Salford boss provides Ryan Brierley injury latest

Salford head coach Paul Rowley says Ryan Brierley will be monitored week-by-week after suffering an eye injury in the win over Leeds.

The full-back was forced from the action at Headingley Stadium in the 22-12 win over the Rhinos.

Brierley, a Scotland international, passed his head injury assessment, but could miss Saturday’s fixture with St Helens in Super League due to the blow to his eye.

“He’s struggling Ryan Brierley, to be fair,” Rowley said. 

“We’ll just see as and when. I don’t think it’s as bad as first thought, which is the important bit, but that will be a day-to-day thing.

“We’ll assess that as the days go by.

“We’ve got a couple of knocks that we’re waiting on to key individuals, and nobody coming back.

“Chris Atkin played most of the game [at full-back] on Friday, so he’s the obvious choice there. But we’ve got some outside-backs who can cover that spot.

“That’s one thing that we’ve been good at, we’ll just roll with the punches and people have put their hand up.”

Paul Rowley previews St Helens test

Rowley insists his side are preparing for a tough test against reigning champions St Helens, who are in unfamiliar territory in recent times having found themselves outside of the play-offs with just five wins in 10 so far in 2023.

The Red Devils on the other hand are undefeated in their last four games to sit fifth on the table on joint-points with Catalans.

If selected, skipper James Roby will become the St Helens’ all-time leading match appearance record holder on Saturday for his 532nd game in the Red V. 

The game will be televised live on Channel 4, with a 1pm kick-off. 

“Training [this week] has been good and it’s all been positive,” Rowley said, previewing Saturday’s fixture.

“We’re preparing for a really tough challenge, it doesn’t get any harder than going to the world champions on their own turf in what will be a very sentimental and emotional day for one of their heroes.

“We’ve got to be ready.

“We’ll just try and concentrate on ourselves and as we always do, have that underdog spirit and underdog mentality and walk there tall and have a lot of belief in the team and what we’re capable of.

“We’ve had some good tussles with them, last season in particular, so we’re hoping that the weekend is more of the same.”

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