View from the commentary box -Salford Red Devils

I cover a lot of exciting sports on Salford City Radios Sportszone and on the Devil in the Detail podcast.  I have decided to start writing a piece every week about the teams I report on which are Salford Red Devil’s, Manchester Storm and Manchester United.

Super league 2020 started for Salford with a difficult trip to Super league Grand final winners St Helens. The match was a repeat of the 2019 Grand final which Salford narrowly lost.

However this time around Saints showed in patches why they are red hot favourites to retain their crown in 2020

They were missing a few star players like James Roby but it didn’t seem to matter as Saints racked up the points.

Salford battled hard throughout the game in which we saw Rhys Williams 250th career appearance, the Welsh wingman has been impressive so far in 2020 playing his way so far into Ian Watson plans.

Ian Watson spoke of lessons being learned in defeat and with Salfords record away at St Helens bordering on horrendous fans on the terraces would probably have scratched this game off as a home win for the champions.

Next week the Toronto Wolfpack roll into town with their prize asset Sonny Bill Williams. The former All Black 2nd row forward will be looking to make a impression in Super League.

Salford Red Devil’s forward pack will be waiting for him and his Wolfpack team mates. It has been boosted in 2020 by the arrival of Sebastian Ikahihifo, Luke Yates and Pauli Pauli. They add considerable size, power, aggression and energy to an already solid workman like pack.

With Kevin Brown and Tui Lolahea pulling the strings behind this juggernaut set of forward players such as Niall Evalds, Ken Sio and Dan Sarginson will be looking to be in the hunt for tries in 2020.

Salford have tried their best to engage with the community in recent years, link ups with schools, colleges and universities as well as local sports clubs have seen a upsurge in new supporters.

The Toronto Wolfpack game is another opportunity for local school children to have a Super League experience. Director Paul Trainor is heading up the project and has been rewarded with increased interest from schools and colleges in the area which will result in a larger crowd than expected against the Wolfpack.

2020 looks set to be another exciting year both on and off the field for Salford, with a increase in sponsors, supporters, a new contract for Ian Watson and players who are hungry to repeat the successes of 2019 we are in for a real treat.

Robert Parkinson

Pictures by Steve McCormick