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Devil In The Detail SRD · Golden Point heartbreak and how to fix the RL problems The news has broken that Salford Red Devils and Head Coach Richard Marshall has gone their separate ways and the club are now in the hunt for a new coach for 2022. Richard came in at the start of 2021 season and he guided Salford to a Challenge Cup Quarter final extra time defeat against Castleford and to a 11th pace finish in the Super league.  Richard Marshalls Salford Red Devils recorded 7 Super League wins with heroic performances away at Huddersfield and a clinical try scoring display at home against Hull FC the highlights,  his total win loss ratio after 24 games in charge was 31.8% putting him in 13th place in the list of successful Salford Red Devils coaches. Salford scored 69 tries in 2021 (the 3rd worse in SL) and conceded 584 points, these stats give you an idea the struggles the team had despite having Super leagues top try scorer Ken Sio we lacked collective fire power to break teams down.  

Devil In The Detail SRD · Golden Point heartbreak and how to fix the RL problems Salford rounded off their 2021 adventure with a home match against reigning champions St.Helens. Red Devils coach Richard Marshall admitted in the week that his side were pretty busted and may have struggled with a playoff campaign. This match may have been the end of the road for Salford but Saints had their eyes on another Grand Final appearance and their third successive Super League crown.  This match would be the last game for a few members of the Salford squad with players leaving and retiring. It promised to be an emotional night at the AJ Bell Stadium. It was great to see so many young supporters in attendance with the Red Devils working hard in the community with lots of schools getting behind the club and making a terrific noise prior to kick off.  The pitch looked in immaculate condition as always and the sun began to drop down leaving a real picture postcard backdrop as the players marched ou

Devil In The Detail SRD · Golden Point heartbreak and how to fix the RL problems   Last Saturday’s result may have been disappointing but the performance on the whole was one to be proud of for Salford and their supporters. The Red Devils didn’t deserve to lose that match and it was a lack of composure in the closing stages that cost the team the victory.  Yet again we were told how Warrington had rested players but I don’t buy that and find it disrespectful to Richard Marshall and his players. Salford had an entire pack of forwards missing along with quite a few players patched up. This never seems to get mentioned these days in Rugby League. When a fancied team loses their is usually a ready made excuse. I think it’s better to look at the positives rather than the negatives. All that said last weeks clash with Warrington was a cracking contest. I looked round at the faces on the terrace behind the posts with five minutes remaining and the passion, desperation and hope was amazing. S

Devil In The Detail SRD · The rise of the young Welsh Devils as we prep for Warrington   When these two sides met earlier in the season at the AJ Bell Stadium Warrington embarrassed Salford with a 18-62 thumping. The bookmakers had the Wolves as firm favourites once again for this match but Richard Marshall’s Red Devils had other ideas. Andy Ackers returned at hooker with Chris Atkin and Tui Lolohea partnering at halfback. Joe Burgess took Krisnan Inu’s place at centre with Rhys Williams slotting in on the wing. Inu settled for a bench spot. Also making a very welcome return as a substitute was pack enforcer Elijah Taylor. It was far from the start Salford wanted though and early mistakes put the Red Devils on the back foot. Defence was good from the visitors and they eventually grew into the match scoring the first try when Lolohea set up Ken Sio. Morgan Escare booted a pin point conversion off the touch line, 0-6. Warrington had three big playmakers in their starting line up with Ge

Devil In The Detail SRD · The rise of the young Welsh Devils as we prep for Warrington   It was a mixed bag for Salford and Warrington at the Magic Weekend. The Wolves were pretty unconvincing in their victory over Wigan on Sunday while Salford were beaten by Castleford on the opening game the previous day. The Red Devils showed plenty of effort and endeavour but it wasn’t enough to really trouble the Tigers. Castleford had quite a few players missing but so did Salford. It was the lack of size in the pack that seemed to hamper Richard Marshall’s team. With big men like Pauli Pauli, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Jack Ormondroyd, Jack Wells, James Greenwood and Elijah Taylor all missing and add to that the retirement of Lee Mossop Salford were always on the back foot.  Their were bright sparks again though as Ken Sio added to his seasons try tally to hit the front in the try scoring charts with 15 in the Super League. Joe Burgess touched down again and forwards Sam Luckley and Ellis Robson put

Devil In The Detail SRD · Richard Marshall & Greg Burke Magic Press conference   Salford and Castleford kicked off the 2021 Magic Weekend at a damp and breezy St James’ Park Newcastle. A fantastic stadium that would do a Cup Final or Test Match justice.  Salford coach Richard Marshall kept faith with the side that beat Hull on Monday with the surprise selection being Kevin Brown at loose forward. Greg Burke moved in at prop to replace Jack Ormondroyd. The bench remained the same as last time out with Geordie boy Sam Luckley among the substitutes.  Darryl Powell had four former Salford players in his starting thirteen. Derrell Olpherts, Jordan Turner, George Griffin and 2021 Lance Todd Trophy winner Niall Evalds was the Tigers fullback. Paul McShane started at hooker and the half back partnership was Turner and Peter Mata’utia. Salford marched out for kick off in their special white kit, the Tigers were in black shirts with an orange v. It was a fantastic atmosphere with the Salfo

Devil In The Detail SRD · Richard Marshall & Greg Burke Magic Press conference It’s certainly been eight days that kind of some Salford’s season up. Defeat to Leigh, a better performance at home to Catalans losing 14-42 then a short turnaround with some bruised bodies and a thumping 42-14 win over play off chasing Hull.  Salford played some tremendous rugby on Monday afternoon. Ken Sio grabbed the headlines with four tries but Chris Atkin was outstanding. Losing big Jack Ormondroyd early in the match put pressure on a young pack of forwards. Ellis Robson and Sam Luckley came of age playing big minutes running their blood to water. All the forwards put a huge shift in and it was great to see Joe Burgess flying down one wing and Ken Sio on the other.  It was a mixed bag last week for Castleford. The Tigers played really well in victory away at Hull to make it four wins on the spin. It was back down to earth on Monday though with a dismal home defeat to Wigan 0-22. They currently si