Paul Rowley laid bare the emotional toll the wait for Salford Red Devils’ takeover to be approved took on the squad following their 32-6 defeat at home to Leeds Rhinos.
The Red Devils head coach was able to name a full-strength team for the match at Salford Community Stadium for the first time in the 2025 season, two days after the RFL confirmed the Dario Berta-led consortium had been cleared to take control of the club.
Despite the likes of skipper Kallum Watkins and star half-back Marc Sneyd being able to play again after Salford’s sustainability cap was lifted, the Rhinos outclassed the hosts and while Rowley made no excuses for the loss, he admitted the wait had been tough for the players.
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“A couple of people said ‘You must have been buzzing this week to play’, but I said actually we were just tired,” Rowley told Sky Sports.
“Our team run was flat, but it’s taken a lot out of the boys. It’s not done us any favours with a short turnaround to Hull KR on Thursday night, but I’m glad to get started.
“I’ve got no complaints; Leeds were the better side, they won the physical battle and completed high, and it’s as simple as that.
“For our boys, we’re just glad to be getting up and running, and talking about rugby.”
Watkins’ try after just two minutes made it a dream start for Salford against his old club, but two tries from player of the match Riley Lumb and one apiece for Morgan Gannon, Ash Handley, James Bentley and Ryan Hall helped secure the win for Leeds.
Rowley had no intention of dwelling too much on what the Red Devils had been through while waiting for the takeover to be confirmed and quickly switched attention to the Round 3 match away to Hull KR on Thursday.
“You wait for it for so long and then when comes you’re just like ‘what’s next?’,” Rowley said. “Things move so quickly in this game and this trade that you don’t really get a chance to think.
“It’s like coaching, I guess – we’ve just finished this game so we’ll have to pick the bones out of that, then we’ve got a short turnaround to Hull KR.
“It’s full-on and you don’t get a chance to breathe much, but I guess that’s a good thing.”
