A Salford RLFC supporter and podcaster says the team’s first league win against Hunslet could provide the “confidence” needed to kick on this season.
Robert Parkinson, one of the hosts of the Devil in the Detail Salford RLFC podcast, was in the stands as Salford battled to a hard-fought 29-18 victory over Hunslet.
He explained the importance of the win and looked ahead to the club’s next game against high-flying Doncaster.
Salford’s chances were boosted by the arrival of five Wigan loanees in Noah Hodkinson, Taylor Kerr, George O’Loughlin, Lukas Mason and Nathan Lowe.
Hodkinson was a standout performer with two tries, while Nathan Lowe converted four times in adverse conditions at the CorpAcq stadium.
Parkinson said he was delighted with the manner of the win and commented on the loan signings who played a crucial role in securing the club’s historic first league victory.
He said: “I thought Sunday was a great win for Mark Grady and his lads.
“When you’re getting players from the Super League like Wigan, they are of top calibre, you’re expecting them to continue in the development of the team.”
Parkinson, when asked if this is something to build on, said: “Confidence is a big thing, when you’re winning games that’s what builds the confidence- hopefully they can take this victory and keep moving forward.”
Salford were scheduled to play their next match against Featherstone Rovers. But the Yorkshire club was denied membership into the Championship by the Rugby Football League in January after they had fallen into administration.
After the match, Salford RLFC boss Mike Grady had been keen for the side to carry the momentum from the win into their next match. He promised the side will “keep working and keep going” into the Doncaster game, despite the extended break.
Having begun their Championship campaign with a 19-12 win against Halifax, Doncaster fell to a narrow 26-24 defeat at Midlands Hurricanes before they overcame Batley 16-12 at the weekend.
They have made a bright start to life in the expanded 20-team second-tier and Parkinson conceded that the game will be “a tricky one.”
He added: “Doncaster are a good side (but) we will go into the game confident. We went into the Hunslet game thinking it was winnable for us.”
Salford RLFC travel to the Eco Power Stadium to face Doncaster on Sunday 1 March, kick-off is at 3pm.
