Salford Red Devils got off to an unfortunate start to their 2024 season, with a 22-16 loss away to Leeds Rhinos despite a strong performance.
The game saw a return to two old faces in Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft, now in the blue and yellow of Leeds, under the Headingley lights.
Paul Rowley’s squad saw four debutants including Papua New Guinea international Nene Macdonald who played for the Yorkshire club last season.
The Reds showed a tenacity from the off, causing real issues for their opponents, who, on paper, should have outclassed them. Marc Sneyd got the evening’s scoring started when he kicked two points from a penalty, which was levelled by Rhinos’ Rhyse Martin after Ryan Brierley was sent to the sin-bin.
But it was the 12 men who recorded the next points, and it was another debutant who got Salford’s first try of the season, with Sneyd kicking into the path of Cade Cust who grounded and regained the lead.
Leeds caught the Devils out wide, with a quick passing move around the backline going into the path of Ash Handley, who burst through from his own ten-metre line to level the scores once more.
The first period ended on a positive note, with Ollie Partington finding a gap in the defensive line and charged through to put The Reds level at the break 8-14 up.
But Leeds, in front of an impressive crowd at Headingley Stadium including a healthy Salford contingent, started to show their own quality upon the restart, levelling seven minutes later with Handley getting his second of the night.
The hosts would seize the lead for the first time in the match when a short flick by Cam Smith into Sam Lisone, who pushed through under the posts and put the Rhinos ahead with then minutes to go.
Salford could not get back level, losing their opening game since their opening match of the 2021 season against St Helens. Salford sit ninth in the table, with their 16 points putting them ahead of Leigh, Hull FC and London Broncos.
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