Paul Rowley: Salford Red Devils’ attitude not troubled by off-field events

Salford Red Devils’ squad will always be consistent in their attitude no matter the club’s situation off the field, head coach Paul Rowley has said.

The club have twice been placed under a sustainability cap by the RFL over financial troubles, with delays in funds being transferred by the investment group buying the Red Devils leading to late payment of wages in February.

Rowley has been unable to field his strongest team at points this season, while they have been depleted with the losses of half-back Marc Sneyd, prop Brad Singleton and centre Tim Lafai.

“When we get to train and focus on the job in hand, we’ve got a good team. Even with some star players missing. We’ve got a team that can compete,” Rowley told BBC Radio Manchester.

“Adversity or good times, it’s always consistent. I don’t think the camaraderie or tightness of the group is affected or determined by good or bad situations.”

Prior to Sunday’s game against Wigan, Rowley said that injuries and enforced absences due to the sustainability cap meant he was facing the prospect of just 15 players being available.

Nene Macdonald, Sam Davies and Ben Hellewell are fit to play but are unable to feature for the Red Devils.

“We’ve got a 25-man squad at a cost of just under £1.8m. We’ve got seven injuries and we’ve got three players that aren’t injured that can’t play. That’s where we’re at at this present time,” Rowley added.

“Unfortunately, or fortunately in rugby league, we’ve got a lot of honest men who just want to pull a shirt on whether they’re fit or not and that’s where we’re at.

“Lads are putting their hand up to play and probably shouldn’t be in certain aspects because of injuries because that’s the character of the guys across rugby league, that’s how we’re bred.”