Watson admits concerns about Sale Sharks outbreak

Salford head coach Ian Watson admitted the club were nervous by the Covid-19 outbreak at Sale Sharks.

The Premiership rugby union outfit ground share with the Red Devils and have been forced to postpone their next game against Worcester following eight positive virus tests.

“We were a little bit nervous about the situation regarding Sale Sharks,” said Watson.

“We were told that Sale would be doing a captain’s run at our stadium so we made sure we segregated and that we were not going anywhere near them.

“It does not matter who they were bringing in, whether it was young kids or not, we just did not want to be near them at that time.

“Obviously, today, the game has been cancelled which means they will not be going in the stadium where we are going to be so that has taken a little bit of a risk out of the way there.

“Hopefully it will not have a knock-on effect of cancelling games. The Challenge Cup Final is just around the corner, we do not want games cancelled.

“I think our boys will be doing everything and extra at this moment in time to make sure they are all good.”

Ahead of their Wembley showdown with Leeds in ten days, Salford face a hectic schedule with two games in five days against Huddersfield and Hull KR respectively.

Though recognising the difficulties at this moment, Watson admits he would have come up with a slightly different schedule.

“I would have liked to have played probably a bit of an Easter Period,” said Watson. “Maybe Thursday followed by the Sunday, this would have given us a full week’s preparation going into the Challenge Cup Final.

“I suppose Leeds probably would have liked that as well but the matches are going to be played on the same day.

“I would rather be complaining and talking about playing a game on Tuesday before playing in the Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, than not playing at all.”

Watson also revealed that his squad will be depleted for their game against the Giants on Thursday, with five key players set to sit out the fixture at Headingley.

“Tyrone McCarthy will definitely be out injured for tomorrow’s game against Huddersfield,” said the Salford boss.

“He has had to go to hospital. We are hoping it is not his appendix and that he doesn’t have to have to have it taken out.

“He has had a really bad gastric illness for the last couple of days. He was taken to hospital yesterday so we are hoping he is all good.

“He won’t feature but we wish him well and that he will be back with us pretty quickly.

“Mark Flanagan has a shoulder problem. We will not risk him but he might play some minutes for us on Tuesday to make sure he is right for the Final.

“Obviously, Niall (Evalds), Ken (Sio) and Josh Johnson are still out but apart from them, everyone else I think is okay.”