Red Devils will face Toronto Wolfpack in cup clash
FIXTURE REUNITES FORMER SALFORD COACH WITH HIS OLD CLUB
SALFORD will become the first top-flight club to take on the newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack after the Canadian team were drawn against Ian Watson’s side in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.
The fifth round tie will take place at the AJ Bell Stadium on the weekend of April 22-23, with the Red Devils one of four Super League sides to enter at this stage of the competition as a result of their participation in last year’s Middle 8 Qualifiers.
And Watson believes his team could not have been handed trickier opposition in the draw.
“It’s an historic one and a real tough one for us to be fair,” said the Salford boss. “I don’t think we could have had a tougher draw, even with teams like Leeds and Huddersfield coming in.
“They’re a good team, a well-coached team. I know their coach Paul Rowley pretty well.
“We had a training session against each other in pre-season, which was a good hit-out, so we’ll be well aware of how they like to play.”
Former Salford coach Brian Noble is the director of rugby at the Wolfpack and is relishing the prospect of his new employers taking on his old club.
“It’s a fabulous tie; we’ll look forward to that,” he said. “They’re a top-six Super League team who are playing really well, and have a smattering of stars. We’re clearly the underdogs, but we want to put a marker down.”
Leigh Centurions have been drawn at home to Hull KR – the side whose spot in the Super League they took when achieving promotion through last year’s qualifiers.
KR are currently unbeaten at the top of the Kingstone Press Championship as they look to secure an immediate return to the sport’s top division having suffered relegation following defeat to Salford in the Million Pound Game in October.
Swinton Lions will also face topflight opposition, travelling to the John Smith’s Stadium to take on Huddersfield Giants, who put an end to Wigan Warriors’ 100 per cent start to the 2017 Super League season when the two sides contested a 16-16 draw at the DW Stadium on Sunday. O ldham Roughyeds have avoided Super League opposition, but face a very tough test in the shape of an away trip to Featherstone Rovers.
Scott Naylor’s side lost 8-6 when they made the same trip earlier in the season.
Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton said: “Featherstone are one of the best teams in the division, but when we went there in the league we should have had a draw at the very least.
“After a poor start we also played well there last season, so we’ll be going with the same attitude and the same self-belief and we’ll see what happens.”
It’s a fabulous tie, we’ll look forward to it. They’re a top-six Super League side playing really well Brian Noble