‘It’s going to hurt for a while’ – Salford Red Devils star gutted to be out of Challenge Cup

Drew Darbyshire
Mikey Lewis Hull KR and Ryan Brierley Salford Red Devils PA

Photo: Will Matthews/PA Wire/PA Images

Salford Red Devils full-back Ryan Brierley said their Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Hull KR will ‘hurt for a while’ as his dream to play at Wembley goes on.

The Red Devils, who have been so impressive in Super League this season and are currently sitting fourth in the table, fell to a 28-10 defeat to Hull KR in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to Viaplay Sports after the game, Brierley said he was gutted to be out of the knockout competition, with the chance to play at Wembley for his boyhood club gone for another year at least.

Brierley said: “An opportunity wasted I think.

“The boys will tell you, it’s every young boy’s dream to play at Wembley and we let that slip today.

“The disappointing thing is that it was really uncharacteristic from us.

“It was probably the worst we’ve played all year. It’s going to hurt that one, hurt for a while.”

 

Ryan Brierley rues Salford Red Devils missed chances in Hull KR defeat

Hull KR were 18-0 to the good at the break thanks to first half tries from Ryan Hall, Tanguy Zenon and Kane Linnett.

Tim Lafai pulled one back for the Red Devils in the second half but it was Hull KR’s day as they posted further tries through Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Dean Hadley to wrap up the win, with impressive Salford winger Joe Burgess scoring a consolation late on.

Brierley added: “When you rob yourself of energy that much in the first half, you are always playing catch up and it feels like you are always rescuing something.

“There’s a lot of people chasing back making mad efforts to save tries but you need to change momentum in games by being defensively good and being disciplined.

“Before the game we spoke about the crowd getting on your back and how you can change momentum when that happens so I don’t think anything surprised us today, we just didn’t apply ourselves. It was just a real off day.”

Salford will turn their attention back to Super League as they host Wigan at the AJ Bell Stadium next Sunday, 3pm kick-off.

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Challenge Cup Ryan Brierley