No rest for the Devils

SALFORD STARS MUST PLAY BEFORE WEMBLEY

Hull KR v Salford 2pm BY JULIE STOTT SALFORD’S heroes must put their bodies on the line today – just four days before Wembley.

The Red Devils will face Leeds on Saturday in their first Challenge Cup final for 51 years, hunting their first win for 82 years.

But, whereas the Rhinos can rest all of their stars tonight against Warrington, many of Salford’s key men, including Krisnan Inu ( top) are being asked to face Hull KR.

The Super League e games have been shoehorned in to the fixture list in an attempt to get the season completed by the end of next month.

But, with one of the smallest squads in the League, coach Ian Watson has no choice but to put his players into the heat of another battle. It will mean a gruelling three games in 10 days but director of rugby Ian Blease has warned the club’s doubters to write them off at their peril.

He helped mastermind the one- time wh i ppi n g boy s’ sensational march to the Grand Final last year and said: “It is really good knowing someone has an advantage on you when you want to turn them over.

“We thrive on that. It is tough but we have got a duty to play our Super League fixtures and make sure Sky do not come for any more rebates. We have just got to roll with it.

“I take my hat off to the boys. It’s hard to imagine doing what they are doing – three games i in 10 days – but it is a c crazy world we are l living in.”

Watson insists he won’t w get any complaints from the players he asks to double up, saying: “It is nothing different than what we’ve had to do over the last few weeks. The boys are used to it.

“There will be quite a few playing, we do not have a big squad.

“But when you’re getting ready for a Challenge Cup final there’s an extra bit of motivation that takes the tiredness and fatigue