Paul Rowley hails Salford Red Devils’ new signing: ‘He’s a great, experienced player to have in the camp’

Ben Olawumi
Paul Rowley Brad Singleton Salford Red Devils Alamy

Paul Rowley (right) has praised Salford's addition of experienced prop Brad Singleton (left)

Salford Red Devils coach Paul Rowley has praised recent signing Brad Singleton, hailing the leadership qualities held by the former Wigan Warriors man.

Experienced prop Singleton, 30, joined the Red Devils from Wigan earlier this month until 2025 as part of the deal which saw Tyler Dupree head the other way.

Before that, he had already agreed to join Rowley’s side, just from the beginning of 2024 rather than immediately.

The Barrow-born front-rower made his Salford bow in defeat to St Helens, and his boss already knows how good an addition he’s made.

Rowley said: “He had a really good debut, and he’s been good for us on and off the field. He’s just an honest lad, he’s been there before, and he knows what tough environments and winning environments look like.

“He’s a greatly experienced player to have in the camp, and they’re the type of guys that young boys can learn from.

“They’re essentially coaches within the team because they’re leaders and they’re honest. Brad’s old school in one respect, and that’s a good thing.”

Ireland international Singleton is very much a veteran of the game, having made over 260 senior career appearances, first debuting for Leeds Rhinos in 2011.

He featured for numerous clubs on loan and dual-registration, but remained a Rhino until 2019 and won two Grand Finals during his time at Headingley, part of the famous team to win the treble in 2015.

Moving to Toronto Wolfpack ahead of their Super League debut in 2020, the disruption of the COVID-19 Pandemic forced the Canadian club to withdraw from the competition, and Singleton quickly moved back to England with Wigan.

Singleton, who represented his Irish heritage at the 2017 World Cup, would go on to spend just shy of three years with the Warriors, whom he won the League Leaders’ Shield with just a few months after joining, as well as the Challenge Cup in 2022.

 

Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley previews Huddersfield Giants clash

In Salford, Singleton joined a side currently on a losing run. Their defeat to Saints, in which he made his debut, made it seven games in all competitions on the bounce that the Red Devils have now failed to register a win in.

With just six games remaining of the ‘regular’ campaign, points are needed on the board quickly if Rowley’s men are to make the top six for the second year running.

They take on Huddersfield this week, and the boss believes that the Giants are like most other sides in the competition in that they could beat anyone on any given day.

Rowley added: “They’ve been travelling well and they’re pushing to climb the ladder from a disappointing start.

“As always, they’re obviously stacked full of talent, and they’re a hard working side who will challenge you by doing just that, working hard.

“It’s going to be a physical game, they always are against Huddersfield, and against everybody in Super League now really.

“We’ve been crying out for such a level playing field for so long, and I think this year’s probably been the most level it’s ever been so we’ve got what we asked for.

“I could have the same conversation every week no matter who we’re playing.”

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