Page 26 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

SALFORD RED DEVILS

RLW PREDICTS: 7th

It can’t really get any better for Salford Other signings include former dream
Red Devils in 2020. Can it? team player Sebastine Ikahihifo from
2019 was a season that no one saw Huddersfield Giants, Dan Sarginson from
coming for Salford. Widely tipped to be Wigan Warriors and Luke Yates from
among the candidates for the drop, they London Broncos.
surprised us all, deservedly making the Ikahihifo has the potential to be a superb
Grand Final with Jackson Hastings named signing if Ian Watson can get the best out
Man of Steel. Of course, it could get better of him while Sarginson will bring plenty of
for them: they could win the Grand Final! big-game experience to the Red Devils’
But realistically, Salford need to do what backline.
Leicester have done in the Premier League. Yates’ performances for the Broncos
Use their incredible season to establish last year were vastly underrated but
themselves in the upper echelons of the they didn’t escape Watson’s gaze. The
division for the years to come. loose forward brings NRL experience and
Looking at their squad changes for 2020, has settled in brilliantly in the northern
they’re making a pretty good job of it. hemisphere.
They have, of course, lost Hastings and Meanwhile, Chris Atkinshas joined from
fellow dream team member Josh Jones, Hull KR, Elliot Kear and Rhys Williams from
both of whom are blows. But they haven’t London Broncos and Connor Jones from
felt sorry for themselves, they’ve gone Featherstone.
out and bought pretty well. As well as losing Hastings and Josh Jones,
Tasked with the job of replacing Hastings Salford have also said farewell to George
is former England international Kevin Griffin and Derrell Olpherts who have both
Brown. Only three years ago, he was transferred to Castleford Tigers. Jake
playing in a World Cup Final. But since Bibby joins Hastings at Wigan while Daniel
then, Brown, like many others, has had Murray, Logan Tomkins and Josh Wood
injury problems. This is a big chance for have all left the club.
him to regain some of his best form but at We’re hoping for more surprises from
2020 SQUAD: the age of 35, he may find that hard to do. Salford in 2020.
1 Niall Evalds
2 Ed Chamberlain STAR PLAYER COACH
3 Kris Welham
4 Dan Sarginson
5 Krisnan Inu
6 Tuimoala Lolohea
7 Kevin Brown
8 Lee Mossop
9 Joey Lussick
10 Gil Dudson
11 Ryan Lannon
12 Pauli Pauli
13 Tyrone McCarthy
14 Sebastine Ikahihifo
15 Adam Walker Niall Evalds’ progression in 2019 has to
be one of the most rapid rises in Super
16 Greg Burke
League history. He went from a decent Plenty of people regard Ian Watson as
17 Luke Yates
utility player for Salford to a fullback who pound-for-pound the best coach in Super
18 Chris Atkin
helped them reach the Grand Final. League. His work with Salford since 2015
19 Mark Flanagan Without Jackson Hastings, the pressure earned him a spot on Wayne Bennett’s
20 Josh Johnson is even stronger on Evalds to help the Great Britain coaching team.
21 James Greenwood Red Devils build on last year’s amazing In his time with the Red Devils as
22 Rhys Williams success. Head Coach, he has helped them avoid
23 Ken Sio The Halifax-born star has been with the relegation in the Million Pound Game in
Red Devils throughout his career but has 2016. He also led them to a Grand Final
24 Elliot Kear
had short spells with Oldham, Barrow and appearance in 2019.
25 Connor Jones
Halifax. Such an achievement shows just what a
26 Jack Ormondroyd Evalds has represented England Knights remarkable job he is doing. He was named
27 Luis Roberts against both Papua New Guinea and as League Express’ Man of the Year in
Jamaica. 2019 by the paper’s editor Martyn Sadler.

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