Salford RLFC boss Mike Grady praised the effort shown by his players in their 60-0 Challenge Cup defeat to Hull FC.
The Super League side were in control from the outset and raced into a 10-0 lead inside the opening six minutes through tries from Yusuf Adin and Davy Litten.
Amir Bourouh forced his way over for Hull’s third before Jake Aurthur added a fourth as the visitors took a 22-0 lead into half-time.
With part-time Salford showing signs of weariness in the second half, Arthur Romano, Litten, Cade Cust and Joe Batchelor scored tries to put Hull out of sight midway through the second half.
Litten wrestled his way over the tryline to complete his first career hat-trick 16 minutes from time before Cust and Arthur added the gloss to a comprehensive 60-0 win with tries of their own on a night where Zak Hardaker kicked eight of his ten conversion attempts.
While his side were heavily beaten, Grady was delighted with the “effort and commitment” and felt they “had a good go.”
He said: “It was a fantastic effort against a strong Hull FC side. There’s plenty to improve on, obviously, but they are a full-time outfit and are a lot stronger, fitter and faster.
“Tonight, I learnt how resilient the players are, how committed they are and how much they want to play for the badge. I’m learning that seeing them week in week out – and I’ve learnt that again today.”
Grady’s side had been ravaged by injury, with eight players sidelined coming into the match, and suffered an early blow when Owen Haldenby was forced off with a head injury inside the opening minute.
“It’s tough with injuries at the moment. We had to shuffle two HIA’s in the first half. But there are no labels on anything. I’ve not set any goals immediately, just because of the situation, so we’ll improve, we’ll work hard in training, we’ll have a really good go.”
Grady said he had seen an improvement from Salford’s 44-0 defeat to Oldham in the opening game of their Championship season, but stressed there is still room for improvement.
“I still do think there’s a lot to work on, but I’m seeing an improvement week in, week out.”
He explained that, on the back of a “good win” against amateur side Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the Challenge Cup second round, the club competed “better against Barrow than against Oldham.”
Turning his attention to Salford’s upcoming game against Hunslet in the Championship, Grady emphasised that expectations remain sensible: “It’s professional sport, you want a win, don’t you?
“But I’ve not earmarked anything, but there’s no pressure to win this game or that game.”
