Watson after more action for Salford

IN a normal season, a two-week break in September would suggest your club has finished well up in the play-offs and is preparing for a run towards Old Trafford.

But the 2020 Betfred Super League campaign has been anything but normal - and the stop-start nature of Salford’s return to action has left head coach Ian Watson craving an additional fixture, rather than a bye.

The Red Devils demolished Hull FC in their first match after lockdown, but were then forced back into self-isolation for two weeks. After just two training sessions together, they were well beaten by Leeds last weekend and suffered a narrow defeat to Castleford in the short turnaround tie on Thursday night.

Watson believes his side will be better for a run of games and is hoping that a fixture can be rescheduled for next weekend, when Salford are without a match because of Toronto’s withdrawal from the competition. All teams with a scheduled bye are told to be on standby in case of rescheduling due to positive Covid-19 tests. “Hopefully we get another game next week,” said Watson. “We’ve had a little bit of a stop-start to it.

“We came back against Hull, but then we had to sit at home for two weeks - we weren’t allowed to train, weren’t allowed to do anything. And that hurt us. We need some consistency by starting to play some games. Everybody else has had four games, so they’re a little bit ahead of where we are.”

Salford’s Challenge Cup quarter-final with Catalans will be held at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday, September 18 (6pm).