TESTING TIMES FOR DEVILS

Watson’s ready for another restart

IAN WATSON says Salford are ready to emerge from Super League’s “chaotic” coronavirus crisis and relaunch their season again.

The Red Devils coach has spent most of the last 10 days self-isolating in his back garden after the club found itself embroiled in Hull FC’S Covid-19 breakout.

Twelve players and staff at the Black and Whites tested positive for the virus in the wake of their 54-18 defeat to Salford on August 9.

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, he insists his side will be ready.

Watson 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, move on 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 their and their families’ welfare, it looks like they’ve all done the right thing and stayed safe.”

Watson revealed that 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 (above) 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 that’s been brought in and it shows that the sport is pretty safe.

“Precautions have been put in place to help keep the game going and hopefully it will do.”