season High
✅ Surpassed Attendance Record
🤔 … a first ever sell out?

Don’t just watch history be made – 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 👇

— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) September 24, 2024