Red Devils hit by a double injury blow
SALFORD HOPES ARE HIT AS LITTLEJOHN AND WELHAM BOTH FACE SURGERY
SALFORD have suffered a double injury blow with both Jack Littlejohn and Kris Welham needing surgery on the knocks they picked up during last week’s defeat at Warrington.
It means Red Devils head coach Ian Watson will again be required to shuffle his already small squad, with Littlejohn having spent the last few games deputising at fullback for Niall Evalds, who remains on the sidelines recovering from a broken leg.
The Australian halfback suffered a ruptured bicep, meaning he is highly unlikely to feature again this season.
Gareth O’Brien began the season in the No.1 jersey and Salford have also used Rob Lui and Derrell Olpherts at full-back this year.
Welham suffered a finger injury that has also required an operation, but Watson will be hopeful he can return to action sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, former Red Devils forward Adam Walne has joined Leigh Centurions on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 27-year-old made 74 appearances in a Salford shirt, but both he and younger brother Jordan left the club at the end of last year, joining Huddersfield and Hull KR respectively.
“Adam is a fantastic professional with a lot of experience,” said Centurions boss Kieron Purtill.
“The reports I have had about his training, attitude and his willingness to work for and help out his teammates has been first-class.
“I am looking forward to him bringing this to our group on a daily basis and to him being a leader with his no nonsense approach to games as we push for a top four place in the Betfred Championship.”
Ex-Wigan Warriors centre Anthony Gelling has agreed to join Widnes Vikings for 2019 and beyond. He will be returning to the UK after a year with New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.
THEY might have shipped 80 points to Featherstone Rovers at the weekend, but Rochdale coach Alan Kilshaw found some positives in his side’s performance – and has quickly shifted focus to Sunday’s crunch bottom-of-the-table clash with Swinton at the Crown Oil Arena.
“If you look at the two budgets on paper, Featherstone probably should be putting that scoreline on us,” he said.
“But these aren’t the games we need to be winning. It’s the games against Swinton and in the [Championship] Shield, that’s what we’re building towards now.
“I’ve tried to rotate the squad over the last few weeks, so it will be all focus on Swinton.”