Salford chief slams Hull KR after bid for Red Devils’ Lui
SALFORD have rejected an offer from Super League new boys Hull KR for Rob Lui - and accused the Robins of attempting to unsettle their key playmaker on the eve of the new Betfred Super League season.
The Robins, coached by former Red Devils director of rugby Tim Sheens, are in the market for a halfback to partner Danny McGuire after Danny Addy suffered a lengthy injury in a pre-season fixture.
The Red Devils issued a statement confirming they had ‘promptly declined’ an offer from KR for the 27-year-old Lui, indicating they believe the newly-promoted side have gone on to secure an alternative target.
And Salford CEO Ian Blease expressed his disappointment that the story had come to light just seven days prior to the start of the 2018 season.
“Rob Lui wants to play at Salford Red Devils,” insisted Blease.
“He’s on a long-term contract and it sort of stinks of desperation from the other club to come in for players a week before the season.
“Maybe it’s a bit of mind games, maybe desperation that you haven’t got your recruitment strategy right.
“Me and the coach have had a conversation and I’ve said to him ‘look, take it as a compliment if people are coming in for your players. It’s a testament to everything you’ve done over the last couple of years and having your most successful season last year for many, many decades.’”
Over the winter a fee believed to be in the region of £170,000 was recouped from Warrington for second-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila, who had earned a spot in the 2017 Super League Dream Team as a result of his performances in a Salford shirt. But despite the fact Marwan Koukash has since departed, leaving the Red Devils in the control of a fan-led consortium, director Andrew Rosler insists the club will not be pressured into selling their on-field assets.
“Salford Red Devils now rely completely on support from our community and increased support from our fans and sponsors to enable us to maintain and strengthen our squad,” said Rosler.
“Rob Lui is a key component of our plans going forward and Rob is very happy at Salford.”
Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell confirmed to the Hull Daily Mail that he had made a ‘cash offer’ for Lui.
He said: “We are only interested in quality players, we are happy to wait and we are prepared to pay fees for the right fit.”
Hudgell added the club have no plans to submit a second bid ‘at this stage’ but stopped short of ruling out making further offers in the future.