Willie Peters admitted Hull KR’s record Super League win left him with an “empty feeling” given their 74-12 win over Salford Red Devils.
A mis-match was always expected between the league leaders and the basement side, but the full scale of it was startling as Tom Davies scored the visitors’ first try just 70 seconds in and they just kept coming.
And after the 14 tries were conceded last night (Thursday 31 July) it is clear that Salford’s predicament has not improved from the start of the season.
Chris Hill and Joe Shorrocks were among some noticeable absentees from the 21-man squad named in midweek as Paul Rowley was again forced to name an inexperienced side not ready for this level of competition.
Rowley said: “The team I had at 9am changed by 10am and then 11 o’clock, 12 o’clock and one o’clock so I decided just to rock up and see who’s playing.
“It’s been a busy day with a lot of changes.”
Rowley described the game as one between “a side that is well polished and on a good journey and a side that’s been dismantled”, and admitted the situation cannot go on for much longer.
“Thresholds will be reached, patience and God knows what,” he added.
“It’s really tough for supporters in particular. I pay tribute to the lads who do their utmost to play and the staff who continue to have an attitude that as long as lads are playing we’ll be there for them.
“Everybody has got an individual threshold.”
When asked how he was coping personally, Rowley said: “Highly stressed. We are all coaches because we want to compete and do our best.”
The game saw Mikey Lewis set up eight tries, four of them scored by Joe Burgess, as Rovers ran in 14 on the night to go four points clear at the top of the table.
And as good as it was for Hull KR’s points differential, it was not a spectacle Peters enjoyed.
Willie Peters said: “I think it’s a sad situation we’re in, more so for Salford.
“It’s not good for anyone. It’s on TV, we’re trying to get new audiences and that doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t help Paul Rowley and the players so it’s sort of a weird feeling.”
He continued: “Every game is hard to win so you want to enjoy it but it’s sort of an empty feeling because of the situation that people are in.
“I think others need to be made accountable. I feel for a lot of people, especially those fans who pay every week to come and watch their team play.”
And despite the huge points difference, Salford Red Devils will now have to redirect their focus to playing Hull FC on Sunday 10 August.
Article provided by Ian Parker, PA
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