Salford Red Devils 2022 preview: Rowley gets his Super League chance

Salford have a new head coach at the helm in Paul Rowley, who gets his first chance at Super League level.

The Red Devils have made some interesting moves in the market, with Ryan Brierley coming in for the full-back jersey having had a solid season for Leigh last term.

The signings of Brodie Croft, Tim Lafai and Shane Wright from the NRL are likely to be pivotal to their successes, while the likes of Sitaleki Akauola and King Vuniyayawa comes with points to prove having left Warrington and Leeds.

It is perhaps the return of Marc Sneyd that grabbed much of the headlines, quite a coup for the Red Devils to bring him back.

The key will be avoiding injuries so that their squad depth isn’t exposed, and they will want to get wins on the board early to stay away from the relegation dogfight if possible.

STAR: Marc Sneyd backs reborn Salford to step up

Key man

What they said

Paul Rowley is happy with the group that he has got together.

“You want your best players on the field all the time but what you want is a good third centre and a third half and that is strength in depth. So when you break the top layer, the second layer is there challenging and there or there abouts.

“I think we’re alright. We’ve all learned at the same pace and so we’re all on the same page. Ideally we get our best players on the field as much as we can.

“I don’t think (predictions) have any bearing. We’ve got our own standards and our pressures come from within, not from outside.”

Salford Red Devils 2022 preview: key info

Coach: Paul Rowley (since November 2021).

Captain: Elijah Taylor.

In: Marc Sneyd (Hull), Sitaleki Akauola (Warrington), Brodie Croft (Brisbane), Shane Wright (North Queensland Cowboys), Amir Bourouh (Wigan), Ryan Brierley, Alex Gerrard (both Leigh), King Vuniyayawa (Leeds), Deon Cross (Widnes), Tim Lafai.

Outs: Krisnan Inu (Lezignan), Ata Hingano, Ed Chamberlain (both Leigh), Kevin Brown (retired), Sebastine Ikahihifo, Tui Lolohea, Oliver Roberts (all Huddersfield), Pauli Pauli (York), Dec Patton (Bradford).

Salford Red Devils 2022 preview: squad in full

1. Ryan Brierley, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Joe Burgess, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Marc Sneyd, 8. Sitaleki Akauola, 9. Andy Ackers, 10. Greg Burke, 11. Shane Wright, 12. James Greenwood, 13. Elijah Taylor, 14. Danny Addy, 15. King Vuniyayawa, 16. Ryan Lannon, 17. Harvey Livett, 18. Chris Atkin, 19. Jack Ormondroyd, 20. Jack Wells, 21. Josh Johnson, 22. Rhys Williams, 23. Dan Sarginson, 24. Matt Costello, 25. Morgan Escare, 26. Sam Luckley, 27. Amir Bourouh, 28. Deon Cross, 29. Alex Gerrard, 30. Jack Stevens.

Salford odds: Grand Final winner 100/1 (11th), Regular season winner 100/1 (10th equal)

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