Rowley 'challenged but excited' by Salford situation

Jayden Nikorima celebrates his two tries for Salford Red Devils by performing a bull horns celebrations at full-time — Jayden Nikorima scored two tries in an impressive performance for Paul Rowley's Salford Red Devils against Huddersfield Giants [SWPix]

Salford Red Devils boss Paul Rowley says he feels challenged but excited by the position the beleaguered Super League club is in.

Rowley's side put in an impressive performance to beat fellow strugglers Huddersfield Giants on Thursday for their first league win of the season.

That victory came despite a protracted takeover and issues with wage payments overshadowing the beginning to the season, with the RFL also forcing the Red Devils to operate within a sustainability cap.

"It's concerning but sometimes I think I've got to the point where I just feel more challenged by it," Rowley told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I get excited by it, it's just chaos and I and the players deal with it. We just keep going."

Salford rarely looked threatened during Thursday's victory, which came off the back of beating Bradford Bulls in the Challenge Cup at the weekend.

Those two wins came with the Red Devils losing significant squad members as talismanic half-back Marc Sneyd joined Warrington and prop Brad Singleton moved to Castleford as the effects of the sustainability cap began to bite.

That cap had been lifted after week one with the proposed takeover by an investment group led by Swiss banker Dario Berta progressing, but a delay in funds being transferred led to wages for February being held up and the cap was reintroduced.

Asked whether he has seen an improvement in his abilities based on the experiences of the past few months, Rowley said: "I'm not sure it makes me a better coach, it's just another experience to add into the CV.

"I'm pretty well travelled now in League One, the Championship and Super League - bankruptcy, top of the league, bottom of the league.

"I'm not sure that there’s too many that have travelled the same path or who would want to, either. But you get wise through experiences and you learn from them.

"If you look at how you've dealt with certain situations you can improve next time that might happen. Your understanding of people and emotions is better.

"It makes you a better person. For me, tough times give you empathy and understanding. I understand that all our players need from me all the time is consistency, clarity and honesty and that's what I try and give."

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