Watson pleased with strength of his Salford squad
THERE is no place for new signing Todd Carney in the Salford squad for tomorrow’s BetFred Super League fixture with Wakefield.
When the Australian halfback finally arrived at the club last month following visa delays, it was suggested he would be ready to play a part in the home tie with Warrington Wolves last weekend.
But that match came too early for the one-time Dally M medal winner and after an impressive victory, head coach Ian Watson has chosen to stick with the same spine that excelled against the Grand Final runners up.
“That’s the thing we wanted, we wanted competition for places,” said Watson. “Todd gives us that.”
“I paid tribute to our non-players [after the Warrington match], because our squad trained really well. We had a real focus on certain things we wanted to work on and wanted to improve on and we did that.
“We asked the kind of non-13 to step up in training and they did that.”
Todd might not have made the squad but winger Justin Carney, no relation, is back for the Red Devils after sitting out the fixtures with Leeds and the Wolves through suspension.
Ben Murdoch-Masila has been included in a Salford squad for the first time this season following the injury he picked up in the pre-season warm-up match against Rochdale Hornets. The powerful forward has returned slightly ahead of schedule and will provide additional power to the pack.
Niall Evalds has also been brought back into the Salford squad. He started the opening-day defeat to Wigan Warriors at the AJ Bell Stadium, but has not featured in any of the club’s subsequent fixtures.
Both sides come into the game on the back of a good result, with Wakefield having beaten St Helens at Langtree Park – a result that impressed Watson.
“They looked good,” said the Salford boss. “I thought they played the conditions really well. Williams and Miller managed the game really well. They played real direct, down a channel and then just kicked them into touch and ate the clock up.”
Watson also expressed his delight at having the opportunity to send forwards Jordan Walne and Liam Bent to Oldham Roughyeds. “This is a great chance for these lads to get and get some experience at a really good set up.”