Watson: NRL perception of Super League is changing

Salford coach Ian Watson believes Super League is now a very attractive proposition for the majority of NRL players.

The competition’s reputation has grown significantly in recent months with the capture of several big-name players, with many in or hitting the peak of their careers.

Speaking at the season’s launch event in Leeds, Watson says that Super League is no longer seen as a ‘retirement home’ by players in Australia.

“There is a lot of talk of the personnel that have come over and they’re not players who are at the back end of their career looking for a pay day,” he said.

“Players like George Burgess and Aidan Sezer, that’s just two of them, they have time on their side and are hungry to be successful.

“It’s going to make the competition better, more interesting and probably more attractive.

“We need new sponsors to come in and identify these stars as role models, like in football, so to take the sport to the next level in this country we have to showcase them, and we’re starting to do that.”

Having led his Red Devils side to the Super League Grand Final against all the odds last season, Watson has overseen a big turnover in players this off-season.

Man of Steel Jackson Hastings is the most notable departure, with the experienced Kevin Brown acquired to fill his boots – a player the Salford boss rates very highly.

“If you look at some of the halfbacks that have been signed in the league, they are all talking about James Maloney, Aidan Sezer and Gareth Widdop, but nobody is talking about Kevin Brown,” said Watson.

“We are happy with that, let him go under the radar, because his three performances in pre-season have been excellent so far and the proof will be in the pudding.

“Against Warrington he looked like the best halfback on the field, along with Tui (Lolohea).

“We hope that partnership (with Lolohea) can really help us as we go along in the Super League season.”

Brown is one of 13 new additions at the AJ Bell Stadium, with all of Salford’s signings made from domestic clubs in Super League or the Championship.

After three pre-season games against Swinton, Leigh and Warrington, Watson is confident he has a squad capable of challenging for silverware this season.

“We have signed quality players and we have signed competitors who are going to try win something, so we’re pushing our limits as far as they go and we’re aiming big.

“I think in pre-season our new guys have proved they can cut it with Super League opposition, the likes of Connor Jones, Jack Ormondroyd and Rhys Williams have really stood out.

“We’ll set out our objectives this week but we want to win something, whether that’s the Challenge Cup or whether that’s the Grand Final.”