“We got what we deserved” – Rowley reacts after Salford Red Devils defeated

Castleford Tigers got their first win of the Super League season against Salford Red Devils on Friday night and Paul Rowley has revealed that it’s exactly what his side deserved.

It was a back-and-forth game with the Tigers twice coming from eight points behind to earn the win, the first of Craig Lingard’s Super League coaching career, but for Paul Rowley it was a game where his side lacked togetherness.

“I thought we got what we deserved,” Rowley bluntly stated in his post-game presser posted on the club’s YouTube channel.

“Individually I’ll never question our commitment and application in terms of effort and commitment individually. We’re a good group, never question that, but collectively we weren’t willing to work hard enough together.”

Expanding on what he meant, Rowley explained: “We only dipped our toe in the water. We were second to everything in offence. I thought we managed our defence and their enthusiasm was enough for them to get the win, and they deserved the win. We’ve got no problem with that at all.”

Having already beaten St Helens this season and pushed Wigan Warriors to the very end it was suggested to Rowley that his Salford Red Devils’ side had perhaps underestimated their opponent given Cas’ previously winless status.

He rubbished those suggestions, arguing: “There was definitely an awareness from us that we’d be facing a Castleford side who were facing the potential of unwanted records, losing streaks, etc. We definitely understand that they’re a good rugby team. They showed a lot of enthusiasm and applied themselves stoically against Leeds. So we knew what we were going to get.

“We also knew that if you dip your toe in, they’ll come and get you and they’ll burn you. And that’s pretty much what happened.”

Lessons learned for Salford Red Devils

It was revealed on Sky Sports last night the estimated salary spend of each Super League side with those estimations putting Salford at just a £1.7 million spend, highlighting that the club do punch far above their weight and it’s that attitude of being the underdog that so often garners success for the Red Devils.

Thus Rowley explained that favouritism was a new test and one they failed to meet: “I think it was a new experience for this group coming in as favourites and that was our challenge, if you like, to step up to the mark and be a bit of a yardstick as to where we’ve come as a team because we’ve had some great consistency this year against tough opposition.

“I don’t want to reflect on the team we were playing against. I’d be saying the same things if we were playing against a bigger club if you want to call them that. I don’t want to disrespect our opposition, they were very enthusiastic, very good, and deserved the win.

“Our disappointment is on us, and no bearing on who we were playing against, because as I’ve said many times, we back ourselves against every team. Our performance was way off. We were really disappointed with our performance. Very, very disappointed.”

He also confirmed that winger Ethan Ryan wasn’t carrying an injury designation and had instead been left out due to selection issues, the Red Devils actually faring better than most in terms of injuries with just five men sidelines currently.