MCNAMARA: MY DRAGONS ARE FIRED UP

Coach Watson not fazed at all by relaunch of Red Devils’ season

It meant that almost half of

Watson’s squad and the coach himself also had to follow the two-week isolation guidelines, and the planned game with Catalans last weekend was postponed.

But after four rounds of negative tests the Red Devils are hopeful the disruption is close to an end, and although Watson knows he will have minimal preparation for next Saturday’s clash with Leeds Rhinos, he insists his side will be ready.

Watson (right) said: “It’s been chaotic and stressful, but the players we sign here are usually competitive and up for a challenge and they will be again. We’ll only have a short window before Leeds – probably just two sessions together – but we’ll deal with it, and have no excuses.

“This group has been good all through lockdown, and while it’s been frustrating recently and the players have had to worry about theirs and their families’ welfare, it looks like they’ve all done the right thing and stayed safe.”

Watson revealed Salford were told just half an hour before the announcement of Hull’s positive tests was made, and hastily arranged a squad Zoom meeting to inform their players before the public.

From there they effectively went back into lockdown mode with players training at home as a series of tests were booked.

Watson has hailed the approach both of his players and the clubs throughout the situation, and believes it could actually give the sport cause for optimism despite a difficult two weeks. He added: “If you spin it as a positive, for a virus that is supposed to be very contagious, we’ve played a game of rugby where there was only 13 contacts that were classed as high risk.

“Taking away scrums seems like a really good idea now – the contact involved in scrums would have put those numbers up a lot more.

“That’s been a really good rule and shows the sport is pretty safe. Precautions have been put in place to help keep the game going, hopefully it will do.

“It’s been unfortunate for the Hull guys and hopefully we come through it unscathed and the sport can keep going forward.

“We all want to make sure we’ve got careers and jobs in the future.”

CATALANS DRAGONS are hungry to breathe Challenge Cup fire again according to coach Steve Mcnamara. The Perpignan-based club became the first non-english side to lift the famous trophy when they stunned Warrington at Wembley in 2018. Now they stand just three wins from a return to the final in this season’s reshaped competition – and Mcnamara (above) is relishing the prospect. As they prepared to face Wakefield today, he said: “We’ve got a very good recent memory of it. “We understand the nostalgia of the competition, and what it meant to our club to lift its first-ever trophy. Last year we were soundly beaten by Hull FC and that was very disappointing. “At this stage of the year we’re just happy to be playing continuously again and looking to improve on our performances. “There’s only two trophies to win and if we get it wrong this weekend then that’s one of them gone.” The Dragons swept aside an injury-hit Trinity 58-0 last Saturday, but Mcnamara has lost Sam Tomkins (inset) and Sam Moa to suspension. Wakefield could hand a debut to Huddersfield loanee Innes Senior, with Liam Kay cup-tied, Tom Johnstone and Lee Kershaw injured, and Reece Lyne suspended. Rhys Williams scores for Salford against Hull before the Covid curse struck