A dejected Paul Rowley admitted Salford’s situation feels hopeless after they were thrashed 80-6 by Hull FC.
Salford’s season has been blighted by off-field financial issues and they were only able to fulfil this contest at the MKM Stadium after a raft of emergency loanees, with five players making their debuts.
Head coach Paul Rowley revealed some of the new arrivals only met their team-mates on the coach drive across the M62 on Sunday and they were no match for ruthless Hull, who ran in 14 tries in a one-sided beatdown.
The small band of travelling fans chanted ‘you’re not fit to own the club’ in protest at some of the Salford Red Devils hierarchy in the stands, and head coach Rowley understands their frustrations.
When asked if there is any reason for optimism for rock-bottom Salford, Rowley replied: “It doesn’t feel like it at the minute.
“Since 2019, this is a club that’s been in a Challenge Cup final and a Grand Final. Within the last five or six years, we’ve been hitting some highs, batting above our average consistently.
“Today, we put out a team with a salary cap value of just under £200,000 – we’d be pretty much in the bottom half of the Championship with that. It’s just a tough day, it’s upsetting, really.
“I’ve got a lot of gratitude for the lads who turned up on loan because of the attitude they’ve shown but this sport is too hard to meet people for the first time on the bus on the way to a stadium.”
Paul Rowley reiterated he is constantly assessing his own position at the club, with the 50-year-old already confirmed for a director of rugby role in 2026 and Kurt Haggerty stepping up as head coach.
More concerning to him is the rest of their campaign.
Having borrowed several players on one-week loans for this trip, Salford could have a new group for next weekend’s visit of Wakefield.
The Salford head coach added ruefully: “We could have a totally different team of loan players next week. I’m not sure people will be jumping through their skin to come and (watch).
“What are we on now, squad number 60-something? We’ll run out of shirts soon, I think.”
Lewis Martin headlined with four tries, while Zak Hardaker bagged a dozen conversions, in a clinical display from uncharitable Hull, who moved back up to sixth in Betfred Super League, above Wakefield.
In doing so, they took a significant chunk out of their inferior points difference to play-off rivals Trinity and Black and Whites coach John Cartwright saluted a job well done.
Cartwright said: “You can only play who’s put in front of you. Those types of games can sometimes get pretty ugly, messy and slow.
“I thought our boys handled the occasion really well. They respected the opposition without any arrogance at all, they played hard and Salford did their best – it’s a tough situation.”
Salford Red Devils remain bottom of the league table, with six fixtures remaining of a season that they will be so desperate to end.
The Red Devils will return to the Salford Community Stadium on Sunday 17 August, where they will play Wakefield Trinity – more information can be found here.
Article was contributed by David Charlesworth, PA
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