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MATCH PREVIEW: Red Devils looking to snap losing streak against out of form Leeds Rhinos

By on in Rugby League, Salford Red Devils, Sport

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Leeds Rhinos travel to the AJ Bell this Friday night in what will be Salford’s first live TV game of the season.

Salford will be desperate for a win on the back of three consecutive losses in the league to Huddersfield, Hull KR and Hull FC, with the latter two both coming at home, and will be rallied by making their season debut live on Sky Sports.

Red Devils fan will be optimistic facing a struggling Rhinos team, the Yorkshire-based side have won just one of their opening five Super League games and are on the back of a 6-31 loss to Hull FC last Thursday. Rhinos Head Coach Richard Agar highlighted in his pre-match press conference how both teams need a win to take momentum into the rest of the season. He said, “They (Salford) are in a similar position to us coming off the back of disappointing losses.

“It is a game where both teams will be desperate to get the two points.”

You can watch the full interview with the Leeds coach here:

Richard Agar pre-match press conference in full

Salford Red Devils Head Coach Paul Rowley spoke to press this morning about his team focusing on themselves and not worrying about Leeds. He said, “Tomorrow’s about our standards, not the opposition.

“The players have worked hard this week, we have got a fantastic group, the culture is ever-progressing.”

Rowley seemed unfazed by last Friday’s loss to Hull FC, telling the press post-game; “We’re about trying to change people’s opinions of our team. Everyone’s opinion prior to the season started was we’re easy beats and we’re one of the bottom three and we’re there for the taking every time as an opportunity for everyone to pick up points.

“We’re doing nothing at the moment to change that and people’s opinions, so we’ve got to continue to work hard.”

A Salford win would see them move to a record of three wins and three losses and potentially see them move as high as 5th, and the top half the table. On the other hand, a Leeds victory could see them leapfrog Salford in the table as they currently sit in 10th in the table with just one win this season. A Rhinos loss could see them fall to the foot of the table if Toulouse win convincingly at home to St Helens.

Credit: BBC Sport

Salford will be without James Greenwood and Sam Luckley, both injured this week, while centres Kallum Watkins and Dan Sarginson are still unavailable due to long-term injuries. Winger Ken Sio will be looking to put himself back on top of the Super League top try scorers list for this season, he has scored seven tries in five games, just one less than Warrington winger Josh Charnley with eight.

Leeds, on the other hand, will be buoyed by the return of lock Cameron Smith from suspension, who will no doubt have a fierce battle with opposite number Elijah Taylor.

Red Devils predicted side:

  1. Ryan Brierley
  2. Ken Sio
  3. Deon Cross
  4. Tim Lafai
  5. Joe Burgess
  6. Brodie Croft
  7. Marc Sneyd
  8. Sitaleki Akauola
  9. Andy Ackers
  10. King Vuniyayawa
  11. Shane Wright
  12. Ryan Lannon
  13. Elijah Taylor
  14. Danny Addy
  15. Greg Burke
  16. Jack Wells
  17. Josh Johnson

 

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